Events and opportunities

Our events include workshops and networking opportunities to boost you and your business to the next level. Find out about our workshops below or see all of our events.

Enterprise clinic 

Our enterprise clinics are regular drop in sessions where you can receive one-to-one advice and guidance. For the time being all of our meetings have gone virtual, this includes our enterprise clinics. To speak to a member of the team you can book an ‘Enterprise Advice’ slot on the appointment tab of MyCareer.

If you can't make the times on MyCareer, you can email us at studentstartup@port.ac.uk to make alternative arrangements. We can arrange appointments via video call or over the phone. 

We'll help you: 

• develop your ideas
• explore a self-employed placement year
• discuss funding opportunities
• select which workshops best suit your idea
• find resources to grow your business

If you're an international student we'll talk you through what you can and can't do as a student on a Tier 4 Visa, and how to apply for a start-up visa.

Contact the Student StartUp Team to get started.

Development workshops

These workshops provide you with the tools, expertise and inspiration to generate ideas and grow these from initial concepts to fully fledged startups. Our bespoke workshops have helped over two hundred students and graduates per year develop their business ideas.

RoutetoStartup

Our startup development programme includes four short interactive workshops, ad-hoc specialist sessions, occasional meet-ups and mentoring. These workshops run throughout the year. 

Entrepreneur's lounge

These workshops introduce guest speakers to present on key business topics. You'll listen to subject talks and have the chance to ask specific questions about your startup. Subjects include: 

• Going from a student to successful entrepreneur
• Marketing and branding your startup
• How to disrupt a competitive market and stand out
• Building your website
• How to start an animation studio from your bedroom
• Are you investment ready?

Ingenuity

Make your mark with Ingenuity

Do you have a great idea that could help drive the UK's recovery and rebuild a better society post-coronavirus or want to work with others to develop ideas

Ingenuity is looking to find Future Founders and wants to invest £400,000 in bold new startups  that will tackle society's biggest challenges.

If you are ready to make your mark, Ingenuity wants to hear from you!

Get involved today!

Closing date for applications: 28th February 2021

Entrepreneurs Society

Are you a budding entrepreneur looking to network with like-minded people, find out more about enterprise and entrepreneurship or perhaps you are ready to launch or develop your own business? We are a student-led initiative looking for new members to join the society.

For more information and to join the society please email entrepreneurs@upsu.net.

Join the Enactus Portsmouth team today!

Do you want to tackle major issues such as homelessness, recycling or other pressing problems in your area? Do you want to advance your skills and enhance your CV? If the answer is yes then Enactus is for you!

This is the first year of Enactus Portsmouth and the team are looking for new members to join them in making a difference in our local area in Portsmouth

For more information and to join the team visit Enactus Portsmouth.  

House Hack - Innovation Challenges

The Innovation Challenges are one-day events hosted once every 4 weeks with students from across the UK and the World helping you to network, develop skills and make a tangible impact on real businesses during lockdown. 

"A remarkable experience to learn and explore about business consulting and how individuals with different disciplines can come together and innovate new ideas. A must for those interested in working in the business and enterprising industry!"

"This event really helped me develop my creative thinking and time management. It was great to be given a real life business to work on and figure out a solution to help them, it was really enjoyable."

 You can learn more here: https://house-hack.com/innovation-challenge/

The European Innovation Academy (EIA)

The European Innovation Academy is a 15-day startup programme that brings together around 300 participants from over 40 universities worldwide.

The academy combines students from around the world into small teams. You'll spend 3 weeks developing a business or social enterprise idea in your team with support from members of Silicon Valley. This includes setting up a business, creating a marketing plan, networking with other participants and pitching to professional investors.

You can apply for a small bursary to attend the academy. Applications are competitive. This programme doesn't run every year. For more information email studentstartup@port.ac.uk.

The F Factor competition

The F Factor is the UK wide startup competition for entrepreneurs aged 18-25.

You can apply in 3 easy steps:

Idea, prototype and pitch in video for the chance to win £10,000!

Learn more: https://ffactor.me/

Closing date for applications: 29th of January 2021

The Future Founders Fellowship

The Fellowship is Founders of the Future free invite-only community for the most promising future founders under 30. The Fellowship is a 2-year journey of peer to peer community support in your journey to become a full-time tech entrepreneur with access to mentorship advice and introductions to investors. The Fellowship is currently taking applications for the next M21 cohort!

Application deadline 1 April 2021

Amazon Small Business Accelerator

A free, online educational programme for anyone who wants to start a new online business or grow an existing one. The online learning is tailored to your experience level, with a comprehensive curriculum covering website building, selling online, social media, marketing, managing cashflow, selling on Amazon, and identifying growth opportunities.

For more information visit https://www.enterprisenation.com/accelerator/

DBACE2021

Are you a Change Maker?

DBACE2021 will support talented 18-30 year olds driven to make positive impact through creative enterprise.

Applications close March 31 2021.

More information can be found on their website: dbace.org 

Samsung UK’s Solve for Tomorrow

Samsung UK’s Solve for Tomorrow is an opportunity to see your idea come to life, with support and coaching from Samsung and Digital Catapult. You don’t need experience or qualifications, just an IDEA, a love of tech and a desire to change the world.

If you’re 16-25 and that sounds like you, apply now to be in with the chance to win £10,000 and long-term support for your idea.

Closing date for entries: 21st February 2021

IGHI’s Health Innovation Prize

Do you have a unique idea for a new product or research project in global health? Apply for the Institute of Global Health Innovation’s Health Innovation Prize for the chance to turn that idea into a reality. 

This exciting competition offers you the opportunity to showcase your idea and win £10,000 to fund it. Winners will be decided in a Dragon’s Den-style virtual event featuring a panel of experts in health innovation. 

The competition is open to all UK university students. Projects can cover any aspect of global health innovation; find examples of last year’s finalists here. 


Entries are now open here and will close on 5 February, 11:59pm.