The Student Startups team at the University of Exeter has announced a new philanthropic partnership that will support the programme for the next three years.
The Graham Keene Foundation has pledged funding that will contribute to the team’s annual Startup Grant Awards, which provide vital early-stage investment for ambitious student and graduate entrepreneurs as they take the next steps in building sustainable businesses.
Designed to support Founders who have progressed through the three-stage Student Startups Incubation programme, the Startup Grant Awards enable them to turn validated early-stage ideas into sustainable businesses.
The funding partnership will help ensure that more aspiring entrepreneurs can access the resources, support and financial backing needed to transform great ideas into successful businesses, creating economic and social impact long after graduation.
This reflects the Graham Keene Foundation’s longstanding commitment to creating opportunities for ambitious young people.
Established by entrepreneur and philanthropist Graham Keene, the Foundation supports young entrepreneurs, local communities, environmental projects and mountain communities, helping people to build confidence, develop leadership skills and realise their potential.
Graham Keene is one of the South West’s most successful entrepreneurs, having founded and grown the World Events Group into a global events business before its sale in 2010.
He has since then become an active angel investor and mentor, supporting early-stage businesses across a range of sectors.
He also known for mountaineering achievements, becoming the oldest Briton to climb to the top of Mount Everest in 2022, at the age of 68 – a feat that typifies the ambition, resilience and determination that define his work.
Emily Davies, Head of Student Entrepreneurship at the University of Exeter, said: “We are incredibly grateful to the Graham Keene Foundation for its generous support of Student Startups Exeter. This investment will enable more of our most promising founders to access critical funding at a pivotal stage in their entrepreneurial journey. The Foundation’s commitment to helping ambitious people realise their potential aligns perfectly with our mission to empower students and graduates to create innovative ventures with real-world impact.”
For more information about the Graham Keene Foundation visit The Foundation – Graham Keene and for more on the University of Exeter’s Student Startups programmes, visit Student Startups | University of Exeter.
For more information on how to support the work of Exeter’s Student Startups team contact Emily Davies, Head of Student Entrepreneurship.
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