Recently we ran Startup Sprint at Accelerator, one of our most popular programmes for students looking to learn new entrepreneurial skills, develop business ideas and practice their presentation and pitching.
Accelerator is London Met University‘s business incubator and specialises in developing business ideas and entrepreneurial skills, through various programmes, with students and graduates from the University. Keep reading to find out about the programme and what students learn over the 48 hours.
What is Startup Sprint?
Startup Sprint is an incredible 48-hour learning-by-doing, weekend workshop that we developed to teach London Met students how to create businesses and develop pitching skills in an extreme hands-on environment.
At our most recent Startup Sprint weekend from 7-9 February, more than 40 entrepreneurial students and graduates from London Met and London Southbank University came together to take part.
What happens over the weekend?
From start to finish Startup Sprint is intensive. So, to keep everyone’s energy up we bring in hackathon veterans Ozzy and Marc, Co-Founders of The New London Agency; two fantastic and high energy facilitators. Right from the beginning, Ozzy and Marc leads students through a highly structured and well tested programme to ensure they can fit what is basically 3 months of work into just 3 days.
On Friday night you get to meet all the other students taking part, a fantastic chance to do some networking; through a series of introductions and icebreakers. Everyone votes for their favourite ideas and then join into teams to get started developing something awesome.
Like we said, it’s intense from the get-go!
Saturday is all about customer discovery, which is vital part of building a new business. As we say, there is no point spending 6 months developing a business if no one will buy it. Waste of time, energy and (potentially) money!
After you and your team find and talk to potential customers in the local area, you can use this newfound knowledge and understanding of your customers’ needs to validate the idea, define the business and design your pitch.
And we’re only on day 2!
The remainder of the weekend before the final pitching event on Sunday involves practicing, improving and perfecting your pitch. The great news is that Ozzy, Marc and a group of amazing founders and experts work with you during this time as mentors to offer real world advice on the idea and your pitch.
On Sunday night, we bring everything to a close with a fantastic pitching event. You and your team will pitch to a packed room of fellow participants, friends, business founders and an expert judging panel.
In just 48 hours of February 2020, 10 teams took to the stage and did a fantastic job pitching their new businesses. We can’t wait to run Startup Sprint again next year and hope you will be joining us! If you would like to take part, you can register your interest on our website now.