Entrepreneurship Prize
Encouraging the development of entrepreneurial ideas and concepts, ensuring sustainable commercial and social benefit.
King’s College has always been entrepreneurial, and our members have long pioneered advancements in their fields.
In 2014, the King’s College Entrepreneurship Prize competition was founded, to further support and publicly recognise these entrepreneurial endeavours. Its mission is to encourage the development of entrepreneurial ideas and concepts, where creativity and know-how can be converted into sustainable commercial and social benefit.
We are delighted that over this period, the King’s College Entrepreneurship Prize competition has recognised 29 winning businesses, awarded over £399,000 in funding, and our expert panel of judges have provided many more start-ups, from a wide range of industries, with valuable advice and mentorship.
After a long-listing and short-listing process, finalists compete at the Lyons Den final for a first prize of up to £20,000, with the judges also able to make discretionary awards.
The panel of judges is comprised of members of the College Fellowship and King’s alumni with expertise in business development and venture capital.
The Competition is open to all students, Fellows, College Research Associates and alumni of King’s, irrespective of age or location.
In keeping with the College’s educational mission, all candidates, regardless of whether they are prize-winners, are offered feedback on request.
We strongly encourage King’s Members to enter and put forward your initiatives for the consideration of the judges!
How to enter
We are excited to launch the 2027 King’s Entrepreneurship Prize competition this autumn and we hope that you will get involved!
The 2027 competition guidelines are currently under construction but you can review the 2026 guidelines here!
If you have any questions, get in touch! Else come back soon to enter this amazing competition initiative!
Timeline
We are busy scheduling the 2027 competition, but you can expect it to run as follows:
| Autumn 2025 | Entrepreneurship Prize opens for Business Idea submissions |
| January | Deadline for Business Idea submissions (max 4 pages and 500 words) |
| End of February | Very latest entrants notified whether or not their Business Idea has made the next stage |
| March | Deadline for submission of Short Pitch documents (max 8 pages and 800 words) |
| End of April | Very latest entrants notified whether or not they are through to the Lyons Den |
| June | Seed Investment Pitch documents to be submitted. To include slide deck (max 12 pages and 1200 words), non-confidential business summary and team photo |
| June | Lyons Den Seed Investment Pitch schedule confirmed with entrants |
| June | The Lyons Den: Seed Investment Pitches to the Entrepreneurship Panel |
| Beginning of July | Lyons Den finalists notified whether or not they are prize-winners |
| From July | Winners to send in progress reports |
