Emma Enterprise
The world needs more blue-sky thinking. Turn your ideas into reality by kick starting a social enterprise, or igniting a new business. Learn skills in our Lab, start something new in our Competition.
The 2026/27 edition of the Emma Enterprise Lab & Competition is your opportunity to learn, experiment and even get a starting investment. Along the way, learn core enterprise skills like idea generation, market research, how to write a business plan, pitch your idea, develop a business model, raise finance, and more! You will be supported on this journey by experts from the Emmanuel community and Cambridge innovation ecosystem. You could also win investment with one of our two cash prizes of £2000!
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Launch
12 November 2025, 5pm
Join us for the launch of the Emma Enterprise Programme. As well as hearing the story of an Emmanuel entrepreneur, it will be a networking evening and an opportunity to connect with like-minded innovators, entrepreneurs, and doers.
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Enterprise Essentials Workshops
22 January, 5:30-7:30pm
3 November, 5L30-7:30pm
Experts from Cambridge Enterprise will be delivering two workshops in College. With pizza!
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Lab
16 & 17 January 2026 (Apply by: 18 November 2025)
The Emma Enterprise Lab is a two day intensive opportunity to learn the core skills of starting a social enterprise or new business venture from experts, and turn your ideas into reality. Sessions will cover a range of topics including idea generation, market research, networking, pitching, writing a business plan and more. Lunch and a dinner are included too!
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Drop-In
26 January and 2 February, 2-4pm
Drop-In to Fiona’s Cafe to workshop your pitch with a member mentor Jeremy Leong.
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Competition: Entries
Entries Open : 15 January - 15 February
Entering is easy! All you have to do is form a team and write a one-page summary of a business or social enterprise idea. The teams with the best ideas will be given mentors to develop their ideas before pitching to a panel of expert judges. The winning team and two winners up will receive a cash prize.
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Competition: Final
28 April 2026
The Emma Enterprise Competition Final is a chance for finalist teams to pitch their ideas and offers an exciting opportunity for budding entrepreneurs and changemakers to bring their ideas to life. Come see what could be beginning of the next big thing! Pitches will be followed by networking drinks.
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Innovation Prize
For research-led ideas.
Have you developed something through your research that could become a company, product or service? This £2000 prize supports research-led ideas with the potential to become real-world innovations. Recipients also recieved a ‘Golden Duck’ Trophy.
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Impact Prize
For ideas that solve real-world problems.
Have you spotted a problem and come up with a better way of solving it? This £2000 prize supports new businesses, products, services and social or environmental ventures with the potential to make a transformative difference. Recipients also recieved a ‘Golden Duck’ Trophy.
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People's Choice Award
For the best pitch at the final as chosen by the audience.
Recognising the best pitch and idea at the final. Recipients also recieved a ‘Blue Duck’ Trophy.
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Stories from Emma Entrepreneurs
Various Dates
Series of online talks by Emma Entreprenuers. See the listings on the Development Office calendar.
Discover some of the past big ideas.
Emma Enterprise Champions
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Dr Anthony Harris
Programme Facilitator · Bye-Fellow, Founder, Cambridge Angel
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Dr Daniel McKay
Programme Facilitator · Bye-Fellow, Emma Experience Director
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Benjamin Blaker
Emma Enterprise Champion · Member (2020), ADHDX / Civil Service
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Charlotte Casebourne Stock
Emma Enterprise Champion · Member (2015), Executive Partner (Yarvie LLC), Life Sciences
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Apurva Chitnis
Emma Enterprise Champion · Member (2011), CTO and Co-Founder (Koodos), Engineering, Software
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Damian Crowther
Emma Enterprise Champion · Member (1986), Founder & Head of Research (Trimtech Therapeutics), Healthcare, neuroscience
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Jonathan Cumming
Emma Enterprise Champion · Member (1987), CFO & COO, Tech (deep, climate, ed); Finance
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Hannah Bryson-Jones
Emma Enterprise Champion · Member (2014), Founder (Delta H), Clean Energy
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Harith Haboubi
Emma Enterprise Champion · Member (1997), Director of Engineering (Agile Analog), Electronics, software
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Stephen Halstead
Emma Enterprise Champion · Member (1990), CFO/COO Tech-Enabled Growth Businesses, Software, Telecoms, Financial Services
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Jeremy Leong
Emma Enterprise Champion · Member (2007), Technology / Strategy
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Jake Moll
Emma Enterprise Champion · Member (2019), Matta, Engineering/Startups - Team Mentoring, General Advice, General Supporter
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Anthony Newman
Emma Enterprise Champion · Member (1991), Co-Founder (ape2o), sustainable water vending systems
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Peter Parkes
Emma Enterprise Champion · Member (2003), Head of Product (Miro)
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Emily Potts
Emma Enterprise Champion · Member (1996), Founder (Emily Potts Consulting), Business development and exit coaching for SMEs
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Gareth Sumner
Emma Enterprise Champion · Member (2000), Head of Geovation (Ordnance Survey), Startup support / innovation / geospatial / proptech
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Ryan Walter
Emma Enterprise Champion · Member (2021), Founder & CEO (Apostrophe), Technology Entrepreneurship
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Paul Lomas
Emma Enterprise Champion · Member (1976), Competition Appeal Tribunal, Expertise in law but with experience with SMEs, start ups and intra and entrapreneurism
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Bill Mansfield
Emma Enterprise Champion · Member (1980), Leonardo Da Vinci Ltd, specialised in AI.
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Elliot Zissman
Emma Enterprise Champion · Member (1994), Maistro, Marketing / AI / B2B
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Want to become an Emma Enterprise Champion?
You can register using the link below.
Competition
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Form a team and prepare a 1-page pitch.
Speak to one of our mentors available to help you frame your pitch document.
Submit your pitch using the online form by the stated deadline.
Shortlisted teams will be given an alumni mentor who will help you develop your pitch.
Compete in the final.
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Innovation Prize (£2000) For research-led ideas
Have you developed something through your research that could become a company, product or service? This prize supports research-led ideas with the potential to become real-world innovations.
Impact Prize (£2000) For ideas that solve real-world problems
Have you spotted a problem and come up with a better way of solving it? This prize supports new businesses, products, services and social or environmental ventures with the potential to make a transformative difference.
People’s Choice (Trophy) as selected by the audience at the Final.
Benetits
Practice at developing a business plan
Access to an experienced alumni mentor
Experience at pitching to a panel of investors
Follow-up investor introductions
Be competitive in future competitions and funding opportunities. Many entrants have gone onto bigger things!
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Teams must have a minimum of 2 members and up to 4 people.
At least one team-member to be an undergraduate, postgraduate, CRA or recent alum of Emmanuel College.
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Innovation 25%
What is the idea, and what makes it novel? Describe the problem or opportunity, your proposed solution, and what is innovative or distinctive about it. For research-led ideas, explain how your research could be translated into a product, service or venture.
Impact 25%
What difference could it make? Describe the potential commercial, social, environmental or other benefits of your idea. Consider who will benefit, the scale of the opportunity and the potential to grow or extend its impact.
Implementation 25%
How could you make it happen? Explain your business or delivery model, evidence of demand or market validation, and your route to market or users. Outline the team, resources and funding you would need, and how the £2,000 prize could help you take the idea forward.
Presentation 25%
How compellingly do you communicate the idea? We will consider the clarity, structure and visual impact of your pitch, as well as how effectively you communicate your idea and respond to questions.
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Each shortlisted team gives a 7-minute pitch followed by 8-minute Q&A.
Judges will decide winners on the day.
Winning teams for the Innovation and Impact prizes will each receive £2000. The People’s Choice will win a trophy.
Winning teams offered introductions to local Cambridge investors
All shortlisted teams and mentors are invited to the final dinner.
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2026 - Voronai Dx, led by Ellen Schrader. AI-based diagnostic test that analyses tumour tissue images to predict whether a breast cancer patient will respond to immunotherapy.
2025 - IntolerSense, led by Lukas Pin. Smart app that helps people track their food intolerances and make better choices.
2024 - Green Harvest, led by Dylan Cuskelly. Using satellite imagery to address global challenges like food security and land degredation.
Enterprise Stories
Extra Support
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Part of the University of Cambridge, Cambridge Enterprise is responsible for supporting the translation of University research to create globally leading economic and social impact.
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A community and network platform with resources, events and opportunities for those interested in innovation and enterprise in Cambridge.
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Since 1999, CUE have been supporting and accelerating business innovation and entrepreneurship and providing training for hundreds of students, staff and alumni. They run several annual competitions.