What’s the Big Idea 2020

Our annual ‘What’s the Big Idea?’ competition was held virtually for the first time ever this year, live streamed from the Accidental Theatre on Wednesday 2^nd of December 2020. After what was a tough year for all our students the morale in this competition was so high, with top class ideas coming in and over 70 applications received.  

Sponsored by Ormeau Business Park, QUB students entered their best business ideas into the competition aspiring to secure the top prizes in two categories “Most innovative business idea” and “Best overall idea”.  The event hosted by MC Alastair Cameron included judging from previous WTBI winners, faculty staff and business professionals from Invest NI, Belfast Enterprise Academy and EIT Food. A striking highlight from the event was the wonderful speech the students received from our guest speaker Eleanor McEvoy, a fantastic entrepreneur and previous Dragon on RTE’s Dragons’ Den! 

After a tough choice from all the great business ideas presented, the 9 overall category winners, each receiving £200 to pursue their idea are as follows:  

“Best Green Idea” – Ronan O’Connell 

“Best Business Idea for Global Marketplace” – Hannah Keenan & Team 

“Best Idea from an International Student” – Lauren Wong & Team 

“Best Idea from AHSS”- Alena Romanovskaya 

“Best Idea from EPS” – Chris Miskelly 

“Best Idea from MHS” – Anastasia Perysinakis 

“Best Idea from a Postgrad Student”- John Smith  

“Best Social Enterprise Idea” – Michelle Ryan 

“Best use of technology” – Ryan Rafferty & team 

The day’s top prizes of £500 each went to Conor Morrow for “Most Innovative Idea” with his software to improve the operational efficiency of ground handling activities at airports.  The “Best overall business Idea” went to Chris Miskelly with his Adaptable prosthetic limb.  

This is a great competition in highlighting the innovation, originality and creativity of our QUB students and although the year didn’t go as planned, the calibre of ideas presented was second to none!