Westminster alumni present business achievements at Elevate Showcase

The event took place at AllBright Mayfair on 19 June and saw eight alumni founders share their progress and achievements since starting the Elevate Business Support Programme. Nearly 80 guests and experts from different industries attended the showcase, sharing their knowledge and support. The event also featured a networking reception, allowing alumni to interact with industry professionals, receive valuable feedback and gain guidance on their businesses.  

The six-month initiative offers tailored and strategic support to put the participating businesses on a pathway to growth, focusing on increased revenue generation and optimisation of processes. A key feature of Elevate is the provision of up to £10,000 equity-free programme funding for each selected businesses.

During the event, attendees had the chance to vote for the most inspirational businesses to receive a share of a final £10,000 pot of funding. The winners were Charlotte Horler, the founder of the sustainability engagement agency Nula; Bikke Chettri , the founder of Chakow, the UK-based company dedicated to making people’s bathroom habits more environmentally friendly; and Manimekala Fuller, the founder of the sustainable fashion brand Manimekala.

Rumen Rachev, Marketing and Events Manager from the University of Westminster, said: “It was a fantastic opportunity to network with the wider community and celebrate the achievements of our second cohort - an impressive array of businesses from sustainable fashion to technology and manufacturing. Having received comprehensive and tailored support over the past six months, our founders shared the initiative's impact on supporting the development and growth of their businesses and making meaningful connections with potential customers, investors and industry partners. As we wrap up this cohort, we eagerly anticipate recruiting the next group of diverse and talented Westminster entrepreneurs.”

This programme directly contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.  

Find out more about Enterprise and Entrepreneurship opportunities available as part of the University of Westminster’s WeNetwork.