Student entrepreneurs celebrated at annual awards
The University of Exeter's Student Startup Team. Credit: Emily Appleton Photography
The University of Exeter celebrated the entrepreneurial achievements of its students earlier this month, bringing together students, staff, alumni and members of the local business community for its Student Entrepreneurship Awards.
At the heart of this evening of recognition and celebration was the Student Startups programme – open to all Exeter students with an interest in developing business ideas.
This academic year the programme received 269 applications to its core incubation pathways, offering tailored support to students at every stage of their entrepreneurial journey.
Several of these ventures were featured in the event’s business expo, including Jeremy Shorter with his skills-swapping platform Flairswap, and Jack Bond with VisiBall, an innovative glow-in-the-dark tennis ball.
Also showcased was the With Proficiency in Innovation & Entrepreneurship (WPIE) pathway – a degree enrichment option allowing students to study entrepreneurship through a selection of dedicated modules.
This academic year, over 3,000 students enrolled across 11 entrepreneurship modules, reflecting growing demand for innovation-driven learning. WPIE Co-Director Bill Russell, from the University of Exeter Business School, addressed attendees to share highlights from the year.
A key moment of the evening was a keynote speech by Exeter alumna Amy Bray, founder of the environmental charity Another Way. Amy shared her inspirational journey building a youth-led organisation focused on climate education and sustainable living, delivering workshops and talks in schools and operating several non-profit, zero-waste shops.
The evening also celebrated the outstanding achievements of six student founders from the Student Startups programme, who were recognised with Startup Awards across a range of categories:
- Social Impact Award – Jake Keast, Micaella Joaquim and Nicholas Latham for VITOVA, a platform using smart software to develop personalised exercise plans for patients managing multiple health conditions, with the ambition of making preventative medicine a key part of NHS healthcare.
- Environmental Impact Award – Ruairi Duignan and Ammar El Beik for Turbo Zone, providing electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions and installation services tailored to the education sector.
- Tech Innovation Award – Krisha Barot for DataViz.AI, an AI-powered tool that simplifies data visualisation for business analysts.
- Product Innovation Award – Florence Sargent for RED-Scue, a recovery-focused energy bar designed for athletes affected by Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S).
- People’s Choice Award – Adam O’Neill, recognised by fellow students for his technical support and collaborative spirit throughout the programme.
- Spirit of Entrepreneurship Award – Lisa Hoerning, recognised for her high level of engagement, adaptability in pivoting her business idea, and unwavering commitment to sustainability and community impact.
The awards were presented by Chris Evans, Director of Innovation, who hosted the ceremony, with an opening speech by Emily Davies, Head of Student Entrepreneurship.
Emily said: “It was really special to celebrate the success and impact of our student entrepreneurs in the company of colleagues, family and friends. It is a privilege to work with such creative, purpose-driven and ambitious young people and I am confident that they will go on to make transformative impact in the world.”
Learn more about the Student Startups programme and the WPIE pathway.
