The Big Idea Competition is the University of Westminster’s annual business idea and innovation competition sponsored by Santander Universities UK. The competition drives students and graduates to develop and activate their innovation skills and entrepreneurial ideas. This year we are working with Experience Haus to deliver an exciting programme of workshops, mentoring and expert advice throughout the competition!
Applications have now closed. You can view the entries shortlisted to the next stage within the entry category pages.
Entry Categories
Freelance
Viable new ideas
Pitch your portfolio of work and client service offer
Ideation
Viable new ideas
Pitch the potential of your early-stage product or service idea.
Acceleration
Post-Revenue Businesses
Pitch your existing and trading product or service and its potential to grow.
Prizes: What You Could Win
Innovation
A place on the 2020 London Venture Crawl
3x Winning Entries
£1000 each
3x Runner Ups Entries
£500 each
1x Viral Idea Winner
£500
Ideation
A place on the 2020 London Venture Crawl
1x Winning Entries
£3000
1x Runner Ups Entry
£1500
1x Finalist
£500
1x Viral Idea Winner
£500
Acceleration
A place on the 2020 London Venture Crawl
1x Winning Entries
£6000
1x Runner Ups Entry
£2500
1x Finalist
£1500
1x Viral Idea Winner
£500
Skills Development Workshops
As you progress through the competition you will have the opportunity develop your insights and skills by attending the series of workshops organised by this year’s competition delivery partner: Experience Haus.
Insight Workshops
If you interested in applying you are encouraged to attend the following workshop for inspiration and guidance on submitting a winning application!
Upskill & Build
If you are shortlisted you will get exclusive access to the following workshops, to improve your chances of getting to the final!
Innovate
- Conducting Effective User Research
- Experience Mapping
- User stories and Problem Statements
- Stakeholder kick-off meeting
- Ideation and rapid prototyping
- Presentation Skills
- Usability Testing
Ideate
- Business Model Design
- Customer Development
- Competitive Research
- Ideation and rapid prototyping
- Pricing Strategies
- Features and Product Roadmap
Accelerate
- Investment Readiness
- Creative Strategy
- Pitching to VCs
- Building and Managing a Team
- Project Risks and Constraints
- Influence
Mentoring
Engage continuously with your startup team
1 x Mentoring Session
A Mentoring session and expert advice throughout the competition
A Mentoring session and expert advice throughout the competition