Two student teams developing creative solutions to financial stress and waste reduction have won the top prizes at the University of Strathclyde’s first student Entrepreneurial Strathclyder Awards.
Clydecash and Symbiosis were each awarded £2,000 as winners of the Exploring Entrepreneurship Challenge (EEC), the University’s flagship programme designed to build entrepreneurial skills among students from all disciplines.
Students from across all four faculties took part in the challenge, completing a blend of online and in‑person activities to develop key entrepreneurial skills including value creation, forward thinking, communication, collaboration and resilience.
Social issue
Competing in either the global or Glasgow category, participants were tasked with creating ideas that addressed a UN Sustainable Development Goal or a social issue affecting the city of Glasgow.
From six finalist teams, the winner of the Glasgow category was Clydecash, whose idea brings together trusted information on jobs, housing and financial support to help students manage the financial pressures of starting university.
Winner of the global category Symbiosis proposed a “dating‑app‑style” platform connecting manufacturers with excess materials to businesses that can reuse them, reducing waste and supporting circular economy practices.
The awards ceremony brought together students, staff and members of Scotland’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Alongside the EEC winners, the event also recognised achievements in categories including Entrepreneurial Society of the Year, Entrepreneurial Sports Team of the Year, and Inspire Ambassador of the Year.
Entrerpreneurial opportunities
Strathclyde Inspire is the University’s entrepreneurship programme which offers entrepreneurial training and opportunities to all students, staff members and alumni.
Fiona Ireland, Head of Entrepreneurship Strategy at Strathclyde, said: “The Exploring Entrepreneurship Challenge gives students the confidence and capability to turn ideas into action and to reach their personal and professional goals, whatever these may be.
Extending our recognition of the entrepreneurial activity that is taking place across the University as a whole has enabled us to highlight and celebrate the creativity, ambition and collaborative spirit we can see right across our student community, and to inspire the next generation of changemakers to believe in themselves and the real world impact their ideas can have.
Alexandros Christou, who has taken part in the EEC four times over three years, said the experience was ‘invaluable’, and added: “The reason I keep coming back is because I get to work with people like the members of my team now. Being able to work with different people and see everyone’s perspective is incredibly valuable.
“Winning is great, but some of the times I didn’t win were when I learned and reflected the most.”
The final award of the evening, Entrepreneurial Strathclyder of the Year, was presented to Law student Natasha Chitambo in recognition of her contribution to Strathclyde Inspire over three years. She was a participant in the Exploring Entrepreneurship Challenge in 2023, before becoming an Inspire student ambassador and then the Entrepreneurship Assistant at Strathclyde Student Union.
Keynote address
Andrew Dobbie, Founder and CEO of global brand and creative agency Made Brave, delivered the keynote address, sharing insights on confidence, leadership and the power of personal storytelling.
He said: “Events like these are so important for students to learn the entrepreneurial mindset: how to lead a team, how to get people to believe in what you believe in, and how to tell your own story. The calibre of the students onstage was unbelievable. I was impressed, inspired and I think they’ve got a positive future ahead of them.”
Clydecash team members were Abena Nkansah, Alexandros Christou, Manan Goradia, Nastya Gavrilova, Nasraa Al Aamri and Amit Choudhary. Symbiosis team members were Alireza Hassanzadehmaharlouei, Ghaidaa Abdulbaki, Lahiru Hewawitharana, Rudra Vasisth, Trisha Gupta and Francesco Vezza.