Share this story   

Durham Venture School

to read

The first ever cohort has just completed Durham Venture School, an accelerator programme for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Back in August 2021 we started with 26 Durham graduates who joined us from all over the world, including people from Hong Kong, Nigeria, Cyprus, Indonesia, Poland, Mexico, Vietnam and India as well as Durham.

They came from diverse backgrounds and had studied different subjects and graduated at different times, but they were united in their desire to learn how to identify problems and develop solutions to some of the significant challenges that the world faces.  


In trying to change the world, the cohort discovered that they had also changed themselves; whatever the outcome, anyone who embarks on an entrepreneurial journey is never the same again.

This is not an academic programme, this is real life. The cohort have gone on to start businesses and are now founders, company directors and above all, entrepreneurs.

When we asked the cohort for feedback, we asked for their opinions to sum-up DVS. Here are a few of the responses:

“It provides you with all the tools needed to succeed if you already have it in you.”

“Insightful, impactful, practical career and life experience.”

“Challenging and an emotional rollercoaster but the fastest way to learn about business.”

“A place of opportunity to cultivate ethical and conscientious entrepreneurs.”

“Really enjoyable, and the wide variety of workshop materials has given me insight into lots of different areas of the business world.”

“The best experience in my Durham University programme.”

“The best training experience I had during my studies at Durham University.”

“It was a unique and timely opportunity.”

“A perfectly timed opportunity for a recent graduate to do something incredible and unique.”

“An exciting emotional rollercoaster.”

“A support system that encourages you to show up as your full self every time, giving us room to experiment, fail, and try again.”

From diverse entrepreneurs come diverse ideas that have become diverse businesses including: developing a platform to save us all from terrible training, to revolutionising grocery shopping in sub-Sharan Africa; creating diverse and inclusive educational resources so that every child feels represented by the curriculum; and producing vegan ready meals that people really want to eat.

Along the way we have had tremendous support from the Durham alumni community of existing entrepreneurs who have provided funding, workshops, connections and mentoring - we couldn’t have done it without them.

But this is only the start of the story as our companies and founders continue their exciting progress. Applications are now open for our second cohort as we look forward to welcoming a new group of entrepreneurs in August to start their journeys.

For further information, please email chris.gilman@durham.ac.uk

 

 

   Share this story   

Start the discussion

 

Contribute

Do you have a story to share? We want to hear from you! Get in touch via dialogue@durham.ac.uk.