From “I Don’t Have an Idea” to Confident Pitches in 48 Hours

Wow. What an incredible couple of days at our Start Your First Business Bootcamps at Haberdashers' Elstree Schools and Mill Hill Schools.

In just 48 hours, we watched students go from “I don’t really have an idea yet…” to confidently pitching fully developed business concepts with clarity, creativity and confidence. Over the two days, students explored opportunities, built brands, developed pitches and learned what it really takes to turn an idea into a business.

What stood out most was the transformation in the room. Students who were hesitant at the start quickly became more confident, collaborative and willing to take risks. The energy in the room was buzzing, students were fully engaged, constantly refining ideas, practicing pitches and supporting each other throughout the bootcamp.

The ideas developed were genuinely impressive, and the Dragons found it incredibly difficult to choose just one winning business from each bootcamp. The winning ideas were Fresh Fits, a school-based sports gear cleaning service where students could drop off dirty uniforms at school and collect them freshly cleaned, and Perfect Golf Clean and Design, a golf cleaning and personalisation business. Kool Kaps also received a special mention for its innovative concept focused on helping athletes stay cool during sport through specialist cooling material built into hats and helmets.

One of the most exciting parts of the bootcamp is that the journey did not stop at the final pitch.

Numerous students from each camp won mentoring sessions as part of their prize, giving them the opportunity to continue developing their ideas with real guidance and support.

The Power of Real Entrepreneurs in the Room

One of the most impactful elements of the Bootcamp was having real entrepreneurs in the room, founders actively building, scaling, innovating, and solving real-world problems across industries. Below are a few of the entrepreneurs who were on the ground with us:

Carlo Weaver, Founder & CEO of Apprentago, is an Early Careers Engagement Partner helping young people move from education into meaningful work. Through storytelling, social content and real-time data, Apprentago connects students, schools and employers, creating modern, accessible pathways into apprenticeships and emerging careers.

Paolo Ben Salmi, a 16 year-old entrepreneur, author, speaker and publisher, who builds platforms that empower young people through curiosity, confidence and leadership, while championing environmental responsibility and social impact.

Kate Fateeva, Co-founder & exited CEO of FastNetMon, lead a London-based cybersecurity startup delivering versatile and reliable DDoS detection tools used by companies across 134 countries. Her work gave students insight into global tech entrepreneurship and high-growth innovation.

Zora Feraji, Founder & CEO of The Clubhauz, is shaping the future of the creator economy. Through her modern members’ club, she connects creators with brands, mentors and opportunities, helping the next generation turn creativity into long-term entrepreneurial careers.

Tobi Ajala, Director of TECHTEE, runs a future-ready software house building cutting-edge digital solutions. Her work bridges world-class design and advanced development, showing students how technology and creativity intersect in today’s digital economy.

Kwame Bekoe, Co-founder & CEO of AfriSAF, is revolutionising access to feedstock in Africa to enable circularity and deliver competitive clean energy projects, bringing sustainability and large-scale impact into the entrepreneurial conversation.

Freddie Ogilvie, Founder of Scrubbed Kicks, is a 17 year old building a niche service-based business, transforming a simple idea into a growing shoe-cleaning brand.

And the team at Zero Formation - Ebz, Ose and Chen - are co-founders of a forward-thinking creative agency working with global brands across sport, creative and youth culture sectors. With over a decade of experience building their own brands, they now combine their expertise to deliver culture-defining creative services.

Hearing real-world stories, honest reflections on failure, and practical advice makes all the difference for young people stepping into entrepreneurship for the first time. It bridges the gap between theory and possibility.

Thoughts & Feedback

While the energy in the room was powerful, the impact didn’t stop there. Parents quickly noticed the shift too:

“A fantastic course that built solid foundational knowledge of what it takes to build a business, while having fun and being inspired in the process.” – Parent

“She loved hearing from entrepreneurs about their journey” – Parent

“Said it exceeded his initial expectations. Gained good foundation knowledge on the area of entrepreneurship and a business model.” – Parent

“She had a great time and is very inspired and empowered to pursue her own business ideas.” – Parent

“Has gained a better understanding of how businesses work - and loved hearing from real entrepreneurs.” - Parent

What’s Next?

📣 Our Bootcamps are happening year-round!

If you know a young person who would benefit from building their own idea and pitching it with confidence, we would love to welcome them.

🏫 And if you're a school interested in hosting a Bootcamp, let’s talk!

See our upcoming Bootcamps