Whether you’re curious about entrepreneurship, exploring an idea, or looking to develop skills that set you apart, we’re here to help you take your next step. Open to all University of Cambridge students and recent alumni.
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01
Develop enterprising skills
Build transferable skills that help you solve problems, spot opportunities and take action.
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02
Explore ideas
Learn how to develop ideas, test assumptions and take action.
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03
Meet like-minded people
Connect with other students, researchers and founders who share your curiosity and ambition.
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04
Launch a venture
Take practical steps towards turning an idea into a startup, project or social venture.
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05
Stand out to employers
Gain skills, experiences and evidence that help you stand out in applications and interviews.
An enterprising mindset empowers you to create opportunities where others see obstacles, navigate uncertainty with confidence, and turn ambition into impact.
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1-2-1 Meeting
Idea Clinic
Have an idea, a question, or not sure how to take your next step?
Book a one-to-one Idea Clinic to talk through your thinking and explore what might help. You might want feedback on an early idea, advice on getting started or help finding the right support across Cambridge. You do not need a polished pitch, a business plan or any previous experience. The clinics are open to University of Cambridge undergraduate, Master’s, PhD students, and recent alumni from any college or department.
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2-Part Workshop
Enterprise Essentials
Curious about enterprise or entrepreneurship, but not sure where to begin?
Enterprise Essentials is a practical two-session workshop series that will help you understand what being enterprising really means and how to turn a problem or early idea into action. You’ll explore enterprising behaviours you may already use, learn how to investigate problems and leave with a realistic next step. The sessions are open to University of Cambridge students and recent alumni from any subject or background, and you do not need an idea, previous experience or plans to start a company to take part.
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Event
Idea Sprint
Want to get a taste of what it’s like to be an entrepreneur?
Idea Sprint is a fast-paced, hands-on event where you’ll team up with other students to tackle a real-world problem, shape an early solution and experience the journey from problem to pitch. You’ll explore who the problem matters to, think creatively about how your idea could create value and bring your thinking together in a short pitch. It is open to University of Cambridge students and recent alumni from any subject or level of study, and you do not need an existing idea, a team or any previous entrepreneurship experience to take part.
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Talks
King's E-Lab Speaker Series
The King’s Entrepreneurship Lab Speaker Series gives you the opportunity to learn directly from founders, CEOs, policy-makers, politicians and other influential leaders through talks, fireside chats and panel discussions. It’s a chance to gain new perspectives, develop your understanding of entrepreneurship and innovation, and connect with like-minded people from across the Cambridge community.
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Funding
Society Enterprise Fund
Have an idea for a society event that could spark ideas, build skills, or inspire action?
The Society Enterprise Fund supports registered University of Cambridge student societies to deliver their own enterprise-related events, workshops, hackathons and other activities. Societies do not need to have an obvious entrepreneurship focus to apply. If your activity could introduce enterprise to a new community, address a topic your members care about or give students a practical opportunity to create and collaborate, we want to hear from you. Successful activities will receive funding and support from IE Cambridge.
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Tool
Skills Discovery Tool
Curious about your entrepreneurship and enterprise strengths?
The University of Cambridge Skills Discovery Tool is a great place to start. It helps you build a personalised picture of your skills, including entrepreneurship and enterprise capabilities such as opportunity recognition, creativity, initiative, problem-solving, and collaboration, while also showing how these connect to broader transferable skills. By understanding your current strengths and identifying areas for development, you can explore opportunities at Cambridge to continue building the skills that matter to your goals. Access requires a University of Cambridge CRSid login.
