Queens' Entrepreneurship Society & Melete Scholarships Launch Event

Queens' Entrepreneurship Society (QES) celebrated their official launch on the evening of Monday 23rd January, and announced two new entrepreneurship competitions: the QES prize competition and the Melete Scholarships for Social Entrepreneurship. More details on the competitions can be found here, and the deadline for entry is Thursday 23rd February 2023.

The evening's speeches can be watched in the video below:

The event was held to thank sponsors and donors and to inspire students, including those present, to enter a business plan for the awards. The President introduced the evening's proceedings, followed by an introduction to the Melete Scholarships from Dr Andrew Thompson. Founding Fellow of QES, Professor Clare Bryant, explained how the society came about as a 'bottom up' initiative to allow students to develop their entrepreneurship skills and gain networking opportunities.

Donors for each of the prizes then gave speeches on their experience with entrepreneurship and its importance for students. Qun Yang (2019) is QES' sponsor for 2023 through her company Biorbyt, specialising in antibodies and reagents.

I think that's what entrepreneurship is really about - do you have it inside you, are you really excited about [your] ideas, are you able to meet like-minded people, are you able to get support and have the multidisciplinary research that's going around in the College?
Qun Yang, QES Sponsor 2023

Dr Richard Hargreaves (1964) spoke about his experience as an angel investor, and the story behind why the prize he has sponsored is called The Steve Jobs Prize for Entrepreneurship. Sir John Chisholm (1965) then explained The Melete Foundation's aim to seed innovative approaches which have the potential to take root and blossom into self-sustaining enterprises.

Isabelle Hupez (2021) was also awarded a certificate for 'Best Judge Business School Project, 2021-2022'. The event was followed by networking, drinks, and a meal at High Table in Cripps Hall.

The President and Fellows are extremely grateful to the donors of the QES Prizes & the Melete Scholarships.

Group of people smiling for the camera in a dark room

From L-R: Prof Clare Bryant, Sir John Chisholm (1965), Qun Yang (2019), Dr Richard Hargreaves (1964) and Dr Mohamed El-Erian

From L-R: Prof Clare Bryant, Sir John Chisholm (1965), Qun Yang (2019), Dr Richard Hargreaves (1964) and Dr Mohamed El-Erian

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Group of people smiling for the camera in a dark room

From L-R: Prof Clare Bryant, Sir John Chisholm (1965), Qun Yang (2019), Dr Richard Hargreaves (1964) and Dr Mohamed El-Erian

From L-R: Prof Clare Bryant, Sir John Chisholm (1965), Qun Yang (2019), Dr Richard Hargreaves (1964) and Dr Mohamed El-Erian