5 January 2023

Last chance to apply for Idea Factory

Everything begins with an idea…

Whatever your interest or passion, we want you to get creative and submit your ideas for new innovations, products or services to Idea Factory – the Entrepreneurship Institute’s flagship idea generation competition.

Idea Factory is designed to nurture ideas that have the potential to grow into ventures. In joining the ‘factory’ process, you will be taken through our series of workshops to sustainably disrupt, thoroughly validate and pitch your idea with clarity and enthusiasm; supporting you to develop your idea from ‘light bulb’ moment to viable business proposition.

For the first time, this year’s competition will also include an award for ideas submitted by students from Engineering, Computer Science and the Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences courses.

Find out more and apply

Apply via the Microsoft Form by 23:59 on Sunday 22 January 2023.

Check out the Entrepreneurship Institute’s resources on idea validation, book a 1:1 Idea Feedback session with a member of the team, and catch-up with the recordings from the 2023 competition so far in this handy playlist.

Previous winners and finalists of Idea Factory include Sojo (an app for clothes alterations and repairs), KAYTEA (artisan tea, matcha and cold brew ice tea), Sistren (a community for Black women) and coolZEN (a smart wearable device for menopausal women suffering from hot flashes).

From attending the workshops in November through to final pitch off, it has been an insightful and practical learning experience. Writing the application in January helped to think deeper about various aspects of the venture and helped clarify my thought process. The question and answer session on the pitch off night was a learning experience as well. Idea Factory competition has stretched me, and as I am new to the entrepreneurial sector, I had to learn several things in a short space of time and Entrepreneurship Institute provided a safe learning space. I particularly love the feel of community with the other team leads. Overall, a great learning experience.– Mercy Ofuya, Founder of Mami (Idea Factory People’s Choice winner 2022)

Sign-up to the Idea Factory mailing list to receive regular competition updates.

Visit the Entrepreneurship Institute website for more information about other events, programmes and activities to help you develop your entrepreneurial skills and ideas.