MDXcelerator and Entrepreneurial Barnet merge in exciting competition for student and resident entrepreneurs

Entrants can showcase their entrepreneurial ideas, be coached by experts and win funding

Middlesex University is merging the successfulMDXcelerator andEntrepreneurial Barnet programmes into one huge competition for aspiring entrepreneurs studying or living in the Borough of Barnet.

Students from Middlesex University and Barnet and Southgate College along with residents have the opportunity to showcase their entrepreneurial ideas, be coached by experts and win funding to develop their business further. The rationale behind the competition is to promote and develop enterprise and entrepreneurship throughout Barnet and amongst the student population.

This innovative programme helps entrepreneurs create or boost their start-up businesses with a unique mix of masterclasses, workshops, pitching challenges, mentoring, networking opportunities and the chance to win seed funding.

"Thanks to this competition, my business idea became clear, and I have become more confident in my entrepreneurial journey too.” Courtney Wilson, who finished second in last year’s MDXcelerator competition.

To identify the best ideas and talent, MDXcelerator x Entrepreneurial Barnet presents What’s Your Big Idea? is designed to cover three main topics and equip participants with pitching skills for the grand final and beyond in their journey to secure funding:

• Topic One: Your Business Concept
• Topic Two: Start-up Marketing
• Pitching Challenge 1 – no deselection at this stage
• Pitching Challenge 2 – finalists’ selection stage
• Finalists’ workshops
• Grad final three categories including MDX student and alumni, Barnet residents, and Barnet and Southgate College Student
• Topic Three: Financial Modelling

Clare Brass, Bulkify (soon to be rebranded as Get Moree), the winner of Entrepreneurial Barnet Competition 2021 (Commercial Category), said: “Winning the Entrepreneurial Barnet Competition was both an honour and an enormous boost to our business also giving us quite a lot of coverage in local press which allowed us to expand our customer numbers. The process of the competition alone really helped us develop and shape our thinking, with several workshops led by accomplished people forcing us to ask important strategic questions and help us scrutinise and shift the business model.

“Support we have received from Middlesex as well as London Borough of Barnet has been invaluable"

Courtney Wilson, who finished second in last year’s MDXcelerator competition and is the founder of eco-friendly fashion brand 624 Studio, said:  ‘The best part of the MDXcelerator competition was the level of support that came from the hosts and coordinators.

“I felt that no matter what, I was going to come out of that experience better than I was before. Thanks to this competition, my business idea became clear, and I have become more confident in my entrepreneurial journey too.”

Matt Hutnell, Director of Santander Universities UK which is supporting the event again this year, said: “Santander is committed to fostering entrepreneurship within UK universities and are delighted to once again be supporting Middlesex University and their entrepreneurial activities this year.”

Dr Simon Best, Programme Leader MSc Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship, who runs the Enterprise Development Hub, said: “Middlesex University has always had a strong community focus and being involved in the Start-up programme has enabled us to build on this focus.”

Professor Nic Beech, Vice Chancellor of Middlesex University, said: “We believe that entrepreneurial action along with technological innovation and radical creativity have the power to effect social change and shape a better world.

“Entrepreneurship is about encouraging people to explore their potential as an entrepreneur while helping build connections and collaborations.

“This links very closely to what we do here to develop our students’ entrepreneurial spirit to help them be better prepared for the world of work and contribute more to society.”

Group or team registrations are welcome in both categories – for more details about eligibility and to register, please visit our page at mdx.ac.uk/bigidea. The deadline for entries is Monday January 24^th