Speed-dating style networking for start-ups at The Exchange

University of Birmingham start-up founders on the UoB Elevate programme were given the opportunity to speak to experts in the region during a speed-dating style networking event on 27 April at The Exchange.

UoB Elevate is a start-up incubator for University of Birmingham student and graduate start-up businesses, each founder had 5 minutes to speak to each of the experts in the room. 

Our all-female panel of experts covered a range of topics including Investment, Law, Branding, International Trade, Finance, Business Growth and Leadership. The special guests were...

Charlotte Bowden, GBSLEP | Eileen Schofield, Schofield & Associates | Elizabeth Gooch MBE, Board Advisor and NED | Esther Gottschalk, Marks & Clerk | Heather Martin, Department for International Trade | Julie Teague, Cygnus Consultancy | Pakhi Sharma, Global Shapers | Tracy Sherratt, British Business Bank.

Ben Ward and Jonathan Graham are co-founders of emerging start-up StudyStash and took part in the event visiting The Exchange for the first time:

Ben: Last week was great! We met experts in so many fields and genuinely received insightful advice across the board. We have taken on their advice to help grow our start-up idea. We've started doing TikTok videos too which have already reached around 6,000+ people.

Max Murray graduated in 2022 with a degree in Criminology and is the founder of on-trend clothing company Dream Vintage. He attended the evening to get tips from the experts: 

Max: It was an unmissable opportunity. Why would a business owner not want a chat with 8 experts? Their knowledge was diverse and incredibly valuable and I thoroughly enjoyed myself!

Reflecting on the event, Incubator Programme Manager Ana Madan said: 

We are thrilled to have hosted the Meet the Expert event last week for our Elevate Startups. The event brought together 8 incredible female experts from the region who offered their time, knowledge and expertise to our community of founders and students.

The speed-dating format allowed each participant to have a 5-minute conversation with each expert, which created a unique opportunity for individuals to receive tailored feedback and advice on their specific projects and ideas. 

We are delighted to see that the event created a serendipitous moment for many attendees, as we have already witnessed exciting collaborations and ongoing support resulting from the connections made at the event. 

We believe that events like this are vital for building and strengthening the start-up ecosystem. By bringing together experts and aspiring entrepreneurs, we can create a space for networking, mentorship, and collaboration, which is essential for the success of any start-up.

We are incredibly grateful to all the experts who participated in the event and for their continued support in empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs. We look forward to future events that foster connections and collaborations within our community.

Applications to join the UoB Elevate programme in September 2023 are now open to students and graduates with growth businesses. Visit the UoB Elevate website for details how to apply.

Written by Bob Lee - Additional by Ana Madan

With thanks to Ben Ward and Max Murray