A new online platform that helps researchers to plan, conduct and analyse research has scooped a £1,500 prize.

The Santander University of Brighton Ideas Competition was won by Robert Otim, a recent Product Design graduate. Robert’s idea ‘Pipette’ was developed with colleague and co-founder Helen Khor,  while they were working together in the data and analytics industry.

Runners up included Laura Brown (BA Textiles Design with Business Studies) with AURA, a venture to change perceptions of second-hand clothing in Brazil.

All finalists received a cash prize from Santander and are offered support to develop their ideas via beepurple, the University of Brighton’s entrepreneurship support service.

The competition’s judges included Holly Price, Relationship Manager at Santander Universities UK, and University of Brighton alumnus James Burton, an experienced entrepreneur who has been providing mentorship to students and graduates through the university’s beepurple which equips students with key skills that will improve their employability and helps grow successful businesses.

Clare Griffiths, the university’s Business Development Manager (Entrepreneurship), said: “I want to congratulate all of the finalists, who delivered exceptional pitches via online video, and I am grateful to Santander Universities, as well as our Entrepreneur-in-Residence James Burton, for their fantastic support. This was one of the hardest competitions to judge in recent years, the standard was so high. This competition has helped many businesses get started and we look forward to working with this year’s finalists to develop their ideas further.”

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