Tata Varsity Pitch Competition

TATA VARSITY PITCH COMPETITION 2024

It’s coming back for its 15^th year! Get ready for applications opening shortly!

After another fantastic year in 2023, the Tata Varsity Pitch Competition is back for another exciting year, celebrating and championing aspiring student and graduate entrepreneurs from across the UK.

The Tata Varsity Pitch Competition, powered by NACUE, is a national early-stage business pitching competition that celebrates the best businesses coming out of colleges and universities across the UK.

It has become one of the UK’s flagship enterprise events as part of GEW - celebrating and showcasing the entrepreneurial flair of young businesses for over ten years. Tata Varsity Pitch winners include Blaze (now Beryl), AEROPOWDER, WASE, Post Carbon Lab, The Washing Machine Project, Drill Surgeries. and the 2023 winner, Even.

The three-stage competition showcases the breadth and depth of business creativity coming out of UK universities, colleges and further education institutions. In the final stage of the competition seven student and graduate start-ups have the chance to compete for £15,000 of equity free funding to develop their business and win a coveted national title.

Ahead of applications opening shortly, we are encouraging all student and graduate entrepreneurs who are aspired to kickstart their budding business ideas and drive positive impact through their ventures to apply for Tata Varsity Pitch Competition 2024 (#VP2024). If you are a current student or graduated in 2017 or later, with the next great business idea, Tata Varsity Pitch Competition is the perfect opportunity for you!

Want to take part in the Tata Varsity Pitch Competition 2024? Then sign up to our dedicated newsletter, using the link below, to find out more about the competition’s stages, as well as receive top tips and advice on applying that are yet to be released.

COMPETITION SPONSOR

PARTNERS

The difference we make

Moises Barbera Ramos

Founder of Drill Surgeries Ltd, Tata Varsity Pitch Winner 2022

For me, competing and winning the Grand Final of TATA Varsity Pitch 2022 was a dream, a goal I had spent two years working on, a journey that has provided me with great friends, connections and knowledge beyond any of my initial expectations but it is also a sign that Drill Surgeries is on the right track, that our team and I are working on something people want to see impacting the world, improving the whole healthcare sector. I am grateful for this opportunity that both NACUE and Tata have provided us with, and I look forward to working together to accelerate our mission and treat more patients and more injuries every year.

Navjot Sawhney

Founder of The Washing Machine Project, Tata Varsity Pitch Winner 2021

Winning the Tata Varsity Pitch 2021 has been a dream come true! The competition was tough and we were pitching with some incredible organisations. We’re so thankful that the judges chose The Washing Machine Project and its mission to empower the lives of those less fortunate and give back the dignity of clean clothes to millions of families across the world. We’re looking forward to working with Tata as a strategic partner to help accelerate our mission and get our machines in some of the biggest markets in the world.

Dian-Jen Lin

Co-founder of Post Carbon Lab, Tata Varsity Pitch Winner 2020

It was nerve-wracking to pitch in front of the judges especially alongside very strong competitors, we felt very lucky to have been selected amongst them all. Thank you for the opportunity!

Lauren Bell

Founder of Cosi Care, Tata Varsity Pitch Winner 2019

Being a part of the Tata Varsity Pitch Competition was a really rewarding experience. The opportunity to pitch to a larger audience alongside other businesses with such strong social impact is amazing. Winning was overwhelming and the funding and support will massively help us grow!

Thomas Fudge

CEO, WASE, Varsity Pitch Winner 2018

Varsity Pitch is a fantastic opportunity for any entrepreneur, the process is great with help and advice at each stage that is valuable in growing your idea

Stephanie Hodgson

Former Head of Product, Motus Innovation, Varsity Pitch Winner 2017

Varsity Pitch is the only competition I have entered where feedback is provided throughout - even to teams that are eliminated. This is excellent! It was so well organised - very impressive. The organisers responded promptly to emails and communicated very well with participants throughout the process.

Ryan Robinson

Co-Founder, AEROPOWDER, Varsity Pitch Winner 2016

Winning the Varsity Pitch Competition was definitely a highlight. The prize has been invaluable in allowing AEROPOWDER to continue its product development work. If we could give any advice to anyone out there, it’s to make sure you go for it! Pitching in front of such an experienced panel is always a great experience, no matter the outcome. We are extremely grateful to NACUE and Tata for the opportunity to take our company further and try to make a real difference.

Peter Spence

Tio Toys, Varsity Pitch Winner 2015

It was an invaluable opportunity to meet and compare experiences with other start-ups, refine and practise our pitch and meet high-profile judges and mentors.