We are based at The Deck in the Innovation Centre on Streatham Campus. The Deck is a collaborative workspace for student entrepreneurs to work on their business ideas or to meet a member of our team for 1-2-1 appointments. The space is also used for weekly startup workshops and classes for modules.
At SETsquared Exeter we help University of Exeter students become successful entrepreneurs through numerous activities and facilitating networking and collaboration opportunities.
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Open to students and graduates from all degree disciplines
Programmes delivered in Exeter and Penryn
Student Startups Programmes
Whether you want to launch a new app, start a social enterprise, develop an innovative new product or creative project, the Student Startups team are here to support your entrepreneurial ambitions.
Perhaps you have the seed of an idea and don't know where to start? Perhaps you have a side-hustle that you’re looking to consolidate and grow? Perhaps you’re considering an entrepreneurial path post-graduation and want to get started now? Wherever you are on your journey and whatever your ambitions, the Student Startups team would love to work with you.
Our programmes run throughout the year, are repeated termly and are designed to support you from idea to launch - through workshops, expert speakers, peer-to-peer network building, 1:1 advice, and access to early-stage funding.
You can also apply and take part in the programmes multiple times, with different business ideas.
Outside of our core programmes, we also hold regular drop-in sessions, workshops and events, that are open to all in the University community.
Please find further details of our programmes below.
Runs in the Autumn & Spring Term
What is it?
The Startup Pre-Incubator Programme is the first stage in building, testing and validating your venture. The 9-week programme covers important foundational groundwork, including business models, finances & revenue streams, market validation and pitching skills. The programme includes workshops, guest speakers, networking opportunities and access to workspace at The Deck on the Streatham Campus. You will also receive invites to additional events, introducing you to the wider Business Community in either Exeter or Falmouth.
At the end of the programme, you will have the opportunity to pitch for Market Validation funding of up to £500 to test and validate the viability of your idea.
Who can apply?
The Startup Pre-Incubator programme is open to all students, from all disciplines, and recent graduates (up to 2 years). To join the programme you should be able to:
- Identify why you are interested in exploring an entrepreneurial pathway.
- Articulate an entrepreneurial idea that you want to explore and develop further, or a problem that you actively trying to solve through an entrepreneurial solution.
- Explain what makes your idea different and what impact it could have.
Dates and deadlines:
Applications for the Spring Pre-Incubator programme have now closed. The Pre-Incubator will run again in the Autumn term. In the meantime, you can apply to our 3-day Summer Startup Bootcamp, taking place on 28th-30th May.
Runs in the Autumn & Spring Term
What is it?
The Startup Incubator programme is the second stage, designed to take you from validation to launch and to support you in building a viable and sustainable business. The 10-week programme covers topics including Go-to-Market Strategy, Branding, Sales, Digital Marketing, Raising Investment and IP & Legal. The programme includes workshops, guest speakers, networking opportunities and access to workspace at The Deck on the Streatham Campus. There will be demo events introducing participants to the wider Business Community in Exeter and Falmouth.
At the end of the programme, you will have opportunity to pitch for Startup funding of up to £1500 to further develop your venture.
Who can apply?
The Startup Incubator programme is open to all students from all disciplines, and recent graduates (up to 2 years out of university). Successful applicants should have completed the Startup Pre-Incubator programme and will be able present a viable and sustainable business idea.
To apply to the programme you should be able to:
- Evidence participation and completion of the Startup Pre-Incubator programme.
- Present a viable business idea and to outline some initial market validation and analysis to evidence the viability of your idea.
- Demonstrate commitment and entrepreneurial ambition.
Dates and deadlines:
Applications for our Spring Incubator have now closed. The next Incubator programme will run in the Autumn term.
Curious to learn more about entrepreneurship? Need help coming up with a business idea?
Come to a friendly and interactive taster session to meet the Student Startups team and learn more about the Student Startups programmes.
- Meet the Student Startups team
- Explore our startup co-working space, The Deck
- Develop a new purpose-driven idea or venture
- Become a change-maker!
More taster sessions coming soon.
Got an early-stage idea and want some advice?
The Student Startups team host weekly drop-in Q&A sessions via Microsoft Teams for students or graduates to pop in and chat with us about their business idea. Anyone can join a drop-in session, regardless of whether you are currently enrolled on a Student Startups programme.
Drop-ins run every Tuesday from 2-3pm. Please contact the Student Startup team to request a link to access the session.
The Student Startup Inspiration Talks are curated to bring together a diverse line-up of entrepreneurs from across different sectors and at different stages in their journey. Each event will centre around a specific theme and we will invite guest speakers to give a brief talk about their startup story and then follow-up with a moderated panel-style discussion around the theme of that talk. There will also be opportunity for you to ask questions and dig deeper into individual stories and it’s a great opportunity to be inspired by a wide range of different founders and ventures.
Who can attend?
Inspiration Talks are open to all in the University of Exeter’s community– students, graduates, staff. You don’t have to be in one of our core programmes to join a talk and it’s a great place to dive in and get a flavour of who we are and what we do.
Upcoming events:
Keep an eye on our newsletter and social media for updates.
What is it?
The Summer Startup Bootcamp is an intensive 3 days, designed to equip you with the skills and resources required to go from idea to launch and to build a viable and sustainable new business’. The Bootcamp takes place in-person, in The Deck on the Streatham Campus and is packed with valuable workshops, activities and opportunities for networking and collaboration.
You will have opportunity to work with other like-minded people, to explore topics such as customer discovery, business models, revenue streams, market validation and pitching skills. You will end the Bootcamp more confident in being able to articulate your start-up idea to others, equipped with new skills and experience and with a clear plan of next steps on your start-up journey.
Who can apply?
The Summer Startup Bootcamp programme is open to all students from all disciplines, and recent graduates (up to 2 years out of university).
To apply to the programme you should be able to:
- Identify why you are interested in exploring an entrepreneurial pathway.
- Articulate an entrepreneurial idea that you want to explore and develop further, or a problem that you actively trying to solve through an entrepreneurial solution.
- Explain what makes your idea different and what impact it could have.
Dates and deadlines:
The next Summer Startup Bootcamp will take place on 28th-30th May 2025. Please register your interest in the startup bootcamp here and you will be contacted when applications open on 14th April.
What is it?
This Startup Bootcamp is an intensive 2 days, designed to equip you with the skills and resources required to go from idea to launch and to build a viable and sustainable new business. The Bootcamp takes place in-person, on the Penryn Campus and is packed with valuable workshops, activities and opportunities for networking and collaboration.
You will have opportunity to work with other like-minded people, to explore topics such as problem solving, business models, how to make money, testing your business idea and pitching skills. You will end the Bootcamp more confident in being able to articulate your start-up idea to others, equipped with new skills and experience and with a clear plan of next steps on your start-up journey.
- Got a startup idea already? Great! We will support you in bringing it to life.
- Not got an idea yet? No problem, we will run some idea generation activities on day 1 to help you come up with an idea, or you can join a team.
Who can apply?
The Startup Bootcamp is open to all University of Exeter and Falmouth University students from all disciplines, and recent graduates (up to 2 years out of university).
Dates and Deadlines
The Bootcamp will take place 10am-4pm on 14th and 15th April in-person in Penryn (Exchange Yellow).
Please apply to the Penryn Startup Bootcamp here by 2nd April.
Your place on the Bootcamp will be confirmed by 7th April.
Additional opportunities
Below are details of other opportunities available to you on your Startup journey, through a range of partners we work with.
Enactus is Exeter University’s Social Enterprise society; just one of a larger network of student societies spread across Universities all over the world.
Enactus create projects that tackle global issues such as poverty, waste or homelessness. Enactus Local and International projects see a problem, use entrepreneurial action to find a solution and improve the lives of the individuals and communities that we work with.
Enactus society use The Deck space on a weekly basis and have launched numerous sustainable business projects including Urban Mushroom Co, Biosmart and Altr.d clothing.
Exeter Entrepreneurs is the University of Exeter's society for people that are business minded with an interest in entrepreneurial skills. Events run by the society give you the opportunity to network with top entrepreneurs and employers and develop a startup idea through skills workshops, mentoring, hackathons and pitch events.
The ELEVATE EIBF Engineering & Sciences Pitching Competition is designed to support you in articulating and developing your idea, to enable you to make it happen.
At least £3,000 to £6,000 (the more participants, the higher amount of funding the EIBF provides) in prize money awarded at the local competition level each year!
£16,000 in prizes awarded by Engineers in Business Fellowship (EIBF) at the national Championships each year!
Entry requirements
- Applicants and any team members must be University of Exeter students or have graduated from Exeter within the past 3 years
- Minimum of 1 Engineering, Computing, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology or Bio Medical student per team
- Demonstrate commitment and entrepreneurial ambition
- Present a business idea/opportunity
- Solo and team applications welcome
Applicants apply, are accepted onto the competition, and work to develop and refine their business ideas. Students are provided with pitch-readiness training. Each applicant (solo or as a team) prepares a 6-minute pitch communicating their idea and how they would use funding to take their ideas forward. Students attend mandatory pitch rehearsals, before pitching their ideas to our panel of entrepreneurial judges.
This competition is funded by the Engineers in Business Fellowship and Sainsbury Management Fellows charity.
Any questions about Elevate 2025, please email Amber Strong – EntrepreneurialEngineers@exeter.ac.uk
We are looking for 2 passionate and committed students to join a student-led research project investigating barriers to participation in the extracurricular student entrepreneurship program at Exeter.
This is an opportunity to make a real impact by exploring at least one of the following themes:
- If and why fewer females apply to extra curricular entrepreneurship programmes than males, reporting on what barriers were identified, what needs to be done, and creating an actionable plan.
- If and why students from HASS and HLS faculties are underrepresented on extra curricular entrepreneurship programmes, reporting on what barriers were identified, what needs to be done, and creating an actionable plan.
- What and why less than 5% of previous cohorts identify as having ADHD— despite research showing that over 25% of entrepreneurs have ADHD, reporting on what barriers were identified, what needs to be done, and creating an actionable plan.
This is a paid opportunity at £14.12 per hour for 36 hours (£508.32) per student.
The post will require 3 hours per week over 12 weeks (total 36 hours), between 28th April - 18th July.
The post holder(s) will be expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner at all times.
Specifications
We are looking for students who:
- Identify with or have a strong interest in one of these themes (gender in entrepreneurship, ADHD in entrepreneurship, or faculty representation).
- Are enthusiastic, proactive, and committed to delivering high-quality research within the project timeline.
- Have strong communication and analytical skills and can work independently and collaboratively.
- Are curious problem-solvers who want to contribute to a more inclusive and welcoming entrepreneurial community at Exeter.
Benefits
- Insight into Student Startups, and the University of Exeter’s Entrepreneurial Engagement.
- The opportunity to grow your network.
- Your hours can count towards the Exeter Award.
- Gaining experience into conducting a self-led research project, with guidance from the project lead.
Dates and Deadlines
Please apply to the role here by 1st April, 9.00am.
Applications reviewed: 4th April. Please note an interview will not be required for this role.
Successful students notified: 9th April
Role commences: 28th April - July 18th
This role is subject to funding which will be confirmed successful/ unsuccessful by the 21st April.
This role is open to current students of the University of Exeter only. If you have questions or queries please contact Jasmine Hammond directly.
Exeter's international Technology Entrepreneurship Bootcamp (TEB) provides an opportunity for innovators and creative thinkers to experience developing & launching a business.
In 5 days you’ll form a team, develop, launch and pitch your start-up to real investors, alongside Exeter’s leading engineers, entrepreneurs and technologists!
Learn from Gigi Wang, UC Berkeley Industry Fellow, the Silicon Valley expert who mentored Uber!
Dates and Deadlines
The next TEB will run 9th-13th June 2025.
TEB Tickets for current University of Exeter students
A limited number of TEB Programme and Administration Fee Bursaries are available for current Undergraduate (UG) and Postgraduate Taught (PGT) University of Exeter students, upon application (£85 Registration Fee remaining)- Apply here for a current UoE student bursary, to join TEB 2025 Bootcamp.
All TEB 2025 Bootcamp tickets must be purchased by 30 April 2025
Enquiries: TEBbootcamp@exeter.ac.uk