Inside Our Start Your First Business Bootcamps
Wow. What an incredible couple of days. 🚀
Last week, we hosted our Start Your First Business Bootcamps at Haberdashers' Elstree Schools and Mill Hill School and in just 48 hours, we witnessed something remarkable.
Students went from saying:
💭 “I don’t really have an idea…”
to
🎤 Confidently pitching fully formed business concepts with clarity, creativity and conviction.
And that transformation? It happened fast.
What Happens in 48 Hours?
Over two intensive days, students:
Spotted genuine opportunities
Tested and refined their ideas
Built brands from scratch
Developed pitch presentations
Stood up and delivered with confidence
But the most powerful part wasn’t just the business ideas. It was the growth.
With every session, students became more confident. More articulate. More willing to share. More prepared to take risks.
Watching that shift happen in such a short space of time was genuinely impressive.
What Stood Out Most
Across both schools, three things were impossible to ignore:
✨ The originality of the ideas
✨ The willingness to take risks and share openly
✨ The confidence that emerged so quickly
When young people are given the space to explore ideas without fear of getting the “wrong” answer, something shifts. Creativity surfaces. Collaboration strengthens. Belief grows.
The Impact Beyond the Room
While the energy in the room was powerful, the impact didn’t stop there. Parents quickly noticed the shift too.
After the Bootcamp, we received feedback that perfectly captured what we witnessed over those 48 hours:
“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
“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
These reflections reinforce something important: this isn’t just about teaching business terminology.
It’s about building confidence.It’s about demystifying entrepreneurship.It’s about helping young people realise their ideas have value and that they have the capability to bring them to life.
When students leave feeling inspired, empowered, and equipped with foundational knowledge, we know we’re on the right track. And when parents see that transformation too, it reminds us why this work matters so much.
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.
Our students didn’t just learn about business. They heard directly from people doing it.
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, serial entrepreneur, educator, author, speaker and publisher, builds platforms that empower young people through curiosity, confidence and leadership, while championing environmental responsibility and social impact.
Kate Fateeva, Co-founder & CEO of FastNetMon, leads 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. His 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, CEO of Scrubbed Kicks, shared the journey of 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.
Educators Leading the Charge
We also want to recognise the teachers who are championing entrepreneurial learning within their schools:
Susannah Abbott from Belmont Mill Hill Prep School Joanna Wolfson from Haberdashers' Elstree Schools
Programmes like this succeed because educators believe young people need more than subject knowledge - they need confidence, creativity, and real-world capability.
Why This Matters
We’re more motivated than ever to keep building programmes that help young people develop:
Confidence → Creativity → Real-world skills → Ambition for their future
Because when students realise they can build something from nothing and pitch it, it changes how they see themselves. And that shift matters.
What’s Next?
📣 Easter Bootcamps are coming.
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!
The transformation starts faster than you think.
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