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Are you on the hunt for special gifts this festive season? From calming algae plants to AI protection badges, to dog food made from insects, UCL’s entrepreneurs have got you covered.
UCL has a thriving entrepreneurial community of students, staff and alumni. These talented, driven founders have developed an eclectic range of products and services. Discover presents you’re unlikely to find in the shops and support a UCL-created business at the same time.
All the businesses featured have been helped on their journey by UCL Innovation & Enterprise.
View a range of gift ideas including:
Household gems
BioBright: Add some calm to your space with algae plants
Do you know someone who loves plants but struggles to keep them alive?
Created by siblings Vanessa Barzasi (MSc Politics, Violence and Crime, 2020) and Ayrton Barzasi, BioBright’s algae plants are easy to look after, absorb CO2 emissions, and are a real mood-booster.
More gems for the home:
- Delight your loved one with a gift from Gohobi, handcrafted homeware inspired by Asian art and history.
- Check out Szeer Studio’s shop for plates, bowls and cups handmade in Jingdezhen, China, using sustainable practices.
Smart solutions
eNOugh: AI protection badge
Do you want your loved ones to feel safe walking home alone?
eNOugh is on a mission to solve the problem of lack of safety when walking alone at night with their AI protection badge. Clip the badge onto your coat and activate it through the app, the AI model will detect if there is a threat and contact the police to send you help. The business is the brainchild of Ina Jovicic (MSc Entrepreneurship, 2022) and Gaelic Jara Reinhold (Electrical and Electronics Engineering, 2023). Pre-order now.
Other tech ideas:
- Do you know someone in need of a gadget upgrade? Buy them a refurbished smartphone, smartwatch or tablet safely from Vendi.
- Bring fun to kid’s teeth cleaning with an interactive GUM Playbrush. GUM also has products for adults.
- Pre-order the Alice Camera for the creators in your life! The Alice Camera is an AI-powered camera that attaches to your phone, allowing you to take DSLR-quality photos.
Food and drink
The Fitness Imperium: Vegan protein shakes
Brainchild of Dona Kahawe (English Language and Literature, 2024), The Fitness Imperium's flagship product is Green Gains, a delicious, ready-to-drink vegan protein shake, available in vanilla and chocolate.
More refreshing gifts:
- Add a burst of flavour to your meals with Dr. Wills sauces, co-founded by Will Breakey, a doctor who did his PhD at UCL. These great-tasting sauces are also additive-free and naturally sweetened by dates, making them the perfect addition to any kitchen cupboard.
- Double Dutch offers award-winning mixers and tonics in unusual but wonderful flavour combinations. From pomegranate and basil to cranberry and ginger, there’s something to tickle every tastebud!
- Kairos, the world's first contactless wine aerator, makes the ultimate gift for red wine lovers.
For feeling fabulous
October: Handmade scarves, kaftans, sarees and more
Designed in London, crafted in India, October offers stunning handmade scarves and sarees which make a special gift this festive season. Founded by Pragya Aggarwal (MA Creative and Collaborative Enterprise, 2022).
Other gifts for looking good:
- Do you know someone passionate about their skincare routine? With MySkinci, you can upload a photo of your face and find products tailored to your needs, budget, and lifestyle, curated by skincare professionals.
- Browse BijouCREATES’ collection of handmade fashion items and accessories which blend West African traditional craft techniques with modern British lifestyle aesthetics.
- Check out Body Amplification Devices’ collection of unique, custom wearables using advanced digital tools like 3D printing.
For art enthusiasts
Paper-Capers: Get creative with paper
Paper-Capers’ sculpture creation kits make a fantastic gift for children, promoting creativity, collaboration, and fine motor skills, created by Hyekyung Choi (MA Art and Design in Education, 2020). Get the kids to make the glitter ball design and hang it on your tree!
Other creative gifts:
- Spread the joy of creativity this Christmas with an art piece from socially conscious art advisory firm Curaty.
- If you’re a designer, artist or architect, create bespoke ceramic designs for your loved ones with Clayform.
- Get creative with the Aladdin paper toy theatre from The Perfect Brush. Each theatre set comes complete with stage cutouts, characters, character bios, and a script for you to set up and perform your very own play. Let the show begin!
For dining out
LocalMeal: Discover independent restaurants recommended by locals
Curious about where the locals eat?
LocalMeal has got you covered! Founded by Management Science graduates Isabella Mandich, Noah Deron, and Derin Mutlu, LocalMeal is the personalised restaurant recommendations app you need to try.
Health and wellness
Amphi Botanicals: Healthy herbal blends
Amphi Botanicals was created by nutritionist Yasmeen Alaa S Aljabri (MSc Entrepreneurship). After drawing inspiration from ancient wisdom and modern science, Yasmeen developed these tasty, herbal drinks with immune-boosting properties.
Other wellness gifts:
- Do you know of someone who could do with a confidence boost? Treat them to Hopstair’s 1:1 coaching.
- Support your loved one’s mental health journey with MindHug’s individual coaching sessions.
For furry friends
Tuggs: Sustainable, healthy dog food
Tuggs was founded by UCL School of Management alumnus Harry Bremner after he noticed numerous pet owners wanting to feed their pets with healthier, more sustainable food. Harry worked with a team of vets, nutritionists and dieticians to develop fresh meals for dogs, using insects. Spoil a special dog in your life to Tuggs this Christmas, it’s pawsitively delicious!
Another idea for dog lovers:
- Ease any dog owner’s worries with a wellness kit from Treat Therapeutics. Their kits analyse the dog’s gut so you can discover what your dog should be eating, find solutions to recurring illnesses, and prevent diseases.
Sustainable choices
Known Source: Second-hand vintage fashion
Known Source brings together quality pieces from second-hand specialists and is the go-to place to hunt for a sustainable yet stylish gift. The startup was founded by Henry McNeill-Njoku (UCL Medicine) and Theodore El-Kattan (UCL Spanish with Management Studies).
Other green choices:
- Transform any concrete wall into a pollinator paradise with Phyta Biodesign’s simple-to-install modular wall system, Apia, which provides safe nesting habitats for solitary bees.
- An Eden Greenspace bracelet is the ideal gift for the eco-conscious individuals in your life. With every bracelet purchase, they’ll plant ten trees in the Great Rift Valley in Kenya.
Entrepreneurial support at UCL
UCL’s thriving entrepreneurial community creates startups that attract millions of pounds of investment, creating jobs and spearheading innovation that boosts the UK economy. Over the last five years, more than 335 new student startups were created at UCL. Collectively they’ve raised over £327 million in external investment and currently employ over 2,000 people.
UCL’s most promising startups, founded by UCL students, staff and recent graduates, have access to the Hatchery incubator programme at BaseKX, UCL’s dedicated entrepreneurship hub. Here they have access to tailored advice and mentoring as well as equity-free office space to help kickstart and grow their business.
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