Our biggest ever start-up programme has been a great success.

So much so that we have had to extend our deadline to cope with the number of entries and enquiries we have had.

So the good news is you now have until midnight on Sunday 20th June to apply – with presentations for selected entries now scheduled for Thursday 24th June.

But this really is it. No more extensions. No more funding rounds for this Summer programme. No more chances to make your business dream a reality.

So if you want to win up to £15,000 to Kick Start your internet or technology business and get real practical help from successful start-up entrepreneurs apply now (and we mean now….)

Click here to apply

Click here to find out more about Kick Start

REMEMBER – Anyone can apply if they hurry – yes that means you!

Sharing your videos, photos and presentations has never been easier thanks to the new, portable 3M MPro150. This entirely cable-free pocket projector is the ultimate personal electronics device, ideal for business use.

Oxford Entrepreneurs has teamed up with 3M to offer one lucky member the chance to win this latest business tool from 3M’s award-winning MPro family of pocket projectors.

The MPro150 is little larger than a mobile phone yet  boasts one of the most robust feature sets of any pocket projector currently on the market.  This cordless handheld device also has a two hour battery life and an LED light source which means there is no need for a replacement bulb. Built with 1 GB internal memory, a micro SD card slot and a USB input for transferring files from a laptop or netbook, means you can pre-load and run entire presentations on the MPro150 projector itself with no need for a pass through device.  No more carrying around a laptop, portable speakers, cumbersome projector and MP3 player. Simply download files, switch on and project.

Additional features include an integrated flip stand, tripod and a variety of input cables, which make the MPro150 ready to use “out-of-the-box” with a wide range of todays most popular video output gadgets.  Optional accessories include an adapter cable for Apple products, component video cable and car charger.

The 3M MPro150 is also available to pre-order from www.3mselect.co.uk, amazon.co.uk and selected high street retailers including Dixons Travel and Micro Anvika at an RRP of £349.99 including VAT.

You can check out the following links to videos on the 3M MPro150 and 3M’s mobile u web site for more information:

• See the 3M MPro150 in action with this easy step-by-step How To video guide on the mobile u website
• Sign up to the just launched mobile u web site for a free coffee vouchers courtesy of 3M

For your chance to win a 3M MPro150 just answer the following question:

What is the size of the MPro150’s internal memory?

1. 0.5 GB
2. 0.25 GB
3. 1 GB

Click here to submit your answer

And hurry! The competition closes at midnight on the 10th of June!

Exciting New Funding Round Announced – Deadline 13th June.

Due to the overwhelming success of Kick Start – our biggest ever start-up competition – we have some very exciting news.

There is new money up for grabs!!. Apply now

or

Find out more about Kick Start here

You too can win up to £15,000 to Kick Start your internet or technology business.

The quality of the first round of entries exceeded all expectations and this means we have been able to immediately secure a second funding round with applications closing at MIDNIGHT ON SUNDAY 13th JUNE and presentations by the selected companies taking place on 18th and 19th June.

That means it is not too late to Kick Start your start-up dream.

This new funding will also give those students who have been flat out with exams the chance to enter – and to change their lives for ever.

And remember Kick Start means you get personal guidance and real practical help from successful start-up entrepreneurs at every stage of your business.

Come on – if other people can do it so can you.

If you have a burning idea and burning passion – you can light up the Kick Start competition.

But act quickly. Click here to apply

or

Click here to find out more

REMEMBER – ANYONE CAN APPLY!!

Applications for this final round of funding close at MIDNIGHT ON SUNDAY 13th JUNE. This will be your last chance!!

************You can now connect with Kick Start on:***********
Twitter |      Facebook

Get a move on – this is the final Kick of the game!

Want to start-up your own business? You had better hurry.

KickStart – our biggest ever start-up competition – closes at midnight on Sunday 23rd May.

Apply right now to win:

Up to £15,000 to Kick Start you and your friends’ internet or technology business.

Personal guidance and real practical help from successful start-up internet entrepreneurs at every stage of your business.

So it boils down to two choices:

1. Click here before its too late…

2. Ruefully recite the following short quote over and over again in your mind whilst quietly kicking yourself…

“If only – the two saddest words in the world….”  Mercedes Lackey

Or you can download it here by right clicking and selecting Save As… ( ~90Mb) Big Thanks to CNUK:TV

Do you and your friends dream of becoming internet  entrepreneurs? Stop dreaming – get Kick Started.

Win an investment of up to £15,000 and get your internet or technology business idea off the ground.

Get personal guidance and real practical help from successful start-up internet entrepreneurs at every stage of your business.

Click here to find about more about Kick Start’s exciting new Summer 2010 programmme.

APPLY NOW – DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS IS MIDNIGHT ON THE 23RD of MAY

Congratulations to all the Idea Idol 2010 winners!

The 2010 Idea Idol Grand Final was the biggest Idea Idol yet! The judges and audience alike were extremely impressed by the calibre of ideas, presentations, and originality at the Idea Idol 2010 Finale. We wish all our candidates the very best of luck with their projects, and give our special congratulations to the following winners:

People’s Choice Award: Michael Aiello (DIFRwear)
Support Bundle: Brooke Cleave (Charlie Ruggles Clothing Company)
Henmans LLP Prize: Diana Muftic (CPBSolution)
Cash Prize: Robert Crawford (Oxford Nanosense)

A big thank you also goes to all sponsors and supporters. Our gold sponsors were Credit Suisse, Octopus Ventures, PWC, Microsoft and the Oxford Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Bronze sponsors were Henmans LLP, Bottle PR, Brand Asylum, Marketest and Momentum Solutions. Thanks also to Business Boffins for your ongoing support and advice, and Webmart for printing our brochure!

Finally, a big thanks to our panel of esteemed judges. James Averdieck, Leo Johnson, Ian Carnegie-Brown, Andrew Fisher and Alex Hoye all provided us with some brilliant questions, considered conclusions, and, of course, entertainment!

All in all, it was an inspirational evening and a brilliant end to a stellar term. We hope to see many of you there next year, whether as audience members, finalists, or judges.

find out more

1. MONEY

There will be a mega £10,000 in cash and prizes up for grabs at this year’s Idea Idol. Attending the finale is the best way to see what the competition is like and whether you can see yourself in the same position for next year..

2. FAME

Why bother going to buy the latest copy of Heat when you can see real live FAMOUS people in the flesh! Idea Idol judges are always of the highest calibre. This year we have Credit Suisse MD Ian Carneggie-Brown, PricewaterhouseCoopers partner Leo Johnson, GÜ Chocolate Puds founder James Averdick, Andrew Fisher of Shazam Entertainment and Alex Hoye of Latitude and Seedcamp. More about the judges.

3. BEAUTY

There is nothing more beautiful than an idea that makes you think “that’s just what I need, where has it been all my life?” You’ll have to trust us on this one. Come and see if this year’s talent meets your standards! Remember, you’ll be voting for the ‘People’s Choice Award’, so every person who attends has a real impact.

4. INSPIRATION

We all know the feeling that goes “it’s 8th week and all I can think about is the vacation”. Why not come along and get some inspiration for your free time? It could be from the presentations themselves, from hearing the judges’ feedback, or even just when networking with your peers. You never know — you could come back next term with some more money, more ideas, and a completely new outlook on life!

5. IT’S COMPLETELY FREE

So sign up now or find out more.

There is no ‘one type of person fits all’ answer to the question of what it takes to be an entrepreneur, but encouragingly, experience levels have limited relevance. Take, for example, Richard Reed from Innocent Smoothies, who spoke last term about how he and his co-founders began with no previous experience in the drinks sector, and now employ over 180 staff and have 5 offices across Europe. The three founders met each other at university and rather fittingly, (since the Oxprentice programme has recently launched its own club night challenge) club nights were their speciality. Maybe you will meet your future business partner at Uni – the networking opportunities available to you, as a member, at the events the Oxford Entrepreneurs hold each week, could and will foster relationships that may well last a lifetime.

Having a genuine zeal for any idea is the principal success factor for every small start-up. This will mean that you, the entrepreneur, will be willing to work the 18-hour-days that might be necessary for your project to succeed. Also having the patience to stick with your business is essential – the Innocent guys had no idea how long it would take to get their company going, and if they’d previously known the truth, they say, they would have been reluctant to risk leaving their jobs. Facing doubt, anxiety and pressure are all issues needed to be overcome along the path to success.

Oxford Entrepreneurs also provide ample opportunities for start-ups that need capital. The venture capital clinics, held by Octopus Ventures at our incubation centre, gives members a reasonably informal way to pitch their ideas to professionals who can provide invaluable feedback on the next steps your company can go. This coupled with our business plan competition, Idea Idol 2010 (March 10^th) gives small start-ups the exposure that could kick-start their fledgling venture. If you don’t feel that you’re at the stage where you can start pitching your idea, our build a business programme ‘Ideas2Market’ can really help develop your business acumen and arm you with the skills needed to write a stellar executive summary and business plan.

Margaret Thatcher once said, “We are all dependent on the creativity and imagination of others, so how do you create an environment that facilitates that creativity?” For an answer to this question, you need look no further than Oxford Entrepreneurs!