Four alumni businesses win at Herts’ flagship business competition
Four Herts graduates won at this year’s Flare Awards, the University’s highly competitive annual enterprise competition, beating over 80 other entries.
Flare, which is now in its 18th year, is open to student and alumni entrepreneurs. Entrants are offered support and training to help bring their business ideas to life, no matter how far they are in their entrepreneurial journey.
Computer Science graduate Keerthi Busanaboyina (pictured right) was one of the biggest winners at Friday’s event (30 June), taking home a total prize of £5,500 for their business Ellyfe. Ellyfe is a wearable device designed for older people, which monitors their hydration levels. Keerthi’s business won the Health and wellbeing and the People’s choice award, the latter of which was voted for by the audience on the night.
Fellow Computer Science graduate Josep Navarro and his business partner Moritz Laas won the Breakthrough science and new technologies award for their company Uverd, taking home £3,000 in prize money. Through Uverd, Josep and Moritz are building low-cost AI-based monitoring technology to boost soil integrity, crop yield, and nutrient density in the agricultural sector.
Fashion and Fashion Business graduate Nishrat Islam won £3,000 for their business Bground. Bground, which uses recycled coffee grounds to create a durable and sustainable textile, won the Creative entrepreneurship award.
The final alumni to win a Flare award was Biomedical Science graduate Sharon Okoh-Peter. Their business, Keats, is an authentic African food restaurant and delivery service with a diverse and nutritious menu. The packaging Keats’ uses is also made from sustainable material. Sharon’s business won the Impactful entrepreneurship award, and she took home £3,000 in prize money.
Congratulations to all this year’s finalists and our award-winning graduates!