Ignite 2025 finalists Six social entrepreneurs emerging from UK universities have been selected to pitch for funding at Ignite, after last year’s finalists shared more than £300,000 for their start-up businesses. The Ford Family Foundation’s flagship event will be hosted at...
AIBŌ – a platform connecting university students with elderly people through paid companionship, founded by King’s College London student Solene Declas. Tackling loneliness among older generations and the financial pressures facing students, Solene’s ambition is to create a national network of...
Reporti – a safeguarding app designed to keep people safe at crowded events, allowing users to quickly report incidents such as harassment, assault, or unsafe behaviour. Imperial College and Royal College of Art student Gracie Broom created the platform to ensure vulnerable groups have...
Braille Forge – affordable braille technology to improve access to STEM education for visually impaired students. Brunel University student Jonny Parker is striving to positively influence long-term employment prospects for visually impaired learners, who currently face prohibitively expensive costs that limit...
WeDonate – a platform designed to encourage blood donation through community rewards to help counter national shortages. University of Chichester student Stephen King created the tool so that hospitals gain a more reliable supply of blood, donors are recognised and rewarded for...
Harker – a CRM system designed to support homelessness charities with vital data insights. University of Liverpool student James Barber is on a mission to simplify how charities record and interpret information, enabling them to improve services, strengthen funding applications, and...
Rephobia – Queen’s University Belfast student Liam Harte is using virtual reality to deliver accessible therapy for people living with phobias such as fear of flying, heights, or social situations. With potential applications in clinics, schools, and direct-to-consumer use, Rephobia aims to...
Joel Steele is a financial expert, entrepreneur and co-owner of a successful financial firm with more than 20 years of experience helping Individuals build wealth and well-being. Beyond his professional achievements, he values his roles as husband, father and mentor...
An interview with David Bruce OBE, founder of the Firkin pubs and Bruce’s Breweries, and author of ‘The Firkin Saga: Brewing up entrepreneurial adventures and pioneering tales with the Prince of Ales’ David, you managed to turn a failed pub...
Tiger-Lily and Demi, you have both created a powerful media platform for the flexible worker covering industries from managed workspace to recruitment. Tell us more about the inspiration behind this concept. Tiger-Lily: “We wanted to offer a fresh take on...
