Pitch Competition

Project:

Zen View is a set of glasses that have sound and visual AR filtering technology to improve focus during work. The team developed the solution to address the distractions that people face when working in an office, at home or in other environments. Their innovation uses computer vision and AI to provide: 

• The ability to blur out surroundings
• Selective screen visibility
• Auditory filtering
• Selective people viewing / hearing
• AI danger warning

The innovation has been designed solely for focus with minimal extra functions, making them cheaper, accessible and easy to use. Additionally, the proposed product would include customisable filtering for screens and background, alongside a sleek design that works over regular glasses so they're suitable for everyone.

Project:

The PureBake business concept offers subscription-based DIY baking kits, with exclusive wet ingredient delivery - fresh, pre-measured organic wet ingredients paired with organic dry ingredients for a premium baking experience. 

The idea was developed to address the lack of convenient, high quality DIY organic baking kits. The team discovered that existing DIY baking solutions are inconsistent and lack customisation and sustainability. PureBake would provide customisable options, allowing users to choose the type, quantity and frequency of delivery. Purebake would also offer seasonal and specialty products to provide variety and meet special requirements (such as vegan and gluten free).

Project:

The OKitchen business concept would offer bulk food on university campus for affordable prices and at convenient times for students. 

The team discovered that the current cost of a filling meal on campus often exceeds £6, with most food sold only during lunch hours (12pm to 2:30pm, often with a wait time). To address this, they developed OKitchen, a business idea aimed at providing affordable food on campus, even during late hours. This initiative caters to budget-conscious students, those who stay late on campus, and both students and staff dissatisfied with the current food options. In addition to this, OKitchen would aim to hire students to deliver the service, making it a 'for students, by students' venture that offers both affordable food and job opportunities.

Project:

SPIKE is an interactive desk robot designed to assist with task management and phone usage. It features a locking phone slot, a speaker for ambient noise or music, and a small display for reminders and break prompts. 

SPIKE was designed to support students and office workers who face distractions and struggle to formalise a clear daily work plan. SPIKE would combine the best organisation tools offered by app-based productivity solutions with the benefits of physical solutions. 

Using an adaptive Pomodoro technique, SPIKE would be able to organise the users’ tasks and manage their breaks to maximise productivity. With its proposed form factor, it would also offer engagement as users' complete tasks, providing motivation. Its phone holder would keep phones out of reach to reduce distractions while still allowing users to access it if they need to, also enabling it to track phone usage and respond accordingly to encourage users to refocus.

Project:

GreenTogether is a platform that would enable local communities to propose, vote on, and crowdfund urban greening projects, such as gardens and green rooftops. 

The team wanted to propose a platform that tackled several urban challenges: the scarcity of green spaces, the underutilisation of areas, funding gaps for green initiatives, and low community engagement. The GreenTogether platform would ensure that successful projects receive dollar-for-dollar matching from government agencies, streamlining funding and permitting. The proposed app would also foster transparency with real-time updates, engage businesses as contributors, and combine community and government efforts to transform urban spaces sustainably.

Project:

RenewArena is an educational game designed to teach the importance of sustainable energy, helping teachers engage their students in this topic through gamifying the learning experience for better retention and enjoyment. 

The team proposed this idea to address the lack of awareness about energy production concerns and lack of collective societal efforts towards sustainable energy production. With RenewArena, students would gain a deeper understanding of renewable energy, which can empower and encourage them to address future energy challenges and contribute to building a more sustainable world. Additionally, the game would allow teachers to tailor the game to their curriculum and could be used for lesson planning.

Project:

The self-healing concrete business idea centres on a bacteria-based liquid concrete repair service designed to enhance the longevity and safety of existing concrete structures.  

The team identified that cracks in concrete compromise its structural integrity, reduce durability, and allow harmful substances to penetrate, leading to costly maintenance and safety risks. 

Research in this field has shown that certain types of bacteria, when embedded in concrete, can activate upon exposure to moisture and produce calcite, effectively sealing cracks. As a possible solution to the problem of cracking, the team came up with the idea of a service-based business model that would focus on inspecting and restoring the properties of already poured concrete using self-healing concrete. This approach would include both visual inspection (detecting cracks and assess structural integrity) as well as repair (applying self-healing solutions and leveraging bacterial technology to fill cracks and restore concrete’s strength and durability).