- All West Midlands universities were involved at the Future Talent Pitch - Bringing Future Talent to the heart of Birmingham Tech Week
- Students were invited to come together in teams to devise potential businesses
- The brief was ‘Making Tech Succeed in the Most Human of Places’.
A team of Aston University students has won first prize at the Future Talent Pitch competition held during Birmingham Tech Week’s ScaleUp Summit.
The Chance for Change team competed against teams from universities across the West Midlands and impressed the judges with their AI-powered hub app designed to support refugees in overcoming barriers such as food insecurity, language challenges and employment.
The event, which brought together teams from regional universities, challenged students to design businesses around the theme of ‘Making Tech Succeed in the Most Human of Places’. Supported by Aston University’s Enterprise and Entrepreneurship team, students worked in teams of three to five, attended intensive business model workshops and participated in a dedicated mentoring session with industry experts to refine and test their ideas. Aston University entered two finalist teams in the competition, competing among seven teams at the event.
Chance for Change comprised Aston University students Sonu Prem (masters in business and management), Prahasree Sarangapani Athikesavalu and Jyotsna Dommaraju (both masters in business analytics students). Their concept, an AI-powered app that connects refugees to essential resources, support and opportunities, was praised for meeting all six of the competition’s core criteria of being inclusive, impactful, high-quality, AI-enabled, collaborative and human-centred.
The first-place prize includes a £1,000 prize fund sponsored by Midlands Innovation, three months of complimentary hot-desking courtesy of Bruntwood SciTech and tickets to Birmingham Tech Week’s prestigious Black Tie Leaders Dinner on 25 October.
Aston University’s second finalist team, comprising first-year Business Enterprise Development students Joshua Le Sauvage, Jason Aitcheson and Saul Davis, presented Passway, an app tailored for young drivers, showcasing their passion for entrepreneurial development early in their academic journey.
Carolyn Keenan, head of Aston Enterprise and Entrepreneurship, said:
“Our students have demonstrated exceptional creativity, determination and professionalism.
“Chance for Change not only developed a compelling business idea but exemplified how technology can create meaningful social impact.
“We’re proud to see their efforts celebrated on such a prestigious stage.”
- Notes to Editors
About Aston University
For over a century, Aston University’s enduring purpose has been to make our world a better place through education, research and innovation, by enabling our students to succeed in work and life, and by supporting our communities to thrive economically, socially and culturally.
Aston University’s history has been intertwined with the history of Birmingham, a remarkable city that once was the heartland of the Industrial Revolution and the manufacturing powerhouse of the world.
Born out of the First Industrial Revolution, Aston University has a proud and distinct heritage dating back to our formation as the School of Metallurgy in 1875, the first UK College of Technology in 1951, gaining university status by Royal Charter in 1966, and becoming The Guardian University of the Year in 2020.
Building on our outstanding past, we are now defining our place and role in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (and beyond) within a rapidly changing world.
For media inquiries in relation to this release, contact Sam Cook, Press and Communications Manager, on (+44) 7446 910063 or email: s.cook2@aston.ac.uk
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