For undergraduate student Ivan Almeida, an entrepreneurship assignment delivered through Brunel's Department of Mathematics became the starting point for a social venture focused on student wellbeing. Supported by academic staff and the Brunel Entrepreneur Hub, Ivan has since secured £6,000 in funding to begin piloting his idea and continue developing it through the University's Summer Incubator.
Where entrepreneurship meets mathematics
Anne-Sophie Kaloghiros, Reader in Mathematics/Operations Research and Head of the Department of Mathematics, said: "Embedding entrepreneurship within the Mathematics degree can be transformative for students: it broadens their career perspectives, and boosts their professional confidence. Working with the Brunel Entrepreneur Hub, students experience how to use mathematical thinking to address real-world challenges spanning education, technology, wellbeing and sustainability.
Ivan's journey began with a module assignment challenging students to develop a business idea using tools such as the Business Model Canvas before pitching their concept.
"The module was really my first opportunity to actually test something out," he explains. "It was the take-off strip that I needed to really think about the business aspects of an idea."
Turning experience into a solution
The idea became Amplified Creative Therapy, an initiative encouraging students to explore creative forms of self-expression, from music and media to gardening and sport, as a way of supporting their wellbeing alongside existing support services. The concept was shaped by Ivan's own experiences navigating a challenging period for his family and his recognition that traditional support services may not suit everyone immediately. "I felt that other students are probably going through similar things," he says. "Maybe there's a way for them to express themselves in a way that's most applicable to them."
A collaborative approach to entrepreneurship
Working with his lecturer, Professor Stephen Langdon and the Entrepreneur Hub team, Ivan refined his Business Model Canvas, strengthened his pitch and explored funding opportunities. He secured third place in the Brunel Venture Competition, receiving £1,000, before winning the Melete Social Impact Fund and a further £5,000. The funding is enabling the team to begin piloting the initiative, train students in Mental Health First Aid and expand engagement activities across universities.
Ivan is now participating in the Brunel Summer Incubator, working with experienced entrepreneurs and business professionals to develop the venture further, while guidance from the Department of Mathematics has helped him explore entrepreneurial placement opportunities. For students considering entrepreneurship themselves, his advice is simple:
"Just jump into the water and see what happens. You may find out that the water isn't as cold as you think."
Student Entrepreneur Ivan at Melete Social Impact Awards 2026 with Lady (Kitty) Chisholm
and Sir John Chisholm founders of Melete Foundation