Tycoons pitch their start-up businesses - Dragons' Den style!

On Monday 21 October, our U4 students gathered in the new St Cecilia Recital Hall, for the first round of the Tycoons in Schools Enterprise Competition.

The Tycoons in Schools Enterprise Competition is run every year by the Peter Jones Foundation, to support and inspire young entrepreneurs in schools. Every participating team writes a business plan, is lent money, starts a business and competes with other student companies through a sophisticated Kickstarter-style platform, in a safe and controlled environment.

At Queen Anne’s our Tycoons are encouraged to choose a meaningful charity to which they will donate a significant amount of their business profits to.

Ten groups of students presented their start-up business ideas in front of their peers and a panel of expert judges. Mrs McGrenary, Head of Lower Years and Mrs Tynan, Head of Economics were joined by special guest judge Chris Eley from the Peter Jones Foundation, who gave feedback and asked our teams interesting and creative questions about their business strategies.

Our students presented a range of exciting and well thought out products and business plans, ranging from handmade jewellery to traditional foods. Each team presented their ideas with confidence, and showed well researched ideas, market research.

The judges were very impressed with all of the presentations, but only three businesses could go forward to trading. After much deliberation, the three winning teams were announced. Take a look at their start-up business ideas below!

Sweet Aroma

Sweet Aroma is a business that will sell a selection of unique reed diffusers. Their oils are natural and organic, and their reeds and glass jars are made from recycled materials.

The charity that their profits will go towards is Fifth Sense, a charity that supports people with smell and taste disorders.

The judges were particularly impressed by the company’s strong branding, with a logo designed by the girls themselves, and confident pitch presentation.

Candy Bandz

Candy Bandz is a business that will sell handmade hair scrunchies. Their scrunchies have many unique designs and are made from recycled materials.

The charity that their profits will go towards is the Little Princess Trust. This charity provides free real hair wigs to children and young people who have lost their own hair through cancer treatment or other conditions.

The judges were very impressed with the brand’s digital marketing and the variety of designs offered to customers.

Turtle Totes

Turtle Totes is a business that will sell personalised tote bags. These eco friendly alternatives to plastic bags were inspired by a trip to the Sea Life Centre.

They will also be supporting the Sea Life Trust as their chosen charity. This charity works globally to protect the world’s oceans and the marine life that lives within them.

The judges were particularly impressed by the branding of the company as a whole and their environmental cause.

Our three chosen start-up businesses will begin trading for six weeks after half-term.