About the competition

What is flare?

flare is the University of Hertfordshire’s competition to help students and alumni launch new businesses or come up with an innovative idea.

It offers budding entrepreneurs support and training in areas such as writing a business proposal and offers prize money to help bring ideas to life.

There are three challenges in the competition:

1. Business start-up challenge – create or grow a commercial venture

2. Social enterprise challenge – build an organisation to benefit society

3. Imagine an app – design an innovative app

See a list of previous flare winners and runners-up 

Why enter?

Prizes of up to £18,000 are to be won, plus help and support to bring your idea into reality.

There are prizes for each challenge winner and two overall flare competition winners: one for the best start-up idea and the other for the best business, plus an additional prize if your idea has a heritage theme.

In addition, all Round 3 finalists will receive one year's membership to the Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Support will be available via a full range of Enterprise workshops and advice sessions in areas such as: planning, finances, intellectual property and publicity.