Kick Start 2011 – Applications Now Open

Kick Start  The largest ever seed investment programme supported by university entrepreneurial
societies – is back and bigger than ever.

Kick Start is the seed investment programme for entrepreneurs, run by entrepreneurs.

Entrants can earn an investment of up to £30,000 in their business as well as gaining invaluable advice, support and mentoring.

The Kick Start programme is looking for the very best and brightest entrepreneurs.

• Do you have a well thought through idea that you feel passionately about and are ready to throw yourself into?
• Have you developed a product or service that you are ready to launch?
• Are you already running a business and need help to really take it to next level?

If the answer to any of these questions is yes – Kick Start is for you.

Applications close by 6^th May 2011 so APPLY HERE NOW.

How Kick Start works

Complete your application form by 6^th May 2011.

The Kick Start panel will review proposals and contact a short list of entrants inviting them to make a short presentation and answer questions in person.

These meetings will be held in Oxford (and possibly London depending on demand and the location of entrants) on May 16^th and 17th 2011 so entrants should ensure they keep their diaries free on these days.

The Kick Start programme then aims to inform companies about funding offers by June 2011.

Funding offers will depend on the start-up’s particular circumstances, but will typically involve taking a minority stake in a company’s equity in return for an investment and just as importantly the help, advice and support that will be provided.

Applications close by 6^th May 2011 so APPLY HERE NOW.

Please note: Due to the nature of the Kick Start programme, all decisions are final and are at the entire discretion of the Kick Start panel.

For any questions regarding the competition, please email [email protected]

The people behind Kick Start

Kick Start was created and is run by Mark Pritchard and Andy Yates – experienced start-up entrepreneurs, seed investors and business mentors.

Kick Start is much more than just money. Mark and Andy will give Kick Start winners the benefit of their own time, experience and contacts to really help establish and grow new businesses and product

Mark and Andy have experienced the full business process from start-up through to successful exit.

They founded Digital Look in the late 1990s and grew this to become one of Europe’s largest financial information businesses building a consumer audience of 500,000+ and creating major white label partnerships with leading banks, stockbrokers and media players including HSBC, Barclays, HBOS, Santander, Sky, BBC and Yahoo. The business was acquired by global derivatives group, CMC Markets.

Mark and Andy have since invested in, and helped, a range of online business including Geomium, Huddlebuy and Spam Ratings.

What people say about Kick Start

Ashvir Sangha, president of Oxford Entrepreneurs:

“Kick Start, only in its second year, has already become a flagship seed investment programme and it represents a fantastic opportunity for entrepreneurs. We are delighted that Mark and Andy created Kick Start. I have worked closely with them and I can really say their insight, advice, experience and help is invaluable for young and growing businesses.

Kick Start really can make your business dream a reality and if you are serious about being an entrepreneur you should definitely be applying.”

Kick Start began in 2010. Its first investment was in the exciting and fast growing mobile locational based platform Geomium. Michael Ferguson, CEO of Geomium said:

“Geomium was delighted to win a Kick Start investment. Kick Start helped us to really accelerate our plans, leading to a very successful and high profile launch of our iPhone platform.

With Kick Start’s help Geomium has continued to grow its user base rapidly, gained strong press and industry coverage and interest, created a real buzz about the Geomium platform and prospects and taken the product forward in exciting new ways. The support and help we received from Kick Start and from Mark and Andy has been invaluable.”

Jordan Poulton, Oxford Entrepreneurs President 2009-2010 and now spear heading new business development initiatives at o2 said: 

“Kick Start is an inspirational programme for entrepreneurs who want to change their lives. Yes it is the largest entrepreneurial society start up programme out there in terms of the investment up for grabs – but it is much much more than that. Kick Start offers invaluable personal advice, help, mentoring and support that can make a huge difference to any business. For anybody starting their own business or needing to take it to the next level I cannot recommend Kick Start highly enough.”