South Bank Ignite

Fuelling and funding founders, freelancers, innovators, social activists, and dreamers at LSBU.
JOIN SOUTH BANK IGNITE

Be the first to learn about new opportunities to SPARK your passion with the support, community and funding in LSBU's biggest idea competition.

Meet the 2024 Participants

Be inspired by the ideas that wowed us at the 2024 competition.

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Partner with South Bank Ignite

How can you support innovative students and grads?

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Help & Support

You bring the idea, we'll bring help! Book a 1-2-1 Appointment.

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FUELLING LSBU INNOVATION

Spark Your Idea

South Bank Ignite, LSBU premier ideas competition, fuels business start-ups, freelancing, innovation, impact, and passion.

You bring an idea! South Bank Ignite will provide the foundation, support, and community to grow as an entrepreneur. Plus, you might walk away with part of the £24K prize pot.

Applications for the 2025 South Bank Ignite competition have closed.

Date

Details

Tue., 7 Jan. 2025 South Bank Ignite 2024-2025 – Round 2 Application Open
Jan – May 2025 Ongoing South Bank Ignite 2024-2025 – Round 2 Support
Jan – Feb 2025 Start-Up London 6-Week Accelerator Programme
Mon., 17 Mar. 2025 South Bank Ignite 2024-2025 – Round 2 Application Deadline
Wed., 21 May 2025 South Bank Ignite 2024-2025 – Semi-Finals
Wed., 4 Jun. 2025 South Bank Ignite Final, Festival, and Marketplace

Download the South Bank Ignite Competition Terms and Conditions

Take the Next Step

Answers to your burning questions

Who can apply to South Bank Ignite?

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.

Why should I join South Bank Ignite? What’s in it for me?

South Bank Ignite offers you:

- An opportunity to express and test your passion or business idea,

- Networks and connections with other LSBU entrepreneurially minded folks 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!

What information do I need for my application?

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.

Download the Word document of the application to review the information requested, and to work on your answers before submitting the online form.

I need help. What support is available to help me?

The South Bank Starters team is here to help you develop your idea – and win at South Bank Ignite. Schedule a 1-2-1 idea feedback meeting through Careers Hub and attend the upcoming workshops or panel discussions taking place October through December.

IGNITE YOUR IDEA

Be the first to learn about upcoming competitions and the 2026 South Bank Ignite Competition (and win big!)

LEARN MORE

More Competitions and Funding Opportunities

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.

Hult Prize – Win $1 million to solve the world's most pressing issues with your innovative social venture

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:

  • You must currently be a student enrolled in a degree seeking program.
  • Teams must be between 3 - 5 members. All students must be from the same university, with an additional option to have one, that can be from a different university.
  • You must be at least 18 years of age to compete.

Additional Support: South Bank Starters is here to help you with your application and making the best impression for this competition. Set up a 1-2-1 appointment to talk about this competition.

For more information, please visit https://www.hultprize.org/

DBACE - The Deutsche Bank Award for Creative Entrepreneurs - Make a positive social impact through your creative ventures. Win £60K from the prize fund

DBACE, in partnership with MeWe360, is calling all change makers looking to drive positive social impact through creative enterprise.

Deadline: 31 March 2025

Cost: Free

Prizes: 5 winners will be announced.

  • There is a cash prize fund of £60k, shared among 5 winners. How much will be awarded per winner is not fixed but assessed on a case-by-case basis.
  • All winners will receive a 12-month individually tailored 1:1 business support package, designed to help you meet your business goals.

Award Categories: DBACE welcomes applications from all social impact businesses - referring to ideas with a significant, positive change that addresses a social challenge. This may include businesses in the following sectors – advertising, architecture, art and antiques, crafts, design, fashion, film, gaming, immersive technology, music, performing and visual arts, and publishing. All sectors will be competing under one category.

Eligibility: To apply, you need to be:

  • be over 18,
  • have a strong idea or an existing business in or in support of the creative industries,
  • want to create positive social impact through your enterprise,
  • be focussed and committed to engaging with MeWe’s business support,
  • own a material share in the business, is responsible or share responsibility for its direction and leadership,
  • legal resident in the UK until at least June 29, 2025. If applying as a group, all members are legal residents in the UK until at least June 29, 2025

Additional Support: South Bank Starters is here to help you with your application and making the best impression for this competition. Set up a 1-2-1 appointment to talk about this competition.

Additionally, there are a number of online resources including videos, guides, information events, and more.

For more information, please visit https://dbace.org/

Elevator of Dream – Pitching your idea for HelpBnk and Virgin Start-Up in a Lift

Pitch your idea in a 3-minute video to Sir Richard Branson and Simon Squibb using the Ring doorbell located at the Virgin Hotels London- Shoreditch. One pitch will be selected every week to win £1,000 (or other prizes) by HelpBnk.

Deadline: 17 April, 2025

Cost: Free

Prizes: Each week during the competition (17 January – 17 April, 2025), one pitch will be selected to win £1,000 supplied by HelpBnk. The judges may choose to offer alternative prizes including a stay at the Virgin Hotels London-Shoreditch or mentor access.

Award Categories: Judging criteria include originality, feasibility, and impact of the pitch idea.

Eligibility: You are eligible to apply if:

  • you are a UK resident.
  • There are no restrictions based on employment status or business stage.
  • Participants may submit their pitch either individually or as part of a team, although individual submissions are preferred.

Additional Support: South Bank Starters is here to help you with your application and making the best impression for this competition. Set up a 1-2-1 appointment to talk about this competition.

For more information, please visit https://www.elevatorofdreams.com/

Entrepreneurship World Cup - $1 Million up for grabs in the largest and most diverse pitch competitions and support programmes.

The Entrepreneurship World Cup gives everyone who enters access to the knowledge, networks and for some, the capital they need to start and scale a company.

Deadline: Monday, 30 June 2025

Cost: Free

Prizes: Prizes includetraining, resources, connections, mentorship and more. Plus, the participants have a chance to win a number of impactful prizes – USD $1.5 million in cash and/or investment total for the global winners plus in-kind support for the top 100 global finalists, not to mention investment opportunities and awesome resources and perks from our leading partners.

Award Categories: Award categories are based on business and idea development:

  • Idea Stage
  • Early Stage
  • Growth Stage

Eligibility:

  • Any startup from around the world is welcome to apply and become an Applicant.
  • Applicant startups must be legally registered or planning to register in their country of residence.
  • Applicant startups must be ten years or less old by the date of the Global Finals. Entity age is set by the date of company registration and not idea conception.

Additional Support: South Bank Starters is here to help you with your application and making the best impression for this competition. Set up a 1-2-1 appointment to talk about this competition.

For more information, please visit https://www.entrepreneurshipworldcup.com/ewc

The Miranda Brawn Diversity Leadership Foundation Scholarship Award – Funding education and careers ambitions

The Miranda Brawn Diversity Leadership Foundation Scholarship Award supports students working to close the diversity, equity and inclusions gaps in their future aspirations.

Deadline: Monday, 30 June 2025 at 5pm

Cost: Free

What’s included:

  • Funding to pursue your own education and career ambitions.
  • Exclusive mentoring from leaders in their fields
  • Work experience (depending upon availability and COVID).
  • Reverse mentoring
  • Networking
  • VIP attendance to our educational diversity leadership lecture event(s)

Award Categories: Scholarships are available across many fields of study and sectors. This relates to your future aspirations. These include:

  • Law
  • Finance & business
  • STEAM
  • Medical
  • Multi-sector (for all other industries) - Scholarship applicants can place their preferred sector(s) not listed under the multi-sector scholarship
  • Future Leaders on Boards
  • Venture Capital (VC) and Artificial Intelligence (AI)
  • Kidney Healthcare
  • Disability and Neurodiversity
  • LSBU Leadership - supported by the "London South Bank University" (LSBU) for students who will be a student at the LSBU from September 2025 to August 2026.

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: ​

  • Applicants must meet all the entry requirements for their full-time course
  • Scholarships are only available for new students. Previous scholarship winners are not eligible to apply
  • Applicants must enrol as full-time students in the UK. Part-time students are not eligible to apply
  • Have good academics and/or aspirations to achieve good academics
  • Be able to commit the time and effort to complete the scholarship programme
  • All scholarship applicants must have a demonstrable and genuine interest in diversity. ​

Additional Support: South Bank Starters is here to help you with your application and making the best impression for this scholarship. Set up a 1-2-1 appointment to talk more about this opportunity.

For more information, please visit https://www.tmbdlf.com/scholarship-programme

Connect with South Bank Starters

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 studententerprise@lsbu.ac.uk.