Schedule a conversation or encounter through our online platform
University of Southampton Offers Comprehensive Startup Assistance for Students and Researchers
The University of Southampton is committed to supporting its students and researchers who wish to start their own businesses. A dedicated service for startup assistance is available, offering a range of resources and guidance to help make startup ideas a reality.
This service is free for all students and researchers at the University, and can be accessed via their website or by emailing [email protected] if you don't have a University of Southampton email account. The service collects personal information for diversity and resource allocation purposes but does not share it with others.
The service provides information and advice on starting up a new business, and is willing to discuss any questions about their website. They also offer Drop-in sessions to discuss and provide guidance on startup ideas. To book a Drop-in session, visit the provided link. If you're a student or researcher without a University of Southampton email account, email [email protected] to book your slot.
The service is interested in answering questions about your startup idea and offers a platform for individuals to discuss their ideas. They aim to help make the startup idea a reality by providing guidance on critical next steps. They also assist individuals in making decisions about their startup idea.
Drop-in sessions can be held online via MS Teams or face-to-face in Building 1 on Highfield Campus.
In addition to the startup assistance service, the University of Southampton offers several other programs to support entrepreneurship. The Foundership 2025 program, for example, is a 10-week intensive entrepreneurship program providing up to £3,000 in grant funding to work full-time on a business over the summer. Participants receive workshops covering business strategy, marketing, accounting, legal issues, and mindset, and benefit from weekly 1-1 mentorship sessions with Student Enterprise Consultants, expert-led networking events, and access to a dedicated workspace in Southampton city centre known as the Student Enterprise Junction.
The University also offers networking platforms to connect students, staff, and external partners, which helps in building relationships and sharing skills valuable for entrepreneurship. Southampton’s Business School, highly ranked and AACSB accredited, bridges world-class research and practical business education, facilitating a supportive environment for new business ideas.
Additional support is available through peer-led initiatives like the Student Money Champions, which provide money management guidance, and IT and software support through the University’s IT services.
In summary, the University of Southampton provides a comprehensive entrepreneurial ecosystem encompassing funding, expert mentorship, skill development workshops, workspace, networking, and continuous community support tailored to help students and researchers launch and grow their businesses. Whether you have a startup idea or are unsure about pursuing one, the University's startup assistance service is available to help you take the next step.
- The University of Southampton's startup assistance service welcomes questions about your startup idea and offers a platform for discussion, aiming to guide you through critical next steps in making your idea a reality.
- In addition to the startup assistance, the Foundership 2025 program at the University of Southampton provides a 10-week intensive entrepreneurship program with grant funding, workshops, mentorship, networking events, and access to a dedicated workspace.
- The University's entrepreneurial ecosystem extends to peer-led initiatives like the Student Money Champions, providing money management guidance, IT support, and education-and-self-development resources.
