Venture Further

Connect by Feb 25 '21

Oct 5 '20-May 5 '21 (7 months)

Manchester, UK

Venture Further is open to all University of Manchester students and recent graduates entering as individuals or in teams. This is an annual start-up competition and your entry must be a viable and credible business proposal that has the potential to succeed. If your entry is successful, you will be asked to pitch your business proposal to a panel of expert judges for a chance to win one of the cash prizes in each category (£10,000 | £3,500 | £1,500). more

Prize ^£10K

Takes 0% equity

Saving

Section 1: Team

Please list the details of the team below. A team may have a maximum of four people and at least 50% of the team must be students or recent graduates.

Lead Entrant

Please provide details of the nominated team leader below. This person must be a current registered student or recent graduate at The University of Manchester. (Those teams shortlisted as finalists will be notified by e-mail to the lead entrant only.)

Nominated leader

First Name & Surname
Student ID number
Mobile number
University of Manchester email Only use a personal email if a graduate
Course title
University Status i.e. UG/PG/PhD/grad
Year of study (if current student) OR Study completion date (if graduate)
Are you or any of your team currently on a Tier 4 visa? If yes, please provide details
Which category do you wish to enter?

Core Team Members (if applicable)

Only list current students or graduates in this section

Team member 2

First Name & Surname
University Status
Please specify the following:qwer1234zxcv0987Student IDqwer1234zxcv0987University of Manchester email (Only use a personal email if a graduate)qwer1234zxcv0987Course Titleqwer1234zxcv0987Year of study (if current student) OR Study completion date (if graduate)

Please specify the following:qwer1234zxcv0987Student IDqwer1234zxcv0987University of Manchester email (Only use a personal email if a graduate)qwer1234zxcv0987Course Titleqwer1234zxcv0987Year of study (if current student) OR Study completion date (if graduate)

Please specify the following:qwer1234zxcv0987Student IDqwer1234zxcv0987University of Manchester email (Only use a personal email if a graduate)qwer1234zxcv0987Course Titleqwer1234zxcv0987Year of study (if current student) OR Study completion date (if graduate)

Please specify the following:qwer1234zxcv0987Student IDqwer1234zxcv0987University of Manchester email (Only use a personal email if a graduate)qwer1234zxcv0987Course Titleqwer1234zxcv0987Year of study (if current student) OR Study completion date (if graduate)

Please specify the following:
Email
Current role

Team member 3

First Name & Surname
University Status
Please specify the following:qwer1234zxcv0987Student IDqwer1234zxcv0987University of Manchester email (Only use a personal email if a graduate)qwer1234zxcv0987Course Titleqwer1234zxcv0987Year of study (if current student) OR Study completion date (if graduate)

Please specify the following:qwer1234zxcv0987Student IDqwer1234zxcv0987University of Manchester email (Only use a personal email if a graduate)qwer1234zxcv0987Course Titleqwer1234zxcv0987Year of study (if current student) OR Study completion date (if graduate)

Please specify the following:qwer1234zxcv0987Student IDqwer1234zxcv0987University of Manchester email (Only use a personal email if a graduate)qwer1234zxcv0987Course Titleqwer1234zxcv0987Year of study (if current student) OR Study completion date (if graduate)

Please specify the following:qwer1234zxcv0987Student IDqwer1234zxcv0987University of Manchester email (Only use a personal email if a graduate)qwer1234zxcv0987Course Titleqwer1234zxcv0987Year of study (if current student) OR Study completion date (if graduate)

Please specify the following:
Email
Current role

Team member 4

First Name & Surname
University Status
Please specify the following:qwer1234zxcv0987Student IDqwer1234zxcv0987University of Manchester email (Only use a personal email if a graduate)qwer1234zxcv0987Course Titleqwer1234zxcv0987Year of study (if current student) OR Study completion date (if graduate)

Please specify the following:qwer1234zxcv0987Student IDqwer1234zxcv0987University of Manchester email (Only use a personal email if a graduate)qwer1234zxcv0987Course Titleqwer1234zxcv0987Year of study (if current student) OR Study completion date (if graduate)

Please specify the following:qwer1234zxcv0987Student IDqwer1234zxcv0987University of Manchester email (Only use a personal email if a graduate)qwer1234zxcv0987Course Titleqwer1234zxcv0987Year of study (if current student) OR Study completion date (if graduate)

Please specify the following:qwer1234zxcv0987Student IDqwer1234zxcv0987University of Manchester email (Only use a personal email if a graduate)qwer1234zxcv0987Course Titleqwer1234zxcv0987Year of study (if current student) OR Study completion date (if graduate)

Please specify the following:
Email
Current role

Section 2: Business Details

Only complete the below if your company has been registered NB: If your company is already registered, it must not have been trading earlier than 1st December 2017

Company Name
Company Number
Registered Address
Date of registration i.e. registered with Companies House or HMRC as a sole trader

Section 3: Public Summary

The public summary may be used freely by The Organiser in the promotion of this event, e.g. at the Awards Ceremony, on The University’s website or in any publicity material and media releases. We recommend you write a basic overview and DO NOT reveal any commercially sensitive information within the field below.

Describe who you are, what your business does and why (your mission) and what makes it special / different from the competition.

Section 4: Idea

Idea or Technology

Describe your business idea that you think has the potential to be commercialised. Explain what makes the idea unique. This should be a non-technical description, which succinctly summarises your business proposition.
Do you have supporting information you wish to include for the question above? (Max file size 30MB.)Please upload as a single image file (jpeg, pdf)

Problem

Describe the problem being addressed by your idea. You should demonstrate a clear opportunity; its scope, scale and what’s driving it, with a good understanding of key stakeholders and the impact / cost of problem to them.
What alternative solutions are currently on the market that address the problem and what is your competitive advantage over and above these? You should demonstrate in depth competitor analysis, benchmarking against a variety of direct and indirect competitors.
Do you have supporting information you wish to include for the question above? (Max file size 30MB.)Please upload as a single image file (jpeg, pdf)

Product/Service

What does the product / service element of your business look like? How will it work? You should demonstrate a clear value proposition, focussing on benefits of the product/service with credible evidence that you can build / deliver this solution.

Stage of Development

What stage of development is your business (idea, proof-of-concept, prototype etc)? Outline what has been done so far and your main objectives to progress the idea. How will you will achieve these over what timeframe?
Do you have supporting information you wish to include for the question above? (Max file size 30MB.)Please upload as a single image file (jpeg, pdf)
Are there any risks to achieving the objectives above? How will you mitigate them?

Market & Customer Details

Who will pay for your product/service? Please include details of any market research/feasibility testing that you have completed.
Do you have supporting information you wish to include for the question above? (Max file size 30MB.)Please upload as a single image file (jpeg, pdf)
Why might they buy your product/service (what is your USP)?
What is the size and value of the market you intend to enter and what is your go to market strategy?

Financials & Business Model

What is your proposed business model? How will you generate revenue? We expect to see a completed Business Model Canvas, which clearly articulates who the business will work.
Do you have supporting information you wish to include for the question above? (Max file size 30MB.) Please upload as a single image file (jpeg, pdf)
What are your overall financial requirements to set up and run your business for the next 12-18 months? Please outline resource requirements (money, people, equipment etc), associated costs and expected outcomes. We expect to see a Balance Sheet, Cash Flow and Profit & Loss statement here.
Do you have supporting information you wish to include for the question above? (Max file size 30MB.) Please upload as a single image file (jpeg, pdf)
If successful, how will you spend £10,000? Please outline the expected expenditure items, associated costs and anticipated outcomes.

Background

Please give details about your professional background, your skills relevant to the venture and any previous involvement in entrepreneurial activities you may have. Please include details of any other team members and any skills gaps. (Maximum 150 words per team member).

Achievements to date

Please provide details of any grants, awards, funding or significant achievements you have received in relation this idea. Are you currently applying for any more grants or awards at the moment? – Please specify

Section 5: Intellectual Property statement

Do you own the idea/technology? Does anyone else have any rights to the idea/technology? Please provide details of any co-inventors together with their employment status and employer, if applicable (e.g. if you are a PhD student, this may include your supervisor/PI)
Has anyone written about, presented, used or applied your solution before? Please provide details
Have any agreements been signed in relation to the idea/technology (i.e. assignments, licences, R&D agreements, consultancy agreements, funding agreements, collaboration agreements, non-disclosure agreements, and material transfer agreements)? Please provide details
Please provide details of any intellectual property protection already in place. i.e. patents, trademark, design rights etc.
If there is no IP protection in place yet, please provide details of what you hope to secure.
Is there any background work (from yourselves or from your supervisors if relevant) which needs to feed in to your idea to take it forward?

Section 6: Declaration

I have read, understood and accept the Terms and Conditions (T&C’s) of Venture Further 2021. Please review the Terms and Conditions (T&C’s) on the following link: www.alliancembs.manchester.ac.uk/media/ambs/content-assets/documents/entrepreneurship/venture-further-2021-terms-and-conditions.pdf
As the lead entrant, I further confirm that I have made available the T&C’s to the rest if my team and I confirm acceptance on behalf of all members of the team.
I can confirm that if my entry is selected as one of the finalists, all of the core-team will be available between 22 March and 26 March 2021 to present to the final round panel. All finalists will be announced by 17:00hrs, Friday 5 March 2021. Any finalists that cannot meet this requirement will be withdrawn from the final round.
I can confirm that if my entry is selected as one of the finalists that at least one of the core-team will be available during the week of 8 March and 15 March 2021 to attend the pitching masterclasses.
I understand that any personal data submitted as part of an entry will be held securely and used only for the purposes of participating in, judging and administering Venture Further 2021.

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