Group of students and staff member laughing

Supporting you

Business support from experienced professionals

Our Entrepreneurs in Residence can help you develop your business idea while you study with us or after you graduate.

Our team of experienced entrepreneurs will mentor your startup and use their experience and knowledge to help you plan, develop, network and market your business. They understand the challenges of starting a new business and will help you build your network, plan and market your startup. 

This programme is delivered through group workshops, 1-to-1 drop-in clinics, and speaking events throughout the academic year.

Advice and support

Our entrepreneurs can advise you on areas including:

  • developing entrepreneurial skills
  • exploring business ideas
  • providing business startup advice
  • developing business plans
  • advising on types of funding
  • business strategy
  • advising on the commercialisation of your research
  • supporting academic research
  • accessing business networks

Make an engagement request

If you're a member of staff, student, alumni or Innovation Connect member, you're entitled to work with our Entrepreneurs in Residence. Submit our short form and we'll work with you to help you get the best EiR support. 

Our Entrepreneurs in Residence

We have 39 Entrepreneurs in Residence. Find out more about them, their career journeys and the business support they can offer you by visiting their full profiles below. 

Adrian Norman
CEO: Orean Music Limited

Alan Barrell
Professor and business angel 

Dr Alisha Damani
Medical Doctor, High Performance Coach & Educator, Wellness Entrepreneur at Empowered Global

Ana Ambika Pindoria
Founder, Director and CEO: Hi-Juice Business Mentors

Andrew Martin
Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer: Inkpact 

Anne Stevens
Independent chair, human resources adviser and coach, board mentor and non-executive director 

Barry Moore
Founder at Touring Highlights

Ben Fisher
Founder and CEO: Beu and Appozon

Blake Powell
Managing Director at AccentPOS

Claire Tamplin
Creator and Founder at The Mindful Movement Coach

Clive Hutchings
Executive Director at STR Limited

David Thomson
CEO and founder: Suada

Faz Forhad Ahmed
Restaurant owner and founder: Akash Restaurant and 'Curry by Air'

Graeme Quar
Director - Grazing With Gazelles

Heather Barrie
Founder and director: Harrie's Coffee

Henry Brenton
Founder at Farfly Media

Jeffrey Lawrence
Director: Ardmore Healthcare Ltd

Josh Robinson
Founder: LMSUK

Kevin Briscoe
Director: Briscoe PR

Luca Tagliaferro
Luca Tagliaferro SEO Expert

Luke James
Founder and Director at 4Marketing Solutions Ltd

Maggie Bain
Freelance Actor, Practitioner at Frantic Assembly, and University Tutor at Coventry University

Marianne Withers
Chief Executive Officer: The Verity Centre (15) LTD

Ming Wu
Product designer and co-founder: The Makers' Guild

Mitch Lee
UK Business Development Chef: Heura Foods (Previously Co-Founder of Mitch’s Kitchen) 

Nathan Cable
Co-founder and head of sales and marketing: Party Hard Travel

Neville Merritt
Director at Pure Potential Development Ltd

Ousmane Drame
CEO of URBOND 

Phil Carr
CEO: My PT Hub (Fitii Ltd)

Rachel Lowe
Owner: Rachel Lowe Limited

Rebecca Beard and Kay Coombs
HR Consultant and Company Directors: Peas in a Pod Consulting Ltd

Sarah Goodall
Founder: Tribal Impact

Shaheed Peera
Founder: The Creative Floor and FCB Health  

Simon Gardiner
Cofounder and Director: Carrington West

Tom Farrugia
Co-founder and CEO of Inten.app

An individual wearing scrubs, seating on a sofa.

I am very honoured to work with the University of Portsmouth and join the Entrepreneurs in Residence Programme. I cannot wait to support enterprising students, helping to create greater access opportunities and develop the next generation of business leaders.

Dr Alisha Damani, Medical Doctor, High Performance Coach & Educator, Wellness Entrepreneur

Explore our startup support