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Dragons' Den Pitching Competition

Your chance to win direct investment into your startup.

As part of the annual programme of enterprise events at the university, Enterprise Bath’s Dragons' Den pitching competitions give students the opportunity to pitch to our Dragons (Bath alumni entrepreneurs) for the chance to win direct investment into their startups. Semester 1 is designed for students looking to validate their business idea with up to £500 in the prize pot each. Semester 2 is for student businesses looking for funds to aid in developing their business and this time, up to £5,000 is available for each student.

The competition is open to students and postgrads. No equity or stake is taken, the winners receive all of the money.

Dragons' Den 1

In semester 1, up to £500 of investment is on offer to any candidate who impresses the Dragons - there’s no limit on winners. Watch our video from the first round of the 2021 Dragons’ Den competition where we filmed students as they left the Den to find out how they got on!

Round 1 of Dragons' Den takes place in November each year. Details of how to apply will be released nearer the time and shared in our Teams group which you can join at the bottom of this page.

Dragons' Den 2 - April 2025

In semester 2, our second round of investment increases with students able to pitch for up to £5000. Again, there’s no limit on the number of winners! Students can enter Round 2 without previously having entered the first round, however judges will be looking to see evidence that you have already validated your business idea. To enter either rounds, all you need to do is submit a one minute video and complete our application form. Successful candidates will be shortlisted and invited to pitch to the Dragons in the Den.

The 2025 edition of Dragons' Den 2 will open on Friday 14th March and close at midday on Monday 24th March. Apply for the 2025 Dragons' Den 2 competition.

Two students looking at a mobile phone and smiling

The University of Bath Dragons' Panel

Find out who you will be facing when you enter the Dragon's Den.

Hubert Velge (MSc Business Administration 1984)

Attended the Catholic University of Leuven where he qualified as a civil engineer. He also holds an MSc in Business Administration from the University of Bath.

In 1986, Mr Velge pursued his interests in the city as an investment banker: first at Merrill Lynch, then at Dillon Read and finally at Baring Brothers as a corporate finance specialist. In 1995, he left Barings to set up a technology investment bank, Quartz Capital Partners, which he sold in 2000 to Knight Securities, the leading US market maker.

Since then, Mr Velge has been involved in a number of start-ups. His latest ventures are GowithYamo, an art exhibition platform, and Pinssar, a diesel particulate matter monitoring system.

Nick Wood (BSc, MEng Electrical and Electronic Engineering 1989)

Nick is a financial entrepreneur with over 30 years business experience covering hedge funds, venture capital, investment banking, specialised insurance, technology, and energy and the environment.

Nick is the founder of Resonance Asset Management, an alternative asset management firm focused on originating, distributing and managing real asset investment funds for institutional investors. As investor and board director, Nick works with a number of high growth technology businesses, including Linkdex Limited and GroundSure Limited.

Specialties: Industries - Alternative investment management (hedge funds, private equity, insurance risk as an asset class); Renewable and alternative energy and related environmentally themed businesses. Internet/communications/software.

Enterprise Bath Microsoft Teams Group

Join Enterprise Bath's Teams group for updates