| Within the University there are numerous societies dedicated to promoting business skills and entrepreneurship, including Cambridge University Entrepreneurs (CUE), organisers of the internationally recognised business creation competitions and ‘not only for profit’ social enterprise business plan competitions and Cambridge University Technology Entrepreneurs Club (CUTEC), members of which organise a venture capital conference amongst other activities each year.
Whilst some MBE students arrive in Cambridge with experience of business or have entrepreneurial ambitions and a start up idea ready for commercialisation, for others the University business plan competitions offer the first opportunity to found a company and learn how to manage the entity through its early development. These and other regional and national competitions offer a valuable platform for aspiring entrepreneurs to put their business skills into practise and to network with other science and management students. Since the inception of the programme, MBE students have enjoyed tremendous success in the University competitions and have had the opportunity to present their business ideas in a variety of geographical settings, the more unusual being at a Gala Dinner at the Legal Courts of Justice and aboard the London Eye. Several of the inventors involved in the companies have filed or had patents granted and a number have received further funding to take the companies forward. 2011
Elpida Cambridge Health
Green Pace 2010
Vortix 2009
AngioSplice
PharmaWheels
Foresight Pharmaceuticals
Cambridge University Entrepreneurs Final featured six MBE teams: 2008
AutoTB
BeFree
Veinbay
RemRom Medical Devices 2007
Neoheal 2003-06
Bunot
Camstent
bSure Studying at Cambridge is not only about attending lectures and completing assignments. Business-related activities outwith the course, undertaken with fellow class members or those from other disciplines, can be equally valuable and there are many to choose from. Examples include: |
| Cambridge University Entrepreneurs (CUE), a highly active student-run society, dedicated to promoting the formation of new businesses through a business plan competition that is supported by training sessions and mentoring. MBE students prepare a business plan as part of their coursework and their concept companies have a strong record of success in CUE's Entrepreneurs' Challenge '$50k Business Creation' and 'Not Only for Profit' social enterprise competition categories. Many of the companies have also been entered onto business plan competitions organised by Universities in the UK and internationally with equal success. |  |
| Cambridge University Technology and Enterprise Club (CUTEC), enhances the entrepreneurial spirit amongst academics and students and facilitates interaction between industry experts and the University. Students benefit from exposure to the professional business and fundraising communities whilst investors and service providers in turn gain access to the vibrant research and entrepreneurial communities at the University of Cambridge |
| Judge Business School's 'Enterprise Tuesday', an evening lecture and networking programme, provides students with a forum for meeting like-minded people and experienced entrepreneurs, who describe their business successes and failures with candour and thereby provide invaluable 'know-how' to aspiring entrepreneurs. [back to top] |