Westminster Enterprise Network (WeNetwork), the University’s enterprise and entrepreneurship hub, gave away £10,000 in funding to aspiring entrepreneurs on their Start-Up 101 x Freelance Essentials Mixer event.
Talking about the event’s success, Miguel Noite, WeNetwork’s Marketing and Events Manager, said: “We are thrilled to have seen such an amazing turnout for our mixer event. It is inspiring to see so many like-minded individuals from various academic backgrounds come together to share their passion for entrepreneurship and freelancing. We are proud to have been able to support these aspiring entrepreneurs and freelancers through our programmes and funding opportunities.”
WeNetwork supports students and graduates in gaining industry-relevant enterprise and entrepreneurship skills, with the Start-Up 101 and Freelance Essentials programmes offering expert workshops, office hours and funding. For a recent mixer event of Start-Up 101 and Freelance Essentials, WeNetwork brought together entrepreneurs and freelancers from various academic backgrounds to network and to make lasting connections.
During the event, ten founders and freelancers pitched their ideas and were awarded £5,000 in funding to help their businesses and freelance projects. In addition, ten more founders and freelancers were granted a total of £5,000 as part of the Pioneer Bursary, a digital programme that helps future business leaders develop enterprise skills and build professional networks.
Talking about the grant, Margareta Digore, student of the Marketing Management BA course, said: “I am extremely grateful to be a part of such an inspiring project as Freelance Essentials. The funding awarded will help me promote my digital marketing business and advance my technical skills. I also have met incredible students and improved my networking skills while communicating with other Westminster professionals. Thank you for this thriving opportunity.”
Michael Naylor, graduate of the Photography BA course, said: “I am extremely grateful to receive this funding and the belief Westminster has in me. The Start-Up 101 funding will allow me to build my first product demo for my Tech Startup business which will focus on Interactive Virtual Experiences. This funding will go towards research and development in the form of hiring collaborators such as artists and engineers.”
Students and graduates still have a chance to seek additional funding opportunities this semester through the Westminster Big Idea Competition, organised by WeNetwork. Westminster’s annual University-wide student and graduate business idea and innovation competition grants finalists £43,000 of funding to be shared. This year, applications close on 19 March.
Learn more about WeNetwork and its programmes at the University of Westminster.
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