A group of student entrepreneurs from the University of Chester will visit Spain to take part in a range of challenges to hone their skills.
Ten enterprising students have headed to Almeria (now, at the end of May) after being chosen through a highly-competitive application process for the Santander Universities UK’s Venture Adventure.
The initiative gives budding business minds the chance to develop their skills and entrepreneurial spirit across four adventure-packed days. The students will test and develop their thinking, meet with local entrepreneurs, and enjoy exciting challenges.
An event was held earlier this month at Chester Business School for the winners to meet and celebrate their achievement.
The triumphant ten are: Kieran Lloyd; Molly Bowman; Liam Boyle; Bhanuprashanth Karna; Piyush Choudhari; Jade McArdle; Marcin Jasinski; Chih-An Lin; Jemima Antwi and Emma Lindsay.
They are being joined on the Adventure by two students from the University of Almeria, where the group will spend time during the trip.
Fran Shollo, Lecturer at the University of Chester Business School said: “Congratulations to the ten winners who have impressed us all with their innovation, talent and business ambition.
“We’re delighted to welcome students from a range of disciplines, from across the University, to join with students from the University of Almeria (UAL) – and we’re excited to see them all take their business idea to the next level, through the Venture Adventure.
“Thank you to colleagues in the Department of Management and the wider Business School, Hugo from the International Centre of the UAL and Santander Universities UK for making the Adventure possible.”
During the Adventure, Bhanuprashanth Karna, a 27-year-old MSc Engineering Management student from India, will develop his idea for compact, easy-to-use and eco-friendly magnetic levitation technology for induction stoves
He said: “I feel amazed and blessed to be selected as a winner for the Venture Adventure programme and I’m excited for the trip to Spain because I believe it provides me with a defined platform for exploring my skills and to gain knowledge in vast areas of entrepreneurship.”
He added: “Magnetic levitation is the new technology – and has not yet been introduced in the market for induction stoves. Since childhood magnetic levitation has been my dream; I want to make my imagination into reality, which gives me self-satisfaction and I believe it’s a great business, as well as a technological innovation for the world.”
Emma Lindsay, a 20-year-old Business Management student from Holywell, North Wales, will progress her idea to transform domestic recycling by encouraging disposing of glass and plastic in an eco-friendly yet convenient manner, with financial incentives.
She said: “I am so pleased to have the opportunity to be part of the Venture Adventure 2022 and can’t wait to join the team in Almeria to collaborate on our business ventures.”
Marcin Jasinski, a 31-year-old International Business Management student, originally from Poland, said: “My business idea is an electric scooter hire service for residents of Chester which offers customers a completely new experience and new way of travelling. I am so excited to be one of the finalists and I am looking forward to sharing my experience, ideas and time with other colleagues in Spain.”
Jade McArdle, a 26-year-old International Business student, said: “I feel so grateful to be given the opportunity to go on this trip to Spain, to help develop my business idea for a fake tan remover. It’s great that the University has options like this for students. I can’t wait to meet other entrepreneurs and hear their stories, and learn things I can add to or develop for my own plans.”
Chih-An Lin, a 20-year-old Archaeology student from Taiwan, added: “I really hope my business idea could bring people closer to the sea, let our wonderful natural resources not be wasted and create an attitude of life as an islander.”
Jemima Antwi, a 23-year-old Accounting and Finance student who was born in Ghana and grew up in Italy, will look to further her business, Mimes Reusables, providing consumers with stainless steel, reusable and carbon neutral, water bottles and accessories.
She said: “I am really excited to have been chosen for the Venture Adventure. Being able to connect with both local University entrepreneurs and Spanish entrepreneurs is great. I am hoping to gain more confidence to run my business after this trip as I will be launching Mimes Reusables a few weeks after.”
Kieran Lloyd, a 20-year-old Product Design student from the Wirral, described the Adventure as “a very exciting opportunity”. Kieran will be progressing his Buddy venture. Buddy is a two-part backpack containing a rigid hardcase for delicate business equipment like laptops, and a fabric bag specifically designed to hold the hardcase and store all essentials like clothes and toiletries, for travelling for business.
Piyush Choudhari, an 18-year-old Business Management student from India, said he was looking forward to “the personal learning and development opportunity for each individual on the team”. He continued: “Being a first year student in my Bachelor’s degree, I was speechless when the winners were announced.” Piyush’s business idea revolves around supporting students in their learning by helping to reduce procrastination.
Liam Boyle is a 26-year-old International Business Management student from Holywell, currently on an entrepreneurial year out, who, for the past couple of years has been setting up and running VincoVits, a non-acidic vitamin C gummy manufacturing organisation. Explaining his role in the Venture Adventure experience, he said: “It feels great to be invited to mentor the new entrepreneurs on this amazing business adventure. I look forward to seeing how their skills improve over the trip.”
