Behind the Student Founder Showcase 2025

On 15 October, the University of Southampton Student Enterprise team hosted their annual Student Founder Showcase – a celebration of student creativity, ambition, and innovation. The Student Founder Showcase serves as the annual celebration of the achievements of participants in the Foundership Programme.

Staff Matters heard from Sara Campin, who manages the Foundership Programme, about what the programme entails and how it leads up to the showcase:

“The Foundership is a 10-week programme of funding and support for aspiring student founders that takes place over the summer vacation. Its aim is to nurture student-led businesses within the University of Southampton, providing founders with the resources, knowledge, guidance, and community they need to build sustainable and successful ventures.

The Showcase marks the culmination of the programme – an opportunity for founders to share their stories, reflect on their journey, and celebrate their progress. It also serves to inspire other students to connect with the Student Enterprise Team and take their first steps towards bringing their own business ideas to life.”

Sara also shared her favourite parts of working with the programme:

“It’s an incredibly rewarding role, working with passionate students from the seed of an idea through to testing its viability and turning it into a reality. One of the highlights is watching the cohort come together — supporting, challenging, and learning from one another along the way.

I particularly value the chance to work closely with founders both 1:1 and in group workshops, and to witness not only the growth of their businesses, but also their personal development as confident, capable founders and leaders.”

The Showcase brought together students, staff, local business leaders, entrepreneurial supporters, the University’s Vice-President of Research and Enterprise, and even the Lord Mayor of Southampton to celebrate the achievements of student founders across every discipline.

Tom Simmonds, Head of Student Enterprise, Social Impact and Events, said:

“The atmosphere was truly inspirational and exactly what we set out to achieve: students, colleagues, founders and local businesses in one room, learning from each other.

The reception was a real celebration, busy, purposeful and connected, where people met each other and explored the wider Student Enterprise ecosystem, including fantastic societies like Enactus, Fish on Toast and Women in Business. That breadth is what makes nights like this so powerful.”

The Foundership and Showcase wouldn’t be possible without the hard work of the Student Enterprise Team. Staff Matters asked both Tom and Sara to give us insight into what goes on behind-the-scenes. Tom said:

“The Student Enterprise Team coordinates months of work, founder coaching, venue and AV, accessibility and safeguarding across two sites, marketing and comms, event logistics, and the follow-up that turns conversations into action. Many colleagues and partners contribute. When it comes together, you see why it’s worth it: our Foundership students get a credible platform to develop, be seen by the ecosystem, and leave with contacts they can use the very next day.”

Sara added:

“The Foundership and Showcase are truly team efforts, powered by the dedication of the Student Enterprise Team. Beyond the logistics, operations, and marketing, there’s a deep commitment to creating an accessible and supportive environment where student founders can thrive.

The richness of the programme is also amplified by our wider network of external experts, mentors, and experienced entrepreneurs — including many proud University of Southampton alumni — who generously share their time, insights, and encouragement with our founders.”

The evening of the Showcase concluded with a forecast of the upcoming opportunities from Student Enterprise and the Social Impact Lab, including targeted workshops and the much-anticipated Student Startup Challenge (14-16 November). Finally, connections were made during the networking drinks in the Student Enterprise Junction, the collaboration and workspace in the City Centre Campus where the Foundership Scheme took place over the summer. Here, certificates were presented to the winners of the Engineers and Scientists in Business Competition (ESBC) and Pulse for Change competition.

It was a truly inspiring night celebrating innovation, collaboration, and the entrepreneurial spirit that thrives at the University of Southampton.