Five years ago, the B-Enterprising Team made its very first payment of £500 as part of a new scheme called the Ideas Fund. The scheme which still operates today, is designed to help University of Birmingham students innovate, test ideas out and find new customers.
David Pettifer was awarded funding to help support the development of his
LGBTQ+ themed board game Drags2Riches.
The fund has also helped projects with a physical location. Urban Planning graduate Sophie Watson successfully applied for funding in May 2021 which helped to grow her social enterprise cafe The Borrow Shop, which encourages sustainability and creates a community vibe through borrowing.
The fund has helped entrepreneurs with international appeal. TryMaze is an international relocation business co-founded by graduates Juliet Edjere, Sarah Nantume and Winner Adebayo. The Start-Up Fund helped the trio launch their website with funding going towards web extensions, online marketing and legal documenting.
Since September 2017, the scheme has awarded 108 applicants, enabling innovators to test their ideas and turn their idea into a UK business. A further 99 students and recent graduates have been awarded funding through its sister programme, the B-Enterprising Start-Up Fund, which actively helps founders who have already made the step of registering a business.
The funding has only been possible thanks to the generosity by donors Santander, Office for Students and through philanthropic donations from alumni in partnership with the University of Birmingham Alumni Relations team.
In this blog, we look back on some of the businesses and organisations who have benefitted from the scheme.
Frankie Lewns and Paris Lalousis developed a wellbeing start-up idea called Bloomwise during a virtual enterprise challenge at UoB. Frankie applied for the Ideas Fund in July 2021 to help build the website and support with marketing costs. The business was formed a short time after and the pair have seen significant growth since. Frankie Lewns was awarded Start-Up Founder of the Year for Midlands Women in Tech in 2022 and the duo are based on the UoB Elevate start-up incubator programme at The Exchange.
LGBTQ+ themed board game Drags2Riches.
The founder of start-up Bored Wreckers Inc has since gone on to build the games prototype, created a promotional video with influencers and run a successful kickstarter campaign to help launch the product ready for retail sale.
Erin Gilbey is the co-founder of Windswept Workshops and was awarded funds in March 2020 to help build the social enterprise's website and run theatre style events for the local community. They have since gone on to run multiple projects across Birmingham creating campaigns and running creative sessions for local children.
Burger Me Up is a restaurant in the heart of Selly Oak and founded by UoB graduates Molly Thompson-Dykes and Alex Best. The pair were awarded funds to help buy food equipment and marketing campaigns in August 2021 before opening.
Another business, Ash & Even created by founder Min Feng, helps international students to settle into the UK. The business was awarded funding for the initial set up of the business. Today, the start-up works closley with the University of Birmingham student recruitment team to assist students from China and India.
Philosophy researcher Michael Roberts was awarded £500 in December 2018 to help grow a coaching company called The Mindfulness Tree, supporting wellbeing and personal growth.
Hannah Osei co-founded a dog grooming business called Destination Dog and was awarded a Start-Up Fund in June 2021 with an application for business registration, website support and materials.
Other awardees from the fund include the following businesses:
Alicia Watton - Alicia Blu Art, Andrew Morrin - Elmdon Studios, Darryanne Scott and Martha Harrison - Calico Theatre, Harriet Noy - Hazaar, Imogen Madan IM Designs, Jake Scott - The Mallard, James Firkins - MANAGE, Joshua Barley - Snackess, Lucy Hebberts - GINA CIC
If you would like to apply for Funding, please visit the B-Enterprising Funding webpage for more information.
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