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Dragons’ Den – 2024

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The University of York’s Business, Innovation and Enterprise Dragon’s Den event was the culmination of 12 weeks of learning through lectures and practical workshop sessions, offered to students from any department and any academic level of study. The final business ideas presented were from a diverse group of students, with the interdisciplinarity nature of the groups bringing a real diversity of business ideas and ways to present their ideas to the competition.

Uber for Driving Lessons

FYPI is an an app through which learner drivers can book driving lessons through, at any time, for any time. The app would include many useful features including instructor ratings, reviews and traits which would help a user find the right instructor for them. This allows learners to book a last-minute driving lesson at midnight on a Friday night if they so desire and if an instructor is available then. FYPI take a commission from every lesson booked, enabling a seamless process for learners and instructors to use.

For instructors, this app would allow them to work their own schedule in a self-employed manner whilst giving them a platform for learners to find them and book driving lessons through. Safety features are considered and there is a tracking option if required by parents/guardians of learners as well as instructor reviews and feedback.

Students:

  • Sammy Hori – Computer Science
  • Shravani Baviskar – Computer Science
  • Samriddhi Singh – Business and Management

Prize awarded: £500

YorCOSYSPACE

YorCOSYSPACE is a campus-based innovative platform redefining student living through sustainability. It promotes reuse and community engagement by transforming end-of-term waste of outgoing students and staff into valuable resources for incoming residents. Through its online platform, students can buy, sell, or donate used furnishings, engage in DIY upcycling, and earn fun rewards for eco-friendly actions or during interactive community events.

The approach reduces waste, supports smooth and efficient transitions, and ensures sustainable comfort at an affordable price in every living space while building a supportive community. This means international students leaving after their time at university can donate or sell their furniture and items to YorCOSYSPACE, ready to be bought by the next influx of students at a massively reduced rate.

Student:

  • San Bokhoree – Electronics Engineering

Prize awarded: £300

Tiny Treasures Co

Tiny Treasures Co has a mission to allow parents to have more time with their children by having parenting essentials in one place. They achieve this through offering three boxed sets of individual bespoke gifts and essentials for new-born babies to one-year olds, sustainably packaged and mailed to new parents on demand. These boxes contain seeded packaging which can be planted, as well as high end baby products designed for the more discerning parent. Parents or relatives can customise their package to make the products specific to the new baby and can gift the boxes to their loved ones. This takes the stress out of buying baby products giving parents more precious time with their new child.

Students:

  • Suzannah Binns – English Literature and History
  • Cara Ryder – Business in a Creative Industry
  • Maciek Filicha – Medical Engineering
  • Saud Kidwai – Computer Science with Year in Industry

Prize awarded: £200