Applications open for Tata Varsity Pitch 2024

Tata Varsity Pitch 2024, powered by NACUE is an annual, national early-stage business pitching competition, that celebrates the best businesses emerging out of colleges and universities across the UK. It represents one of the flagship enterprise events in the UK, highlighting and showcasing the entrepreneurial flair of young businesses and is celebrating its 15th year. As part of that celebration, they are pleased to welcome IHCL and Tata Elxsi joining existing Tata group companies JLR, Tata Communications, Tata Consultancy Services and Tata Consumer Products, as category supporters.

Open to both current students and those graduating in 2017 or after, applicants can apply in two different categories, simply by submitting a 60-second video pitch, presenting their business solutions and innovative ideas. It’s that simple!

In October 2024, the 30 shortlisted applicants will be asked to pitch their ideas online at the virtual semi-finals to a highly regarded panel of judges. The winner of the Online Peoples’ Vote, the applicant who successfully ran the most engaging viral campaign and obtained the highest number of votes, will be joined by each winner of the six Tata Varsity Pitch categories, to progress onto the Bootcamp later in that month.

The three-stage competition includes an Online Peoples’ Vote, a two-day bootcamp with an impressive line-up of industry experts, highly innovative support and an exclusive Grand Final with well-respected individuals from the entrepreneurial eco-system.

Categories          

• Social Impact (with Tata Consultancy Services)
  • Is your business going to make the world a better place, focusing on critical challenges and social injustices? This category is for social enterprises, sustainable, and ethically conscious businesses with passion to drive positive impact, seeking out solutions to pressing social problems.
• Early Stage (with IHCL)
  • Are you working on a bold, potentially transformational business idea? Do you have belief that your idea can evolve into the next ‘big thing’? Well look no further as this category is exclusively dedicated to those fledgling ideas and very early-stage businesses.
• Genuine Innovation (with Tata Consumer Products)
  • Do you have a genuinely new idea or a more effective way of doing things? If your product or service is unique and truly changing the way things are traditionally done, or improving something that already exists in the market, then this is the category for you.
• Digital & Technical (with JLR)
  • Some of the fastest growing businesses in the global economy have been apps and digital ventures. If you think that your app, hardware or online product or service has the potential to change the trajectory of technological discovery or transform the digital world, then they want to see your application here.
• Creative & Design (with Tata Elxsi)
  • Welcomes entries from businesses with creative flair, ranging from design, crafts, music, fashion to marketing, NFTs, gaming, etc. Is your business ready to be a star in the creative industries night sky? Then this is your category!
• Health & Wellbeing (with Tata Communications)
  • Is your business tapping into the vast potential of the health and wellness industry? This category is for innovative ventures aiming to promote physical/mental health, those that seek to change current medical practices and those finding new ways to serve the communities.

Award Information

• Fancy winning of amazing £15,000, a national title and more opportunities to enhance your business.

Eligibility Criteria

• The competition is open to current UK students or those that have graduated in 2017 and after from any UK university, college or further education institution.
• Business or business idea is/will be UK based
• Consent for use of collateral, where applicable, in associated publicity
• Agree to contact from Tata and/or associated companies for duration of competition
• Have authority from business partners/co-founders to act as lead
• Abide by all competition rules and conditions.

For more information, visit NACUE.