Dev on Change our City Challenge 2025

On why he decided to take part

I discovered the Change our City Challenge at the Entrepreneurship Institute’s booth during Welcome Week and was immediately intrigued by how the challenge was going to bring people from diverse backgrounds together to solve problems in London. As a Law student, I am passionate about innovative problem-solving; this challenge felt like the perfect opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and gain fresh perspectives on how to approach complex issues.

On how he felt when he first arrived

Inspired. Starting the day with networking over breakfast and icebreakers fostered a genuine community spirit which meant that even though it was a competition, the atmosphere was refreshingly collaborative. I loved how we could approach people from different teams for feedback and leverage their experiences and expertise to improve our own ideas.

On the idea his team created

My team created ‘Biospaces’ - an outdoor social hub that utilises food waste to generate heating and feature plant-covered walls to increase biodiversity. We aimed to tackle winter loneliness, as 45% of Londoners report staying indoors due to the cold. I loved how our team’s diverse backgrounds allowed us to create a solution that addressed three different problems (reducing social isolation, increasing biodiversity, and innovating more sustainable energy sources) all at once.

On the lessons he'll take forward in his future career

From the workshops led by EI Expert-in-Residence Theo, I learnt how to understand problems and come up with ideas in a commercially viable way - skills crucial for lawyers when advising clients. Moving forward, I will ensure to prioritise commercial viability as I approach my legal career, ensuring that I don't just identify legal risks, but help construct practical and innovative solutions.

On how Change our City Challenge complemented his studies

As a law student, it’s easy to get bogged down with the cases and laws we need to know, often forgetting the importance of practical skills for our careers. The Entrepreneurship Institute's Seven Skills of an Entrepreneurial Mindset bridged that gap. 'Thinking Lean' taught me to let go of perfectionism and explore different ideas by talking to people and gaining feedback to develop robust arguments. With the workshop on Pitching from EI Expert-in-Residence Jenna, I sharpened my ability to ‘Compel’ as I learnt how to condense information into a persuasive narrative which will be invaluable to my future essays in law school and later when advising clients or advocating in court.