Students share in £19,000 funding pot at The Big Pitch 2025

The event, co-ordinated by the Library's Career and Enterprise team at the SEE Building, provides an innovative competition for Salford students to display their ideas in front of a panel of judges and a live audience, with eight lucky students winning up to £5,000 towards their concept.

MA Dance Performance and Professional Practices student Phoebe Leighton secured the top funding of £5,000, after presenting a coaching platform, called PB Training, with sessions adapted around women’s strength and menstrual cycles.

PB Training would provide women with online support for strength training, flexibility exercises and menstrual cycle syncing. Ultimately, Phoebe’s forward-thinking approach to wellness, inclusivity and empowerment impressed the judges on the night.

One of the finalists was BSc Biomedical Science student Sabreen Isaq, who developed a solution for treating neural tumours called CeberaPatch to address the critical gap in neurological care and research for these conditions in comparison to Dementia and Alzheimer's.

BA Film Production student Xavier Sonski and BSc Real Estate Development and Management student Oliver Sidaway also won £2,500 each for their ideas. Xavier created a proposal for a production company supporting neurodivergent creatives, and Oliver won for his tech-driven platform to assist first-time home buyers navigating the property market.

In total, eight Salford students secured funding for their unique and promising ideas on the night, including Alex Hill (BA Creative Music Technology), Mubbashar Hussain (BEng Civil Engineering), Adina Cooper (BA Graphic Design), and Alexandra Moskofidis (BA Animation).

The event was unforgettable for students and donors, with a keynote speech from Hauwa Yakubu, United Nations UK women delegate and Chief Digital Officer (CDO) at Kugali Media.

Yakubu said: “The energy in the room was electric. It was incredibly fulfilling to see the next generation of innovators stepping up with their bold, creative ideas.”

Professor Andy Miah, Chair in Science Communication and Future Media, hosted the event and described The Big Pitch as “one of the most inspiring days in our university calendar.’

Panellist Trina Persyn praised the courage and dedication of the competitors: “You all did amazing. I can't wait to see what you do next!”

Apart from the funding available, the Big Pitch competition is an integral part of the university’s curriculum each year, as it acts as a platform for student entrepreneurs to gain confidence and refine their ideas, highlighting the key message that anyone can achieve entrepreneurial success in their fields.

Special thanks goes to Ingrid Kwadzovi, Enterprise Consultant and our Enterprise Advisers Lauren Adams and Paul Ledsham for their dedication in delivering yet another inspiring and impactful event. 

The business start-up and growth ideas pitched at The Big Pitch 2025 reflect the innovative and entrepreneurial drive that many University of Salford students and graduates have, to identify and achieve their career goals of working for themselves.

Support for entrepreneurial University of Salford students and graduates with a business idea of their own is just a step away. Contact the Careers team or visit their web page for more information.

The University of Salford is seeking sponsors and donors to deliver support for eligible entrepreneurship students and graduates, including a future version of The Big Pitch, which will help support, inspire and showcase talented entrepreneurs. To engage with future leaders and demonstrate your commitment to supporting entrepreneurship, please contact us.