The Big Pitch is split into two pathways. This guide explains the terms and conditions for both:
Early-Stage Start-up Pathway
The first pathway ‘Early-Stage Start-up Pathway’ is for students and recent graduates at the beginning or developing stages of their start-up journey. Successful applicants will have 3-minutes to pitch their business, or idea, for a chance to win:
Up to £1,500 Business funding
Space on a Business Bootcamp or We Innovate programme
Mentorship / Business Advice
Local trading opportunities
Access to business support memberships
Digital billboard marketing space
Who is eligible?
This pathway is open to current Swansea University students and recent graduates (within 2 years).
Business funding provided through The Big Pitch is from Santander Universities UK and can only be used towards businesses which are to be based in the UK.
If you’re studying on a Student Visa, you can’t pitch for business funding because you can’t legally set-up a business in the UK on that Visa. However, you can still pitch for the other prizes to help you develop your entrepreneurial skills.
Your business needs to be trading and registered (sole trader, limited company, etc.) or soon to be. If you are successful in winning funding, your business must be registered within 3 months of your successful win.
Funding will only be released once the business has been registered and proof of registration has been provided to the Student Enterprise Team.
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Established Innovation Pathway
The second pathway ‘Established Innovation Pathway’ will be held for students and graduates with established businesses. Successful applicants will have 5-minutes each to pitch their business for a chance to win:
Up to £3,00 funding
Top prize of £5,000 funding awarded to one business demonstrating outstanding innovation and potential
Space on a Business Bootcamp or We Innovate programme
Mentorship / Business Advice
Local trading opportunities
Access to business support memberships
Digital billboard marketing space
Who is eligible?
This pathway is open to current Swansea University students and recent graduates (within 2 years).
Those applying must have a registered trading status (sole trader, limited company, etc.) and have been trading for over 12 months. Applications will only be accepted following confirmation and evidence provided.
The business must be innovative and in a position that is ready to expand, for which evidence must be provided in the application.
The funding can only go towards UK based businesses. Individuals or teams which include a student on a Student Visa are NOT able to apply for business funding. Individuals on a Graduate Route Visa are able to apply for funding.
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How does the funding work for both pathways?
If you are successful in pitching for business funding, you will not be gifted the money, it works as a reimbursement. This means you have to spend the money first using your own means and keep all of your receipts/proof of purchases in order to claim back the money.
To claim back the money you’ve spent, you will be provided with a Student Expense Form which you need to complete and send to enterprise@swansea.ac.uk along with your receipts/proof of purchases. Your payment will then be processed.
You must submit your claim by the deadline unless otherwise agreed upon with the Student Enterprise Team.
For those who win funding under the ‘Early-Stage Start-up Pathway’, you must register your business and provide proof of this before you can make your claim otherwise funds will not be released to you.
Once you have submitted your claim payments can take up to 5 weeks to come through, however there may be occasional delays.
What can the Business Funding go towards?
Equipment
Stock
Website development / Business software
Prototypes / Manufacturing products
Business uniforms / Marketing and promotion (business cards, graphic designs, paid adds, etc.)
Business memberships (specifically related to your business)
Please note, all items must be agreed upon beforehand with the Enterprise Team as some items are not eligible and will be decided on a case by case basis. An example of items which are not eligible:
Salaries
Rent and utilities
Vehicles
Laptops / computers
Claim Deadline?
You must claim your money back by 28th Feb 2027
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Mandatory Pitching Workshop
To help give successful applicants the best chance to prepare their pitch, we will be running our ‘How to Pitch’ workshop on Nov 11th at Singleton Campus.
This workshop will be mandatory for everyone taking part. Follow this link to apply. If you are given a space for the competition and have any issues attending this workshop, please email the enterprise@swansea.ac.uk.
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