ASPIRE
Wednesday 21 October, 14:00
Location: LT1, Sibson Building, Canterbury
What does it really take to turn an idea into a business?
Meet two University of Kent founders who turned their ideas into ambitious, real-world businesses. Hear their stories, learn from their experience and get inspiration to start your own business.
Free buffet included, plus the chance to connect with fellow aspiring entrepreneurs.
Limited spaces — sign up now to secure your place!
Keynote speakers
Danika Hossain & Arshia Bhatnagar
Co-founders of Bhangra Blends | Business Start-Up Journey 2025 Winners
Bhangra Blends is a premium ready-to-drink cocktail and mocktail brand inspired by bold South Asian flavours. Founded by best friends Danika and Arshia, the business was created to bring authentic Indian-inspired flavours into the mainstream drinks market.
Danika began building Bhangra Blends whilst studying at Kent Business School and what started as an idea quickly grew into a real business with best friend Arshia.
Since launching, Bhangra Blends has achieved a number of exciting milestones, including::
💰 Raising a six-figure investment
📍 Available in 100+ UK venues
🛒 Stocked in Costco
Keynote speakers
Alan Gurung
CEO & Co-founder of AdvisoryAI | Business Start-Up Journey 2020 Winner
Alan studied Philosophy and Marketing at the University of Kent. At 22, he founded his own wealth management firm to solve the problems he’d faced as an advisor – using AI to streamline the admin burden.
Three years on, AdvisoryAI is the largest AI provider in UK financial advice, an AI-native, award-winning operating system with over £120 billion of client assets, used by 10% of the UK financial advice market, with clients ranging from Fidelity to Brooks Macdonald.
🏆 Fintech of the Year 2026
🏆 Best Tech in Show at EATT 2026
🏆 Schroders Innovation Award 2025
Getting to work
Our ASPIRE spaces offer you a unique and exciting entrepreneurial education via informal drop-in sessions and our Business Start-up Journey, a series of practical and inspiring workshops delivering essential start-up knowledge.
All designed with you in mind to inspire and encourage creativity. APSIRE is available to all students from any course at the University of Kent, giving you the chance to expand your network and encounter new ideas.
A sustainable tomorrow
ASPIRE takes inspiration from the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. These goals show us the problems that good business can solve, and act as a framework to create more ethical and environmentally conscious businesses.
Business Start-Up Journey
The Business Start-up Journey, an inspirational 18-week programme, provides a step-by-step guide to starting a business, ending in your chance to make a Dragon's Den style pitch. Working alongside other student entrepreneurs helps you test the strength of your idea and transform it into a rounded proposal.
You'll learn how to assess risk, turn challenges into opportunities and develop leadership, communication, presentation and teamworking skills. Great skills that give you an edge in whatever field you launch your career in.
ASPIRE Drop In sessions
If you need advice on any aspect of starting a business – from market research to finance, marketing or web design – we can help.
Drop by ASPIRE on the first floor of the Sibson building in Canterbury, or email ASPIRE@kent.ac.uk to book a meeting with one of our Entrepreneurs in Residence.
ASPIRE Labs
ASPIRE’s open-plan workspace in Sibson has been specially designed to promote a collaborative working environment. You can work quietly on a business case for a potential investor, rehearse your pitch with partners of take advantage of the resources we provide.
Forge your own path.
Instead of a traditional Year in Industry, why not opt to run your own business instead?
Our Self-Employed Year in Industry (Selfie) option allows you to turn your business dream into a reality as part of your degree, being supported by expert staff in launching your own business.
