A student from the University of Bath has been selected for the Grand Final of a national business competition run by a charity that supports student and graduate entrepreneurs.
Callum Coles, 18, won the Young Founders category in the NACUE Varsity Pitch Competition for his business Sober Drive, a breathalyser within a car key that aims to prevent drunk driving.
The competition, run by NACUE (National Association of College and University Entrepreneurs) in partnership with Tata, invites innovative young business owners to submit a 60 second pitch for a chance to win £10,000 towards their business idea.
The semi-finals saw Callum compete against five other start-ups in their category, pitching live to a panel of expert judges at Google Campus in London.
The Computer Science student will now attend a boot camp to gain mentoring and support before pitching his business at the Grand Final on the 21st November at the China Exchange in central London.
The judging panel will include David Landsman, Executive Director at Tata, Andrew Webber, Acting CEO at Microsoft Ventures Accelerator, Claire Burke, Acting Editor at the Guardian Small Business Network and Ian Macleod, Marketing Director at YPlan.
Previous winners of the NACUE Varsity Pitch Competition include Wyre, a bitcoin payments app and Blaze, an innovative cycling company that has recently partnered with Santander Cycles in London.
Speaking about his win Callum Coles said: “Progressing to the final of the Varsity Pitch competition is a fantastic feeling, the competition is incredibly strong and it is a pleasure to pitch our idea amongst others of such a high standard.
“To win the competition would propel our companies development, allowing us to continue prototyping, test and produce a final product that can begin saving lives.”
NACUE Chief Executive Johnny Luk said: “The NACUE Varsity Pitch Competition gives students and graduates an invaluable opportunity to get their ideas in front of the people that matter.
“This is why it continues to attract a huge variety of applications, with over 400 last year.
“Callum gave a professional pitch and his business really stood out for it’s practical, and potentially live saving, applications.
“Callum and his team are a great example of the incredible young entrepreneurs NACUE work with everyday, committed to solving problems and improving the world.”
