A student dessert business inspired by global sweet treats has been crowned winner of the 2026 ASPIRE Business Start-Up Journey Pitching Final at the University of Kent.
Held at the Sibson Building on the Canterbury campus on Wednesday 20 May, the Dragons’ Den-style competition saw ten student entrepreneurs pitch their business ideas to a panel of business leaders in a bid to secure funding and support to help grow their ventures.
The event also featured a showcase pop-up market in Kent Business School, where student entrepreneurs displayed their products and services to students, staff and visitors ahead of the live pitches. Throughout the afternoon, attendees crowded around stalls to sample products, test ideas and speak directly with the entrepreneurs behind the businesses.
Taking the top prize was Sugar Sweet, founded by final-year Finance and Investment student Anbakan Varatharasan. The business specialises in internationally inspired desserts, including the Latin American favourite Tres Leches, reflecting growing demand for global flavours in the UK food market. Speaking about the win, he said:
“I was talking the night before the finals about how proud I am of how far Sugarsweet has come, from thinking we didn’t have what it takes to being chosen as one of the finalists in a record-breaking year for applicants. It really showed the growth of the brand and ourselves as founders.
“Going on to win the whole thing felt amazing and is a tribute to the craft, care and dedication we put into our product and brand. None of it would have been possible without the help of ASPIRE and the support of our fellow competitors. We pushed each other throughout the process, and I truly believe all the finalists deserved to be called winners. We’ve all vowed to stay in touch, support each other and keep each other accountable.”
Second place was awarded to First Choice Apparel, founded by International Business & Management Masters student Orion Richards. Inspired by the strong university merchandise culture in the United States, the business creates customisable apparel designed to help students feel more connected to university life.
Picture: Andy Jones/Maxim PR
Third place went to Alongside Fit, founded by MBA student Matt Liston. The platform uses AI-powered personalised coaching to support users with fitness, health and wellbeing goals. This year’s finalists reflected the breadth of entrepreneurial talent at Kent, with ideas spanning healthcare, AI, finance, fashion and manufacturing innovation. Among those pitching in the final were:
Anabelle Nartey (Medicine) – TalearntMed AI, an AI-driven platform designed to support medical school selection processes
Michael Obiuwevbi (Accounting & Finance) – Bakudi, a “financial Duolingo” app aimed at improving financial literacy
Naomi Donovan (PhD English) – Nitrox2, a venture reimagining the retail experience
Miracle Tanimola (Business & Management) – Mivelle, a footwear brand serving women requiring larger shoe sizes
Victory Aligwo (Biomedical Engineering) – IMAKEYOUWIN3D, a 3D printing venture focused on improving manufacturing reliability
Laura Rosado De Sousa Uva Cocharro (Biomedical Sciences) – Porbicalm, an innovation supporting people living with periocular dermatitis
Sam Chung (Finance, Investment & Risk) – Skopia, an investment risk forecasting platform
Picture: Andy Jones/Maxim PR
Judges included Kent graduates and founders from sectors including fashion, finance, beauty and food. The panel featured Emay Enemokwu, founder of streetwear brand JEHUCAL; Nadia Simpson, founder of beauty brands From Amora and NuEleFa; Daniel Rubin, founder of Dune London and Kent Honorary Doctor; Alex Ford, founder of Claro Wealth; and Nimisha Raja, founder of Nim’s.
Rebecca Smith, Kent’s External Engagement Manager who oversees ASPIRE, said:
‘The pitching finals and showcase pop-up market demonstrate the incredible entrepreneurial talent we have at Kent. From culturally inspired food and drink ventures to innovative AI and technology solutions tackling real-world challenges, our students continually inspire me with their passion, creativity and drive to make a positive difference.’
Since launching in 2015, ASPIRE has supported thousands of students and graduates to develop business skills, test ideas and build connections with industry experts and mentors.
The University is continuing to grow its entrepreneurial community through events including the upcoming Gulbenkian Business Networking event on 3 June, which will once again take place at ASPIRE and give students the opportunity to pitch ideas directly to business leaders and industry professionals.
Established to encourage innovation, creativity and responsible enterprise, ASPIRE has spent the past decade helping emerging entrepreneurs gain confidence, access funding and turn ideas into businesses tackling social, environmental and technological challenges.
To find out more about Aspire, go to ASPIRE – Kent Business School – University of Kent