Ready to be inspired by Queen Mary founders?
For more than 10 years, the School of Business and Management has supported students as they turn ideas into real ventures that create social, economic and environmental impact. From global award-winning projects to innovative societies built on student initiative, these examples show what you can achieve when you combine creativity, purpose and entrepreneurial learning.
Below are some outstading projects from student founders and supported by the Entrepreneurship Hub:
Major Mixer
Building networks. Building confidence.
What they do:
Major Mixer enhances students’ career prospects by connecting them with insights from a wide range of UK industries.
Who founded it:
Lijun Hou with co-founders Mikhail Andreev, Endrit Haziri, Zhishan Huang, Syed Izhaan and Yasi Ranjbar, MSc. Business Administration and Management (2023).
Why it matters:
Major Mixer brings together a diverse community of students and creates a supportive environment where peers can share experiences, insights and opportunities.
ET Collect
Turning waste into opportunity.
What they do:
ET Collect transforms food waste into agricultural soil enrichers.
Impact:
A scalable model that tackles both waste and unemployment through circular, socially driven innovation.
Achievements:
- Won the Hult Prize regionals in Oslo (2019),
- Forecasted the creation of 30,000 jobs, drawing the attention of the Egyptian Ambassador, who met with the founders to discuss their idea,
- Earned a place in the exclusive Hult Prize five-week global accelerator.
SWEED
Seaweed based innovation for a plastic free future.
Who founded it:
Marcos Souto Ulloa, MSc Entrepreneurship & Innovation (2020).
What they do:
SWEED develops marine safe, home compostable, seaweed-based bio packaging - a sustainable alternative to single use plastics.
Impact:
The material requires no fertilisers, pesticides, land or freshwater, making it one of the most environmentally responsible packaging options available.
Achievements:
- Winner of a Young Innovator’s Award for pioneering biodegradable packaging innovation.
GoTaZa (previously AlgaX Superfoods)
Accelerating the transition to sustainable nutrition.
What they do:
GoTaZa accelerates the shift to sustainable food systems through the modular production of Omega3 and plant based proteins.
Impact:
Creates accessible, sustainable alternatives to traditional protein sources.
Achievements:
- Won the Hult Prize regionals in Santo Domingo (2020),
- Selected from over 150,000 global student startups competing for the $1 million Hult Prize challenge,
- Gained access to the Hult Prize global accelerator (five weeks),
- Born from entrepreneurship sessions delivered by Dr Evangelos Markopoulos at Queen Mary.
BURG
Innovating the future of protein.
What they do:
BURG develops bug-based food products to create sustainable alternatives to conventional meat.
Impact:
Explores ethical, sustainable protein that reduces dependence on resource heavy animal farming.