NACUE Annual Varsity Pitch Competition

by Startacus Admin
If you’re a student or graduate entrepreneur, who reckons their business has the potential to take on the best your peer group has to offer, then Varsity Pitch 2014 could be the startup competition you've been looking for.
Here’s the details:
The National Association of College and University Entrepreneurs (which is mercifully shortened to NACUE) have just announced the 5th annual outing of their startup competition, specifically designed for innovative young business owners.
Each year the Varsity Pitch sees over 200 entrants from across the country, battle it out for the coveted £10,000 cash prize and a moment in the spotlight of the media and business worlds.
From the initial applications, NACUE will painstakingly whittle down the numbers until they are left with only the most innovative and promising business plans, the owners of which will then pitch their business to an expert panel.
If selected, contestants will compete to win their industry category before entering the final stage to claim the national title in front of 250 entrepreneurs, investors, public figures and members of the media.
If last year is anything to go by, there is going to be some mighty stiff competition. Since competing, the last 3 finalists have all grown in leaps and bounds and now have a combined value in excess of £10m - an extraordinary figure which demonstrates the level of innovation and standard of business model which is expected from entrants!
Blaze and their product LaserLight, was last year’s winner. It is a geniusly simple bicycle light innovation which aims to vastly improve the safety of cyclists traveling in the dark, through a patented laser feature which projects a laser image of a bicycle 6 meters in front of the bicycle, to alert drivers and pedestrians to their presence.
NACUE Chief Executive Johnny Luk said:
“Over the years, we’ve seen hundreds of incredible and innovative applications to the Varsity Pitch, from turning beans into biofuel, to online platforms that help buyers make decisions in seconds. Past winners have used the Varsity Pitch as a platform to accelerate growth, advance product development or attract investors who attend these events. Even the opportunity to hone a pitch, gain feedback and meet like-minded entrepreneurs is a valuable experience. That’s what we’re all about at NACUE.
The final stage of the Competition will take place on November 21st, 2014 and is a flagship event during the UK’s Global Entrepreneurship Week.
How to Enter?
There’s just 3 easy steps that you need to do in order for your application to be received by the team at NACUE.
Step 1) Upload a 60 second video pitch to Youtube
Step 2) Fill out the application form (and dont forget to include a link to your Youtube pitch!)
Step 3) Share your application on twitter using the hashtag #varsitypitch.
Easy peasy!
This year the Varsity Pitch competition is open to current students at any UK college or university, or those who have graduated anytime after 2009. You’ll need to get your entrepreneurial skates on though, because Applications will close on October 19th 2014!
Subscribe to our newsletter
If you would like to receive our startup themed newsletter, full of the latest startup opportunities, events, news, stories, tips and advice, then sign up here.
Tracworx is a real-time patient tracking system that results in excellent patient care throughout the entire patient journey

The environmental initiative, Returnr that aims to replace single use takeaway packaging with equivalent reusable solutions

Thriftify is an online platform that connects the most sustainable & ethical source of goods with consumers who care...

Women in Tech themed half-day event and startup pitching competition to take place during next year’s Derry City and Strabane District Council’s Enterprise Week

HyperJar is a FinTech startup and digital app which is making it easier for people to plan, share and spend their money

More FinTech headquarters based in London than any other city according to report just published from Savills and flexible office specialist Workthere

PropTech innovation continues with the launch of Track, a property and money manager app aimed specifically at younger homeowners

Innovation in household chores thanks to effie - the domestic appliance that dries and irons your clothes for you

Joii, the innovative platform and app that is on a mission to make petcare more accessible, more affordable and more convenient

Belfast based startup, Locate a Locum secures £1m in equity funding and plans further development and job creation
Published on: 6th October 2014
If you would like to enable commenting via your Startacus account, please enable Disqus functionality in your Account Settings.







- Derry & Strabane Tech event championing women in tech and tech inclusion announced 5th Dec 2019 Women in Tech themed half-day event and startup pitching competition to take place during next year’s Derry City and Strabane District Council’s Enterprise Week
- London leading the way for global FinTech headquarters 4th Dec 2019 More FinTech headquarters based in London than any other city according to report just published from Savills and flexible office specialist Workthere
- London-based startup Perlego raises £7 million 19th Nov 2019 Major investment news for Perlego, the London-based startup that is on a mission to make education material accessible for all
- Investment announced in Aisha, the award-winning halal baby food manufacturer 13th Nov 2019 Aisha secures seven-figure investment from the Foresight Group to help its marketing, development and international expansion plans