FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Monday 21 September 2015)
The Grad Factor launches
2015 UK bus tour
Intended to support University students looking to start a
business, The Grad Factor will visit numerous locations
nationwide starting in Cardiff and ending in Edinburgh, all
throughout October.
In exclusive partnership with RBS & NatWest, The Grad Factor is back this year
bigger than ever as the UK’s only Government endorsed national business pitch
contest for University students. Designed to showcase the best student
entrepreneurs and start-ups nationwide, the enterprise campaign kicks off with a
bang having announced it will go on tour using NatWest’s iconic 1966
Routemaster bus (normally the ‘NatWest Mobile Business School’) to meet with
students and encourage them to enter.
Co-sponsored by Innovify and officially supported by StartUp Britain and
Journolink, The Grad Factor team will visit a number of University locations
across the UK hoping to engage with thousands of aspiring student
entrepreneurs nationwide.
The Grad Factor is the brainchild of serial entrepreneur Keith Chaplin-Mabbutt, who says:
“Apparently 1 in 4 students within Higher Education now want to start a business or have already
done so. Knowing the importance that entrepreneurs have for economic growth, innovation and
job creation we want to fully harness this fantastic potential and support budding entrepreneurs to
provide them with the skills and resources they need to help build their ideas into successful and
sustainable businesses. I’m looking forward to The Grad Factor showcasing the very best student
entrepreneurs and start up talent across the UK.”
This crucial support is further championed by The Grad Factor contest teaming up this year with
value driven product management company, Innovify.
Maulik Sailor, Founder & CEO at Innovify, said: "The high failure rate in the UK start-up scene
is primarily due to the fundamental problem many founders face - finding the right technical cofounder, or chief technology officer to effectively create the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) for
launch. We want to make student entrepreneurs more aware of this problem and help them create
the next multi-million pound company."
Last year the competition was won by a duo from The University of Cambridge so standards are
high, but now operated by a new parent company, StartUp Factor, an overhaul of the format sees
four separate Awards up for grabs.
The Grad Factor 2014: Finalists & Winner with Judges
Julie Baker, Head of Enterprise at official partners NatWest, said: "We are really pleased to
be supporting The Grad Factor competition. We’re using the NatWest Business Bus to get out and
help entrepreneurial talent and start-ups in universities across the UK. By collaborating with
experts from The Grad Factor team, StartUp Britain, university enterprise societies and business
incubators and accelerators, we hope together to provide a broader range of support to
entrepreneurial students, help them realise their business ambitions, and support them to become
investor-ready through The Grad Factor contest.”
Starting at the University of South Wales on Tuesday 6 October, The Grad Factor bus tour will
cover a number of major cities including Exeter, Bath, London, Birmingham and Manchester,
before finishing at the University of Edinburgh on 30 October. Each event will run from 12 Noon to
4pm and provide University students the opportunity to speak directly with the organisers of the
competition and refine their pitch prior to entering.
The Grad Factor competition opens for first round video entries from 9am Monday 28
September and closes at Midnight on Saturday 31 October. Students can enter for free via
the official website, www.gradfactor.tv. Successful entrants will be handpicked by a Judging panel
to progress to the invitation-only Regional Finals.
Twelve of the very best student start-ups, three across each Awards category, will attend the
Grand Final at RBS’ London HQ on 10 December to face a judging panel of industry experts who
will ultimately choose the 4 category Award winners and announce those classed as the best UK
Start-Ups with The Grad Factor.
To enter and find out more about the tour, dates and University locations, the Award categories,
Eligibility criteria and the fantastic Prizes on offer visit the official website: www.gradfactor.tv.
Ends
Notes to Editors:
Students can enter The Grad Factor contest for free via the official website: www.gradfactor.tv.
Students must upload a short video link (no longer than 60 seconds) that introduces themselves
and describes their business idea or existing enterprise. Following the deadline for entries, pitch
auditions for selected students will take place during November in Manchester, London and Bristol.
Those that successfully make it through the auditions will be invited to attend The Grad Factor
Grand Final to be held at RBS’ London HQ on 10 December 2015.
StartUp Factor is a Government endorsed organisation providing individuals access to start-up
funding and mentoring to help launch and develop their own businesses. The company works in
partnership with Angel Investors and supportive Incubators and Accelerator programmes that help
individuals across the country in all Industries and sectors launch and scale a business start-up.
The Grad Factor brand and pitch contest is specifically dedicated to helping support University
students within UK Higher Education.
Photos are available on request.
For further information, please contact: Keith Chaplin-Mabbutt, Creator of The Grad Factor:
kcm@startupfactor.co.uk or 07790-570-766.
Partnered with:
Sponsored by:
Supported by: