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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.
Date | Detail |
|---|---|
January - March 2026 | Additional support for your South Bank Ignite - Round 1 applicants |
March 2026 | South Bank Ignite - Round 2 Application Deadline |
May 2026 | South Bank Ignite Finals |
June 2026 | South Bank Ignite Awards, Festival, and Marketplace |
October 2026 | South Bank Ignite 2026-2027 Round 1 Application Form Opens |
Directed by Aiden Condron
Get a tour and unlimited data at London’s central hub for entrepreneurship support
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/
The Miranda Brawn Diversity Leadership Foundation Scholarship Award supports students working to close the diversity, equity and inclusions gaps in their future aspirations.
Deadline: Tuesday, 30 June 2026 at 5pm
Cost: Free
What’s included:
Award Categories: Scholarships are available across many fields of study and sectors. This relates to your future aspirations. These include:
Eligibility: Students from all races (black, white and asian), nationalities, and social backgrounds are welcome. To be eligible for the scholarship programme, the students must meet all the conditions below:
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://www.tmbdlf.com/scholarship-programme
The Small Business Pitch Challenge is helping small UK ventures (under 50 employees) pitch their business to Canva and industry leaders for the change to win funding, mentorship, and national exposure.
Deadline: Sunday, 12 July 2026 at 11:59PM BST
Cost: Free
Prizes: For everyone, prizes include 3-months of Canva Pro for free, exclusive startup and founder sessions, and practical tools to help tell your business story.
Top 5 winners receive:
Judging Criteria: The panel will select the winners based on the strength and originality of the business or idea; clarity of storytelling and communication; creativity and effective use of Canva; growth ambition and future potential; and overall quality and impact of the submission
Eligibility: This competition is open only to persons who are 18 years old or older, are residents of the UK and Ireland, and are founders, co-founders, sole traders, freelancers, creators, or representatives of small businesses with fewer than fifty (50) employees.
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://public.canva.site/small-business-pitch
The James Dyson Award is an international design award open to current and recent design engineering students who think differently and want to create products that work better.
Deadline: Thursday, 16 July 2026
Cost: Free
Prizes: As well as winning a cash prize, participants gain media exposure to kick-start your career, new networks and communities, and the experience launch your own business.
Eligibility:
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://www.jamesdysonaward.org/home/
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/
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.
