What is Fitzelerate?

Fitzelerate is a student entrepreneurship programme, running as part of FITZ+, that is designed to provide an opportunity for students to develop or enhance their skills and experience in an increasingly entrepreneurial world.

Who can take part?

Fitzelerate is open to all students from Fitzwilliam College or a Hill College, or to teams of students of which at least one member is a Fitzwilliam or hill College student. Programme entries must be for a business venture, in any field, that addresses an unmet need and has the potential to become commercially successful. 

What's the process and what's in it for me?

Applicants may enter the competition individually or as teams. Participants are provided with mentorship and training in a range of related areas including but not limited to business planning, market appraisal, leadership, team building and presentation skills. Programme entries will be reviewed by a committee comprising volunteer Fitzwilliam Fellows and invited external judges. The selection process would include two rounds, culminating in a pitch event where the winning team(s) are awarded prize funding, and the achievements of the entire cohort are celebrated at dinner following the programme. 

The inaugural programme was sponsored by Excelect, a consulting company founded by Prof Kourosh Saeb-Parsy. This year the prize fund will be supported by members of the Fitzelerate Executive Committee and Fitzwilliam alumnus Chris Barnes (1998). Cash prizes of up to £5,000 will be available for the winning teams to support the direct costs of further development of the winning proposals. The cash prize cannot be used for personal expenses unrelated to development of the business proposal. After the programme, the College provides ongoing support to teams to help them develop.

The programme is held across two stages: a written submission for stage 1 (Michaelmas Term 2024) and a development and mentorship programme, culminating in the final pitch (Lent Term 2025).

The programme has more than doubled in size over the last three years, and participants have gone on to larger programmes within Cambridge and beyond, and have founded successful ventures that are now operating as successful start-up companies. The supportive and nurturing environment fostered by the programme helps would be entrepreneurs learn about the journey to establishing a successful company.