Meet the winners of Falmouth’s annual Dragons’ Den event

Falmouth University's Employability team recently hosted their annual Dragons' Den event, showcasing the ingenuity and creativity of our student body. With a cash prize pot of £6000, the event attracted a diverse array of aspiring entrepreneurs, each eager to pitch their innovative business ideas to a panel of esteemed Dragons.

The Dragons' Den event aims to help students refine their pitching skills, build their business acumen and acquire funding for their proposals. This year our panel of Dragons included: Ananya Banarjee, lecturer and doctoral researcher within Cornwall Business School; Hollie Milne, Falmouth University alumni and co-founder of Studio Far West; Iain Ellwood, Honorary Fellow and Chair UK of Design Bridge and Partners; and Emma Hunt, Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive of Falmouth University.

The competition was fierce, with 30 ambitious students vying for financial support for their ventures. Through a rigorous selection process, three standout finalists emerged, each with a unique and promising business concept.

The triumphant team, InkForge Studios, comprised of Game Development: Writing BA students Tom Hunt, Archie Crampton and Oli Wheeler and Sustainable Product Design BA student, Hermione Lobb, impressed the judges with their innovative approach to game development and storytelling, securing them the top prize of £3000.

Business and Entrepreneurship BA student, Ben Perkins and Creative Events Management BA student, Freya Pretty also won £1500 each in support of their businesses.

Reflecting on the event, one of our Dragons, Ananya, said: "From sustainability to creativity - everything was on offer. Such a great collection of student pitches made us realise how hard the shortlisting job must have been for the employability team. I am looking forward to more such inspiring events." 

All students received support and coaching sessions leading up to the event. Marcus Simmons and Claire Rose from Launchpad Futures provided invaluable guidance, helping participants refine their pitches and strategies for success.

The Employability team continues to offer ongoing support sessions for all applicants, ensuring that every student, regardless of the outcome, receives tailored guidance and one-on-one advice to further develop their business ideas. We can't wait to see what these students achieve next.