Pupils pitch business ideas to experts

On Thursday, budding entrepreneurs from the Lower Sixth and Upper Fourth pitched their business ideas to a room full of industry experts.

Our audience was comprised of entrepreneurial OWs and MCS parents with businesses in AI, tech, marketing, healthcare, sport, pharmaceuticals and more. The event, held in the Studio, saw teams of pupils deliver short pitches covering student work experience platforms, basketball court booking systems, cloud storage discs and a social app to reduce risks of dementia among seniors. Each group had just five minutes to present their concept, followed by audience questions. Across the evening, there were vast opportunities to network, providing pupils with invaluable advice and a chance to speak first-hand to experienced business owners and founders.

Enterprise at MCS

Upper Fourth pupils from the school Enterprise Club formed the first two pitches of the evening. Through the Enterprise Club, Upper Fourth and Fifth Form pupils are introduced to entrepreneurship through practical projects and real-world business challenges. Pupils develop problem-solving skills while learning key business concepts, including marketing, finance, business models and management. The course culminates in the development and pitching of their own business ideas.

Following this, pitches were presented by Lower Sixth pupils involved in the Waynflete Enterprise Programme. This is a year-long programme designed for pupils wishing to develop advanced entrepreneurial skills and gain a deeper understanding of business creation and innovation. They explore the full start-up journey, business models and marketing strategies, culminating in the development and presentation of a start-up venture.

Guests praised the high standard of the pitches, noting the confidence and preparation shown by pupils.

At the end of the event, guests were asked to vote for which business idea was most compelling. Congratulations to Hammer, Josh and Komana from Lower Sixth for their winning idea CourtConnect, a basketball booking platform; and to Chen Chen, Jojo, Louis and Ronit from the Upper Fourth for their winning idea Experio, a platform supporting students to find work experience.

Thank you to the OWs and parents for their time, advice and support!