Essex Startups event explores business ideas whilst showcasing the UN Sustainable Development Goals

The weekend event explored business idea creation techniques, creative thinking, and team working which is designed to help students get started in business.

Over the two days, the Essex Startups team took students through a variety of techniques to aid creative thinking and idea generation. They used the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) alongside value exercises to get students to understand their main values that would translate into business ideas.

Two groups focused on SDG 2 Zero Hunger and SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production by creating a vegan alternative to KFC- using mushroom protein which promotes healthy eating and a lower cost to the consumer. Whilst the other team created a loyalty card that would partner with Lloyds for all people that bank with them to receive discounts at vegan restaurants and stores.

The third group focused on SDG 3 Good Health and Wellbeing and SDG 4 Quality Education by introducing a product- similar to an iPad that gave children opportunities to learn and educate them, whilst also keeping them safe from online usage.

This is a great example of how everything we do can be related to the Sustainable Development Goals. Find out more about how the university is working towards the Sustainable Development Goals.