Explore your entrepreneurial idea (UCL BaseKX)

Overview

This free 6-week programme will help you start to turn an idea or passion into a viable business, side hustle, not-for-profit, social enterprise, or other entrepreneurial project.

You’ll work alongside other entrepreneurs to sharpen your skills, stress test your ideas and establish a market for your new venture.

You'll also have the chance to win a share of £5,000 prize money.

Who it’s for

This programme is for UCL students, staff and recent graduates who are new to entrepreneurship or want to refine their knowledge.

You don’t need any experience or a business idea, or be an aspiring entrepreneur.

If you don’t already have an idea to explore, the first session will help you come up with an idea to work on for the rest of the programme. Or you can attend one our 2-hour introductory sessions:

• How to come up with a startup idea that solves a real problem
• How to create a side hustle that will succeed

Startups already in the Hatchery incubator or endorsed for a Start-up or Innovator visa cannot attend.

What to expect

This course runs over 6 weeks, with one in-person session each week.

In the interactive, activity-based sessions, you’ll work through each section of the Business Model Canvas to stress-test your idea, and ultimately create a final pitch deck and presentation of your work.

You’ll receive a certificate of completion and learn about opportunities for developing your idea further.

What you’ll learn

The programme will help you:

• develop confidence in your idea
• explore and test your idea to ensure it's realistic
• understand who your customers and stakeholders are
• understand the steps to getting your service or product to your customers
• understand basic business finance, including cost structures and revenue streams
• perform market research
• practise and improve your business pitching skills

Pitching competition

The final session of the programme involves a pitching competition, with winners sharing £5,000 prize money.

You don't have to take part, but it’s a great way to practise your presentation skills.

You'll need to apply to take part in the competition. To qualify you’ll need to:

• attend 4 of the initial 5 sessions
• be available to pitch in-person at session 6
• show how you’ve explored and tested your idea

As this is an introductory programme, you may not be eligible to pitch for prize money if you're too advanced for the course. For example, you may not be eligible if you have an active company with employees, or have previously taken part in Explore. Your eligibility to take part is at the discretion of the entrepreneurship team and course facilitator.

Ongoing support

Following the course, you'll have access to group and one-to-one advice sessions to support the further development of your idea.

Dates, times and locations

This programme has 6 sessions in total:

• Wednesday, 20 May 2026, 4:30pm to 6.30pm (UCL Base KX)
• Wednesday, 27 May 2026, 4:30pm to 6.30pm (UCL Base KX)
• Wednesday, 3 June 2026, 4:30pm to 6.30pm (UCL Base KX)
• Wednesday, 10 June 2026, 4:30pm to 6.30pm (UCL Base KX)
• Wednesday, 17 June 2026, 4:30pm to 6.30pm (UCL Base KX)
• Wednesday, 24 June 2026, 5pm to 8pm (UCL Base KX)

Accessibility

If you have any accessibility requirements or requests, please let us know in the signup form.

Photography

Filming and photography occasionally take place at our workshops and events. We use these photos and recordings to help promote future events through our website and social media channels. You can always choose not to be included in any photos or videos.

Book your place

About the tutor

Kaitlin Fritz is an award-winning entrepreneur, enterprise educator and business coach who has supported over 800 startup founders worldwide. With her founder-first approach, she's built entrepreneurship programs globally, guest lectured at universities in the UK and abroad, and coached ventures from idea stage to Series A. She's been honoured by Forbes 30 Under 30, Great British Entrepreneur Awards, and Startups Magazine, and shares her insights on the entrepreneurial journey with her podcast Everyday Entrepreneurship. 

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UCL Innovation & Enterprise reserves the right to make changes to the programme, location and/or speakers without prior notice. Such alterations are occasionally necessary due to circumstances beyond our control.

Location

UCL BaseKX, 103c Camley Street, London, N1C 4PF