Guests included the Cllr Ann Allen MBE<\/a> who is Chairman of Kent County Council<\/a>, Managing Director of Haag Streit UK<\/a>, Dean Johnson<\/a> and Stuart Tanton<\/a>, director of the Kent Foundation<\/a> \u2013 a charity supporting young people starting their own business in Kent.<\/p>\n A full lecture theatre heard from tech entrepreneur and leading blockchain expert, On Yavin<\/a>, talking about his entrepreneurial journey, from founding a chain of snooker halls in his home country of Israel to investing in tech to his current obsession \u2013 blockchain and cryptocurrency.<\/p>\n His passionate talk on Wednesday 23 October was followed by a lively Q&A which continued after the keynote ended with students queuing up to talk to On about his experiences and views on blockchain.<\/p>\n Also at the launch, University of Kent<\/a> students, Tomiwa Sosanya<\/a> and Eve Bakiewicz<\/a> spoke about founding their own companies, Do You Customs and Wordly<\/a>, and the support received from the Business Start-Up Journey.<\/p>\n The following day, the Business Start-Up Journey<\/a> (BSUJ) launched at the University\u2019s Medway<\/a> campus with a keynote speech by ASPIRE<\/a> Investor in Residence, Karen Winton<\/a>. She explained what investors are looking for in start-up businesses. The launch was followed by an ideas hack where students got to grips with the problem of food waste, suggesting start-up businesses which might tackle the problem.<\/p>\n The BSUJ is a co-curricular programme of interactive practical workshops open to students from any School or Faculty at the University of Kent, at any level of study from Stage 1 undergraduate<\/a> to final year, postgraduate<\/a> and PhD<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Journey, which is part of the University\u2019s Study Plus programme<\/a>, takes students through the process of starting a business \u2013 from finding an idea, testing it, establishing finances and start-up costs, to pitching to investors.<\/p>\n Alongside the workshops, there is the chance for students to get one-to-one support from the ASPIRE Entrepreneurs in Residence who specialise in business, tech and investment.<\/p>\n At the end of the BSUJ, students can take part in a pitching competition with \u00a31000 in prize money available to the winner to help start their business.<\/p>\n The Journey is a route into the Self-Employed Placement year<\/a> (or Selfies programme<\/a>, as it\u2019s called) which allows students to take a year during their studies to run their own business.<\/p>\n As well as delivering practical help and support to students starting their own business, the BSUJ helps students to gain entrepreneurial skills and mindsets important in corporate careers \u2013 developing problem-solving skills, resilience, teamworking, leadership and communication skills.<\/p>\n For more information email ASPIRE@kent.ac.uk<\/a> or register for the programme through SDS searching for the Business Start-Up Journey under \u2018workshops\u2019.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/kent-business-matters\/files\/2019\/10\/48952223288_9b54067ca9_o-300x185.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/kent-business-matters\/files\/2019\/10\/48952223818_f69e534a44_o-300x192.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/kent-business-matters\/files\/2019\/10\/48952767946_ebac3b9fcc_o-300x196.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n