Venture Builder: Turn your idea into reality

Work towards turning your entrepreneurial idea into a viable business or social enterprise, with this free 10-week programme.

Who it’s for

This programme is open to UCL students, staff and recent alumni (graduated from UCL within the past 2 years).

You should have:

• an idea for a business or social enterprise that you have been working on and want to turn into a reality
• previously completed one our of entrepreneurship training courses such as the Explore programme, SPERO Learn or equivalent
• the commitment to develop your idea, the ability to attend the programme in full, and the intention of pursuing your enterprise idea after the programme has finished

You cannot apply if your business is in the Hatchery incubator.

What to expect

This programme takes place over 10 weeks.

It involves:

• a kick-off event with a meet and greet session (which you can attend online or in-person at BaseKX)
• six 30-minute one-to-one coaching sessions (online)
• four 2-hour group coaching sessions, where you’ll present your idea and receive feedback (online or in-person at BaseKX)
• a mid-programme social event (in-person at BaseKX)
• a pitch practice session (online or in-person at BaseKX)
• a final pitch competition with a chance to win prize money (in-person at BaseKX)

Throughout the programme, you'll also need to dedicate 2 to 3 hours a week to work independently on your idea.

During the programme you’ll work with experienced start-up coaches and a community of likeminded early-stage entrepreneurs. 

What you'll learn

This programme will help you:

• understand your sector and market opportunities for the development of your enterprise idea
• develop a proof-of-concept or prototype of your idea so that you can showcase the product or service
• network and build relationships with potential customers and collaborators, and illustrate market traction
• develop your business model, brand and go-to-market strategy, to prepare to raise funds to launch your business and/or begin trading
• develop your presenting and negotiation skills, to pitch investors on your vision and the market opportunity and/or begin selling to clients / customers
• understand what the next steps are to continue developing your entrepreneurial idea

Dates and times

This programme runs twice a year, in terms 2 and 3.

Term 2 programme dates (20 January to 27 March)

Week 1:

• Kick-off event: Monday, 20 January, 4pm to 7pm
• One-to-one session: Tuesday, 21 or Wednesday, 22 January (evening)

Week 2:

• One-to-one session: Tuesday, 28 or Wednesday, 29 January (evening)

Week 3:

• Group coaching: Tuesday, 4 February, 5pm to 8pm

Week 4:

• One-to-one session: Tuesday, 11 or Wednesday, 12 February (evening)

Week 5:

• One-to-one session: Tuesday, 18 or Wednesday, 19 February (evening)
• Mid-programme social: Thursday, 20 February, 4pm to 7pm

Week 6:

• Group coaching: Tuesday, 25 February, 5pm to 8pm

Week 7:

• One-to-one session: Tuesday, 4 or Wednesday, 5 March (evening)

Week 8:

• One-to-one session: Tuesday, 11 or Wednesday, 12 March (evening)

Week 9:

• Group coaching: Tuesday, 18 March, 5pm to 8pm

Week 10:

• Pitching practice session: Monday, 24 March, 5pm to 8pm
• Pitch competition: Thursday, 27 March, 2pm to 5pm (followed by networking over drinks and canapés from 5pm to 8pm)

Term 3 programme dates (6 May to 11 July)

Week 1:

• Kick-off event: Tuesday, 6 May, 4pm to 7pm
• One-to-one session: Wednesday, 7 or Thursday, 8 May (evening)

Week 2:

• One-to-one session: Tuesday, 13 or Wednesday, 14 May (evening)

Week 3:

• Group coaching: Tuesday, 20 May, 5pm to 8pm

Week 4:

• One-to-one session: Tuesday, 27 or Wednesday, 28 May (evening)

Week 5:

• One-to-one session: Tuesday, 3 or Wednesday, 4 June (evening)
• Mid-programme social: Thursday, 5 June, 4pm to 7pm

Week 6:

• Group coaching: Tuesday, 10 June, 5pm to 8pm

Week 7:

• One-to-one session: Tuesday, 17 or Wednesday, 18 June (evening)

Week 8:

• One-to-one session: Tuesday, 24 or Wednesday, 25 June (evening)

Week 9:

• Group coaching: Tuesday, 1 July, 5pm to 8pm

Week 10:

• Pitching practice session: Monday, 7 July, 5pm to 8pm
• Pitch competition: Friday, 11 July, 2pm to 5pm (followed by networking over drinks and canapés from 5pm to 8pm)

Accessibility

If you have any accessibility requirements/requests, please let us know in the signup form. 

How to apply

Doctoral students 

If you’re a doctoral student, you’re eligible to get doc skills points by attending this programme, and should apply via Inkpath.

Other applicants

If you are not a doctoral student, please apply via one of these MS forms.

If your initial application is successful, you'll be invited to a 10-minute online interview. In the interview, you'll need to give a 2-minute pitch of your idea, followed by 8-minutes of questions.

How to apply sessions

To help you submit a successful application, come to one of our 30-minute online ‘how to apply’ sessions. 

These sessions will cover:

• what to expect from the Venture Builder programme
• what you’ll need to demonstrate in your application and interview
• what the structure of your interview pitch should be
• the questions you’ll be asked in the interview

You’ll also be able to ask questions throughout the session.

Dates will be published here when confirmed.

About the tutors

Warrick Harniess, Managing Director, Scandinavia Stories

Warrick is an educator and founder of Scandinavia Stories, a learning and development agency that specialises in business startup support and communications. He learnt his craft during a career at Pearson Education, and as a musician inspired by punk rock and the do-it-yourself ethos. Warrick’s first book, Red, White and Radical: What Organisations Can Learn About Change from the Rise of American Conservatism was published in May 2020. 

Mario Moustras, Director, Mazamo Limited

Mario is a leadership and talent development coach who works with researchers and entrepreneurs. Before becoming a coach, Mario worked for the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). He has a PhD in chemistry, and is a chartered scientist and Fellow of the RSC. Mario has worked with scientists and engineers across government agencies, industry and universities. He's led teams through science-related programmes in higher education, enterprise partnerships (especially with small companies) and technology policy.

Filming and photography takes place at our events for promotional purposes. The photographs and recordings will appear on our website and social media channels. If you do not wish to be filmed or photographed, please let a member of staff know on arrival.

Read our privacy notice to understand how UCL Innovation & Enterprise will deal with your personal data.

UCL Innovation & Enterprise reserves the right to make changes to the programme, location and/or speakers without prior notice. Such alterations are occasionally necessary due to circumstances beyond our control.