Three Brunel founded startups have been selected to receive £5,000 equity-free funding through the Santander Open Innovation, Brunel Entrepreneur Hub Start-up Scale-up Awards.
Launched on 14 May, the programme was designed to support early-stage ventures already demonstrating market traction and preparing for their next stage of growth. Open to Brunel students and graduates from the last 10 years, the awards attracted applications from founders showcasing progress through users, revenue generation, pilot projects and strategic partnerships.
Applicants were assessed through two-minute video submissions, with judges evaluating evidence of traction and the potential impact that £5,000 of funding could have on accelerating business growth.
The awards recognised founders who are successfully translating innovative ideas into commercially viable ventures and who have demonstrated a clear pathway for future development.
The three Brunel graduate winning ventures will each receive £5,000 to help unlock their next milestone, whether through product development, customer acquisition, market testing or scaling operations.
Meet the winners:
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Georgia Williams and Joshua King, founders of Zeal Lifestyle - a lifestyle brand, redefining the assisted living sector, creating Stylish Lightweight Walking mobility aids.
Joshua King shared “This is the best news!! We are so excited and so so grateful that Brunel is still supporting us all these years on from graduating.”
The Santander Open Innovation, Brunel Entrepreneur Hub Start-up Scale-up Awards form part of Brunel's ongoing commitment to supporting entrepreneurial talent and helping founders transform promising early-stage businesses into sustainable, high-growth ventures. We're grateful to Santander for funding this competition and backing Brunel founders with the resources they need to scale.
Congratulations to this year's winners and applicants, whose ambition, innovation and determination continue to strengthen Brunel's entrepreneurial community!