London Met’s brightest entrepreneurial talent took centre stage at this year’s Big Idea Challenge Awards
Date: 16 April 2026
London Met’s brightest entrepreneurial talent took centre stage at this year’s Big Idea Challenge Awards, celebrating innovative student and graduate ventures with real-world impact.
“We’re proud to create opportunities like the Big Idea Challenge, which give our students the platform, support and confidence to develop their ideas,” said Alexandra Banks, Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor of Student Success. “The standard this year has been exceptional, and it’s exciting to see ventures with such strong potential for both commercial success and social impact.”
From cutting-edge AI solutions to creative enterprises and socially driven ideas, the 2026 competition showcased the breadth of innovation emerging from across the University and beyond.
The University Big Idea Challenge 2026 winners were:
This year’s Grand Champion title was awarded to Elizabet Ciochina for SoulSpan, a platform connecting people navigating emotional challenges and life transitions with trusted therapists, coaches and practitioners. The judges were impressed by its strong social purpose and potential for meaningful impact.
Elizabet also took home first place in the Social Impact category, marking a standout evening for the venture.
The People’s Choice Award (University) went to Imesh Anton for Lumina Home Theatres, receiving more than 1,000 votes from a total of 2,381 cast. The business offers bespoke design and installation of luxury home cinemas, delivering immersive audio-visual experiences.
Commercial category
In the Commercial category, first place was awarded to Esther Bangura for Neurodivergent Money Coaching, a service supporting neurodivergent adults to manage their finances with practical, tailored and stigma-free guidance.
Second place went to Margarita Damai and Sajmon Gjyzeli for ConneX AI Ecosystem, an AI-powered system designed to streamline real estate operations through a 24/7 digital receptionist and centralised platform.
Third place was awarded to Saksham Arora and Namrata Bhowmik for Contextual Mental Health, a preventative initiative helping universities identify early wellbeing risks and develop supportive interventions.
Social Impact category
Alongside the winning entry SoulSpan, the Social Impact category highlighted ventures tackling important global challenges.
Second place went to Nasreen Sultana for Early Detection Prevents, a blood test designed to identify early signs of lifestyle diseases and support preventative healthcare.
Third place was awarded to Sam Poyanzadeh for Discreetly, a platform enabling users to create clear digital agreements before sharing personal content, helping to set boundaries and prevent misuse.
Creative and Freelance category
In the Creative and Freelance category, first place was awarded to Josef Rolf for The B-Scene, a quarterly magazine celebrating Brighton’s independent music scene and grassroots community.
Second place went to Yannick Portmann for Holy PET Pyramid, an immersive audio-visual installation encouraging self-reflection through a striking large-scale structure.
Third place was awarded to Sam Macdonald for Archive-Hell, a creative service helping collectors document and showcase their treasured items.
The Schools and Colleges Big Idea Challenge 2026 winners were:
The Big Idea Challenge also celebrated emerging entrepreneurial talent from partner schools and colleges.
The Overall Winner was Kick Start from Hampstead Fine Arts, recognised for its strong concept and potential.
Students from Southwark College also impressed, with Eco Drop named first runner-up, Sprout Kids second runner-up, and Second Chance AI winning the People’s Choice Award.
The annual competition continues to inspire and support the next generation of entrepreneurs, bringing together hundreds of sixth form and college students alongside London Met students and graduates to develop, refine and pitch innovative business ideas.
Winners from the University competition each receive a £1,000 cash grant to help bring their ideas to life, alongside ongoing support from the London Met Enterprise team. Previous finalists and winners have gone on to launch successful ventures, creating jobs and generating significant economic and social impact. This year’s Grand Champion Award was supported by Mercator Digital, with Neal Bamford, Lead Data Specialist and London Met Data Analytics MSc graduate, also acting as a lead judge.
“We were incredibly impressed by the quality and creativity of this year’s entries,” said Elecia Du-Bisette, Senior Student Enterprise Manager. “The range of ideas – from socially driven initiatives to commercially ambitious startups – really reflects the talent and entrepreneurial spirit of our students. We’re excited to continue supporting this year’s winners and finalists as they take their ideas forward.”
Photo: Elizabet Ciochina, Grand Champion at the Big Idea Challenge Awards 2026