THE BUSINESS START-UP FUND

THE BUSINESS START-UP
FUND
How your donation can help us create
tomorrow’s entrepreneurs
Kent
2 Business School
www.kent.ac.uk/kbs
www.kentmba.com
HELP US DEVELOP
SUCCESSFUL
ENTREPRENEURS
Enterprise lies at the heart of our mission. We pride
ourselves on providing high quality enterprise and startup teaching modules and nationally-recognised activities to
celebrate entrepreneurship, such as our annual Business
Start-up Day. Now we wish to go even further.
We want to equip our budding
student entrepreneurs with the
necessary skills and advice to avoid
the pitfalls of starting a business,
and build on the strengths of their
business ideas as well as nurturing
them as individuals, team members
and tomorrow’s business leaders.
To achieve this we need your help.
Your support will directly contribute
to our new start-up delivery
programme, the Business Start-Up
Journey.
−− Professor Martin Meyer
Director, Kent Business School
“I never fail to be impressed by the energy and enthusiasm
of students and I am delighted to help as many of them
as I can reach their goals and play their part in creating
wealth and jobs.
Helping students redefine and exceed their own objectives
is what this Fund in particular is all about.”
Paul Dyer,
Co-Founder Towergate,
Kent Alumnus and Kent Business School Advancement
Committee Chair
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Kent Business School
www.kent.ac.uk/kbs
MAKING A DIFFERENCE
More than ever economies need new business start-ups; but it is not just
a numbers game. There are thousands of businesses that start up each
year, but studies suggest that as many as nine out of ten don’t make it
past their second year.
This is where we want to make a difference. Surveys continually suggest that around 50 per cent of university
undergraduates want to start their own business before or soon after they graduate. This is where we can make a difference.
With proper support through the Business Start-Up Fund, we can provide students with an effective start-up programme
and give them the best possible chances of success.
Kent
6 Business School
www.kent.ac.uk/kbs
www.kentmba.com
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TOMORROW’S
ENTREPENEURS
“I’m really excited to begin involvement in the Business Start-up Journey - meeting entrepreneurs who have been there and done that
will be an amazing experience to support our own futures. We’re all so grateful for the kindness of the donors and we will certainly be
showing them lots of enthusiasm.”
Hollie Bentley, Second Year Student,
Marketing and Events Manager Kent Student Business Society
“Doing a course in Business and Management at the University of Kent is great for understanding the business environment but with
the opportunity to start your own business and work with successful entrepreneurs makes it exceptionally better. This programme will
be a fantastic way to be inspired, get started and receive the support needed to become an entrepreneur!”
Ada Worswick, Second Year Student,
Student Experience Officer
“Providing students with the practical advice to start their own
business is vital, that’s why I support the Business Start-Up
Fund.
It’s a great way of developing tomorrow’s business leaders and
entrepreneurs so that they are fully equipped with practical
skills needed to start, grow and develop their business start-up
ideas.”
Lisa Pan,
Vice President, Rekoo.
KBS Alumna
“Business Start-up Journey will provide me with an opportunity to turn my business ideas into reality. Studying Business Administration
and Marketing degree at University of Kent has filled me with immense knowledge and professionalism that I can utilise in order
to make my business plan a true success. The Business Start-Up Journey will provide an opportunity to support creativity and
entrepreneurship amongst students which can transform their lives.”
Osama Sabir, Second Year Student,
Student Experience Officer
“Starting a Business while still at university is a dream come true for entrepreneurs! The Kent Student Business Society is working
closely with the Business Start Up Journey to inspire students and get them excited about entrepreneurship as a career option.
Learning the ‘do’s’ and ‘don’ts’ whilst still at University helps avoid mistakes later and ensures new ideas have a better chance of
lasting beyond their set-up stage.”
Daniela Marxheka, Second Year Student,
President of Kent Student Business Society.
“The programme would be so beneficial for me in the sense that I could test the validity of my idea in a safe environment and even
more so, to gain valuable knowledge in turning an idea into a more tangible potential business which I have never had the resources to
do myself!”
Aimee Philpott, Second Year Student,
Online Sales and Marketing Intern at Rackspace Limited
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www.kentmba.com
THE BUSINESS
START-UP JOURNEY
Developing the next generation of entrepreneurs
A step-by-step extra-curricular programme designed to encourage, nurture and support the
development of student business start-ups
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Stage one: Be inspired
Get to think creatively about a business idea:
• Celebrate business start-ups
• Be inspired by guest entrepreneurs
• Get in the right frame of mind to articulate your business
start-up idea
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3
2
Stage four: Getting investor-ready
Stage three: Developing the idea
Stage two: Exploring your business idea
Consolidate your business start-up idea
Get access to a hands-on training programme
Get to test your business idea with others:
• Reflect on the attractiveness of your business idea
• Access and collaborate with like-minded entrepreneurs
• Pitch your idea for Stage 3
• Prepare an investor-ready business plan
• Access professional coaching from our entrepreneurs-inresidence and personal development programmes
• Get expert one-to-one advice from successful entrepreneurs
Stage five: Pitching
5
Present your business start-up idea to a panel of expert entrepreneurs
• Put your business start-up idea to the test
• Develop your presentation and pitching skills
• Make valuable business connections
• Understand the fundamentals of lean business start-up
• Work on a personal development plan
• Find out how to protect and fully exploit your idea
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Stage six: You’re in business!
You now have:
• The necessary knowledge and skills to become a successful
entrepreneur
• The opportunity to access the University HIVE incubator
• New connections to help your business thrive
Inspiring future generations
• Be an inspiration to others
• Return to advise the next generation of student entrepreneurs
• Good luck!
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Kent
10Business School
www.kent.ac.uk/kbs 11
www.kentmba.com
YOUR DONATION
You will benefit by...
Supporting the next generation of
entrepreneurs
Take the opportunity to give back in
a tangible way to support budding
entrepreneurs and help develop dynamic
economies and sustainable and ethical
business practices.
Hearing it first
Take part in a judging panel and be one
of the first to have students pitch their
business ideas to you. Who knows, you
might be the first to spot the next big thing.
Your donation will
help...
Nurture Talent
Equip students with the confidence to “give
it a go” while they are still at the University
of Kent.
Deliver a package of support
Provide expert assistance at every stage of
the development of their Business Start-Up;
from ideas creation to financing.
For every £1,500 donated,
we can fund one place on
the Business Start-Up
Help create sustainable businesses
Help students identify and test the market
as they develop their business model and
offer.
Meeting new business contacts
As well as having the opportunity to develop
lasting relationships with the student(s) you
support, you will also have the opportunity
to network with established entrepreneurs
through our networking events and
celebration dinners.
Receiving a big ‘thank you’
But the biggest reward will come from the
student entrepreneurs themselves who you
have helped along their Business Start-Up
Journey.
“Building a business in today’s competitive environment is very challenging
but also hugely rewarding. It is a difficult journey where learning from your
mistakes is a key component for success.
The Fund is an ideal forum for students to have their ideas challenged and
prepare them for the realities of the commercial world. I am excited to support
the Business Start-Up Fund.”
Daniel Rubin
Founder and Executive Chairman, The Dune Group
Kent Alumnus
Kent
12Business School
www.kent.ac.uk/kbs 13
www.kentmba.com
WHY KENT?
The University of Kent is an ideal environment to develop the next
generation of student entrepreneurs.
As a provider of business education, we are committed to enhancing the career prospects of all our students, undergraduate
and postgraduate, in order to enable them to compete and flourish in a competitive, fast-moving knowledge-based economy.
The University of Kent has been ranked in the top 20 in the Guardian university league table, and placed in the top 10 for
overall student satisfaction in the National Student Survey.
Through the provision of the Business Start-up Fund, we are ensuring that our students continue to receive first class support,
advice and business education in a stimulating and effective learning community.
Thank you for your support.
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CONNECT
WITH US
T: +44 (0)1227 824855
E: kbsbusiness@kent.ac.uk
University of Kent, Kent Business School, Canterbury, Kent CT2 7PE
www.kent.ac.uk/kbs/