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Winners in flare 2012/13

Klerissa McDonald

Curly By NatureThe owner of Curly By Nature at her stand at Flare.

The coveted title of ‘Best Business’ and a prize of £5,000 was awarded to Klerissa McDonald and her hair care brand Curly By Nature. The Management Science and Spanish graduate first began working in a hair salon aged 14, and once graduated decided to launch her own bespoke natural hair care range.

Curly By Nature encourages people to embrace their genetically curly hair by providing natural products, online styling tips and advice. Klerissa’s prize money will go towards the further development of quality, ethical hair care products for her brand.

In addition to her cash prize, Klerissa will also receive one year’s membership to Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry and free office space in the University’s Incubation Centre. 

Chloe Hackney, Lauren Ash and Jacquelyn Bond-Vaughan

PetiliciousPetilicious owners with their stand at Flare.

The second top prize was awarded to three young business students, Chloe Hackney, Lauren Ash, and Jacquelyn Bond-Vaughan, whose unique ‘pet treats with a twist’ business Petilicious secured them the title of ‘Most Innovative Idea’ and £5,000.

Chloe, Lauren and Jacquelyn are all studying business degrees at the University and hope to use their cash award to test their products and develop their brand further. The judges were impressed that Petilicious combined two of the nation’s biggest interests, pets and well, the other is currently top secret!

The girls will also receive one year’s membership to the Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry and free office space in the University’s Incubation Centre.

 

Beverly Banahene

Bev’s Cookie DessertsThe owner of Bev's Cookie Desserts at her stand at Flare.

Marketing and Economics graduate Beverly Banahene won the Business Start-up Challenge and £2,000 for her business Bev’s Cookie Desserts. Combining her business degree and love of baking, Beverly launched her own luxury home-baking company which specialises in dessert flavoured cookies, with flavours including Tiramisu, Apple Crumble and Banoffee Pie.

Beverly will use her prize money to further develop her business; she will also receive one year’s membership to the Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and free office space in the University’s Incubation Centre.

 

Peter Kelleher

smarterthinkingsmarterthinking owner with his stand at Flare.

University graduate and retired police officer Peter was awarded the prize for the Social Enterprise Challenge. He received a cash award of £2,000 and free office space in the University’s Incubation Centre to help him launch his social enterprise idea, ‘smarterthinking.’

‘smarterthinking’ aims to help individuals and organisations effectively cope with change. The programme provides support through an advice and mentoring service for people thinking about leaving their job. The Business graduate will pilot his service with a programme aimed at those leaving the police service.

Peter will also receive one year’s membership to the Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

 

Ivaylo Danev

WintailorClose up of Ivaylo's Face

Animation graduate Ivaylo Danev was awarded £2,000 for winning the Imagine an App Challenge with his innovative idea, Wintailor.  

Wintailor is an interactive design app which will aim to revitalise the window and door purchasing process by allowing users to browse window and door manufacturers, get a quote in less than a minute, and visualise different products in their home using personally uploaded photographs, all on a smart device or computer.

Ivaylo will also receive one year’s membership to the Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry and free office space in the University’s Incubation Centre.

 

Holly Paine and Elliot Rasberry

Holly FrancescaThe owners of Holly Francesca at their stand at Flare.

Alumni Holly Paine and Elliot Rasberry won the prize for the Best Heritage Themed Business with their illustrative design company ‘Holly Francesca’, which produces original and bespoke art prints inspired by worldwide iconic landmarks. The prints are sold online, at crafts markets and in gift shops.

This prize was sponsored by the University’s Heritage Hub who felt that Holly Francesca demonstrated perfectly how business and heritage can work together.

Holly and Elliot will receive £2,000, one year’s membership to the Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and free office space in the University’s Incubation Centre.