Do you have a great business idea and looking for guidance and funding to help you take the next steps?
The HSBC UK Student Incubator Programme & competition was established to support the next generation of entrepreneurs from ethnic minority backgrounds. We are delighted to be one of five Universities invited to participate. Read how it could boost your business ambitions AND give you the best chance and becoming an entrepreneur.
Why apply?
- Take part in a specialist, 12-week educational programme for entrepreneurs run by the ‘Start-Up Discovery School’* (April-June 22’).
- Cash prizes to support your Start-Up growth.
- Gain access to insight and spotlight sessions delivered by HSBC’s Chief
- Economist and Sector Specialists in addition to tailored HSBC UK webinars.
- Build your network and join a community of like-minded entrepreneurs from across the country
- Curated sessions led by experts and specially targeted towards entrepreneurs
- Benefit from ongoing mentoring provided by HSBC UK to support your business growth journey
- Opportunity to access early-stage funding to help get your business moving.
Who can apply?
- UK students from ethnic minority backgrounds
- New businesses/start-ups trading for less than 12 months** What we ask of you? If you make it to the final group of 10, you’ll need to:
- Take part in six 90-120-minute virtual sessions over 12 weeks
- Bring energy and commitment to get the most out of the programme What’s the process?
- February 23rd: Submit application/business idea to Race Equality Network (REN) REN@beds.ac.uk
- March 1st: Demo Day (panel of REN judges)
- April-June 2022: Two students from UoB selected to take part in 12-week ‘Start Up Discovery School’ programme
- June: Finalists Demo Day at HSBC UK Headquarters in Birmingham and announcement of the prize winners
- Prize fund to be distributed amongst 10 finalists with weighting to the winner(s) What will the judges be looking out for? At the Demo Days and the Finals day, judges will be looking for business ideas that are:
- Innovative – a genuinely original idea with a clear problem/solution focus and a defined USP
- Achievable –an achievable plan to take your idea to market within 6-12 months
- Market focussed – you’ve identified a key beneficiary/customer and can demonstrate how you would reach this customer
- Financially viable – you’ve planned out the start-up spend and have a plan to access the resources/additional capital to start your business
- Entrepreneurial team – you demonstrate the skills and attributes of an entrepreneur
* Start Up Discovery School’ focuses on supporting under-represented/minority founders to launch, grow and scale their business ideas **
We cannot support business or ideas in unregulated industries or the following areas: Micro Finance, Property Lettings, Gambling, Illegal Substances or Operations within the UK Businesses of an overt sexual nature, Multi-Level Marketing or Pyramid Selling Schemes If you are UK student with a great business idea or are a new business/start-up (trading for less than 12 months), please register your interest with an email addressed to Race Equality Network (REN) REN@beds.ac.uk (copying Simone Banner) by February 21st. After which, you can submit your business idea.
