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South Bank Ignite, LSBU premier ideas competition, fuels business start-ups, freelancing, innovation, impact, and passion.
Applications for the 2025-2026 competition has closed. But you can be the first to learn about new LSBU competitions and challenges in the future.
No appointment or booking necessary! Drop by to chat about your idea and receive support, tools, resources, and guidance on your next steps.
South Bank Ignite is open to all LSBU students and recent graduates (up to three years). Regardless of your school, degree, or time at university, if you have an idea or passion for a business, you can apply.
All ideas are welcome – whether it’s for a business, freelance service, social enterprise, or side-hustle.
All stages of the idea and business development are eligible! No business knowledge or experience is necessary.
Eligible individuals (LSBU students and recent graduates) may join the South Bank Ignite competition in the Round 1 application between October and January.
Unfortunately, individuals can not join the competition if they miss this Round 1 application deadline.
Sign up for the South Bank Starters newsletter to stay up to date with other opportunities and to receive emails when the next round of the competition opens.
South Bank Ignite offers you:
- An opportunity to express and test your passion or business idea,
- Networks and connections with other LSBU entrepreneurs as well as industry experts,
- Growth (and not a bad CV filler) in entrepreneurial skills – like problem solving, thinking-outside-the-box, pitching and presenting, leadership, and more,
- Funding opportunities with prize money as well as fast-track access to LSBU’s incubator and acceleration programmes taking place year-round.
There is so much to gain – and win – by applying!
When applying, tell us (in a nutshell)
- What the problem or need is,
- How it is currently being solved,
- What your solution is, and
- How your idea or business solves the problem.
Don’t forget to also introduce yourself (and your team) and how you are in the best position to lead this business idea forward.
jameThe South Bank Starters team is here to help you develop your idea – and win at South Bank Ignite. Come to an upcoming Drop-In Idea and Support session or attend the upcoming workshops taking place from October through December.
Competitions offer you a chance to test your idea, network with other innovators and industry experts, gather feedback on your business, build entrepreneurial skills and knowledge, and more.
Below are a few external competition and funding opportunities for the LSBU students, alums, staff, and/or community members.
Stay up-to-date on all competitions and challenges by connecting with us on LinkedIn.
The Hult Prize challenges young people around the world to solve the planet's most pressing issues through social entrepreneurship – and giving them $1 million to do it!
Deadline:
Cost: Free
Prizes: Every year, one team receives $1M USD in funding to make their idea a reality.
Award Categories: You can pitch any idea you have for a social enterprise, as long as it is world-changing and aligned with at least one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Eligibility: To apply, you need to be:
Additional Support: South Bank Starters is here to help you with your application and making the best impression for this competition. Email starters@lsbu.ac.uk or come to a drop-in support session to talk about this competition.
For more information, please visit https://www.hultprize.org/
HelpBnk and Virgin StartUp’s Doorbell of Dreams is now a permanent opportunity at the Virgin Hotels London-Shoreditch. Ring the doorbell to pitch your idea in 60 seconds. You may receive feedback from leading entrepreneurs and investors, social media exposure, and/or a free business advisory call.
Deadline: Ongoing
Cost: Free
Prizes: Selected pitches may receive one or more of the following:
Criteria: The pitches will be judged based on originality, impact, and potential.
Eligibility:
Additional Support: South Bank Starters is here to help you with your pitch and making the best impression for this competition. Email starters@lsbu.ac.uk or come to a drop-in support session to talk about this competition.
For more information, please visit https://doorbellofdreams.com/
IGNITE is a UK-wide competition and impact accelerator for social entrepreneurs, backing emerging, mission-led founders to build ventures that deliver real public benefit.
Deadline: Sunday, 9 August
Cost: Free
Prizes: Prizes include:
Judging Criteria: Ventures will be scored against the following 10 criteria:
Eligibility: An applicant must be a first-time founder building a venture with social or environmental purpose and:
Additional Support: South Bank Starters is here to help you with your application. Email starters@lsbu.ac.uk or come to a drop-in support session to talk about this opportunity.
For more information, please visit https://ignitecomp.co.uk/
The Young Entrepreneurs Challenge, brought to you by Verizon and Unloc, supports 16–25-year-olds with world-impacting business ideas get off the ground or boost it to the next level.
Deadline: Friday, 9 October
Cost: Free
Prizes: Prizes include:
Judging Criteria: Applications will be judged on three key factors:
Eligibility:
Applicants must be:
Business proposals must:
Additional Support: South Bank Starters is here to help you with your application. Email starters@lsbu.ac.uk or come to a drop-in support session to talk about this opportunity.
For more information, please visit https://youngentrepreneurschallenge.com/
Learn, network, and boost the profile of your new business at the Tata Varsity Pitch competition, a UK-wide, early-stage competition celebrating new ideas developed by current students and recent graduates.
Deadline: Sunday, 18 October 2026
Cost: Free
Prizes: Winners will receive cash prizes:
All Category Winners, the Champion and the Runners Up will receive artwork that they can use to promote their success on their websites, CVs and social media as well as being invited to participate in an alumni programme with mentoring from Tata Group companies that will last throughout the academic year.
Eligibility: To be eligible to apply, you must be
Additional Support: South Bank Starters is here to help you with your application and making the best impression for this competition. Email starters@lsbu.ac.uk or come to a drop-in support session to talk about this competition.
For more information, please visit https://www.varsitypitch.org/
The Bright SCIdea Challenge is designed for budding entrepreneurs to develop their business skills and pitch a scientific idea for a product or service that they believe could be commercialised to benefit society.
Deadline: Wednesday, 11 November 2026
Cost: Free
Prizes: Participants will have the opportunity to:
Eligibility: Eligibility and guidelines include:
Additional Support: South Bank Starters is here to help you with your application and making the best impression for this competition. Email starters@lsbu.ac.uk or come to a drop-in support session to talk about this competition.
For more information, please visit https://www.soci.org/careers-support/bright-scidea.
South Bank Starters is here to guide, support, inspire, and motivate you. Find ways to connect with the team and your community of entrepreneurial minded individuals. You can email us at starters@lsbu.ac.uk.
