The Duke hosted the launch of iDEA 2014/15 programme at Buckingham Palace on 15th October, 2014.
HRH founded iDEA (inspiring Digital Enterprise Award) in partnership with Nominet Trust to help inspire young people to develop their digital enterprise skills. iDEA supports participants to develop a digital business venture, enabling them to build prototypes and test the viability of their business idea with real customers in the market.
Find out more about the iDEA programme, and how to get involved, here:
www.onemillionyoungideas.org.uk
The event was also an opportunity to announce the winners of the iDEA pilot who pitched their businesses to a panel of judges earlier in the day. Production Company, Upshot Entertainment, student cookery app, Digimeal, and crowdsourcing app, What Leads To were announced as the winners of £15,000 and accelerator support.
Founders of Upshot Entertainment said, “Winning this has really helped us take the next step. The funding and mentoring has been really invaluable, to help us start to grow our young business.”
The Duke was hugely impressed by all of the finalists from the pilot and congratulated them on their ideas and determination.
HRH said, “This digital universe has no geographical boundaries. I am extremely pleased that iDEA can accelerate the speed we go from initial idea, to concept, to business. There are huge potential opportunities for some of the things we have heard today.”
George the Poet, one of iDEA’s Ambassadors, has created a phenomenal video to mark the launch alongside young people from across the United Kingdom.
