1. Launch
PadKICKSTARTING BRUNEL BUSINESSES
Shout Out UK
Gives Young
People aVoice
CobraBeer
Founder Opens
the Innovation
Hub
Developing a
Brand:
Made in Brunel
Speak
Octopus 8
Releases NEW
Game
Opening of
heart attack.indd 3 12/04/2014 10:30

2. THELAUNCHPADTEAM
LaunchPad2
I
’ve come to the conclusion that entrepreneurs are a lot like
journalists. Where the entrepreneur is flexible, the journalist is
forever on call, handling impeding relocations and deadlines.
Where the entrepreneur takes risks, the journalist is on the front
line, undercover, or asking the tough questions. Where the
entrepreneur has tenacity, the journalist continues to write even when
their pitch is rejected for the hundredth time. Drink is something that
I’d suspect the journalist to favour considerably more, but nonetheless,
the relationship between the two vocations is uncanny.
It was therefore surprising when the Launchpad team, a plethora
of backgrounds and interests, was at first hesitant to embark on using
our skills as journalists to showcase Brunel University’s innovation.
And yet what you hold in your hands is testament to the passion of
both, entrepreneurs and journalists, and a demonstration of our future
innovators and storytellers. And, ironically enough, an assortment of
pieces that touch on culture, politics, technology and business.
For the MA Print class, this magazine was an assessed part of their
course, but for the Launchpad team which transpired, this magazine
was a commissioned assignment taken with strides of professionalism
and integrity.
It is often the entrepreneur’s job to produce a product, and I am
happy as Editor of Launchpad to be able to present ours. A result of
hard work, fast learning and most importantly, working together.
Editor
Catherine Chapman
@cathapman
Deputy Editors
Jessamy Baudains
@JessamyBaudains
Phoebe Parke
@PhoebeParke
Art Director
Raya Raycheva
@rayaiam
Infographic
Isabelle Marchand
@IsabelleMvS
Production Director
Daniel Evans
@DanEvans1990
Chief Sub
Ahmad Alowaish
Journalists
Borja García de Sola
@Solafer
Charlotte Bufton
@cvkbufton
Danni Lin
@dannilin2
Deborah King
Manon Schalk
@ManonSchalk
Martin Richmond
@Martin_Rich_91
All cartoons featured in the
magazine have been drawn
by David McAndrews, Research
Adminsitrator at Brunel’s School of
Arts @ DavidMcAndrews
Editor’s Letter
Catherine Chapman
Front and back cover image Octopus 8 Studios
Launchpad is a publication produced by MA Journalism students
throughout their 3-month Print module at Brunel University.
Working in conjunction with the External Relations team, this
year’s issue exhibits Brunel’s entrepreneurs and the University’s
new Innovation Hub.
PAGES 2 AND 3.indd 2 09/04/2014 13:28

3. LAUNCHPADCONTENTS
The Innovation Hub Issue 3
Director’s LetterT
he Innovation Hub is a response to requests from
students for a place on campus dedicated to
entrepreneurship and enterprise activities. Brunel has
a long-established reputation for innovation and as is
demonstrated each year - most notably at the Made in
Brunel design showcase, at the Software Engineering and Brunel
Engineers shows - our students are buzzing with new designs,
concepts and technological advances.
It is only fitting then, that LaunchPad is a student publication,
edited, written and designed by our journalism postgraduates. I
am very grateful to them for making our new Innovation Hub the
focus of this edition.
The Hub is part of the University’s renewed focus on supporting
students to develop the skills and aptitudes they need not only
to achieve academically, but to fulfil their ambitions in whatever
walks of life they wish to pursue. This is a crucial way in which the
University contributes to the economic, cultural and social life of
the UK and beyond.
It is vital that entrepreneurial students from all across the
University should feel that they can use the space and make it
their own. We are especially excited about the opportunities the
Hub offers for students from different disciplines to work together
and develop new ideas. With the support of an impressive line-up
of entrepreneurs, business advisors and technical experts ready to
do their bit to support our students, the Innovation Hub is destined
for a great future. And, as the Hub becomes established, I have no
doubt that it will develop in directions that have not even occurred
to us yet.
Andrew Ward,
Director of Corporate Relations, Brunel University
OCT
O
PUS 8 STUDI
O
S
BRU
N
EL ALUMNI
SH
O
UT OUT UK
CONTENTS
p.16p.10 p.14
Brunel: An Entrepreneurial History .....
Words of Advice .....
Design Showcase .....
Made in Brunel .....
Keynote Speaker: Lord Bilimoria .....
Student Businesses .....
The Innovation Hub .....
p.4
p.5
p.6
p.8
p.9
p.13
p.18
Image Andrew Ward | Sally Trussler, Brunel University
PAGES 2 AND 3.indd 3 09/04/2014 13:43

4. BRUNEL: AN ENTREPRENEURIAL HISTORY
LaunchPad4
ENTREPRENEURSHIP AT BRUNEL
1928: Acton Technical
College is established.
1957: Brunel College of
Technology is created with
a focus on the education
of technologists.
I
sambard Kingdom
Brunel was just in
his twenties when he
returned to England
from France to help
his father, Marc Isambard
Brunel, in the creation of
a tunnel under the River
Thames at Rotherhithe.
The construction of the tunnel
was a disaster. It suffered delays,
collapsed several times – with some
workers perishing – and had a huge
cost overrun. When it was finally
completed in 1843, eighteen years
after construction began, it was
inaugurated by Queen Victoria.
But then another obstacle
appeared. The tunnel was not big
enough for carriages to pass through,
and thus, abandoned to become an
underground city of slums. Nowadays,
the Thames Tunnel is just one more
track of the underground network.
Despite this fiasco, Brunel did not
lose his drive.
A SUCCESSFUL ENGINEER
He followed in the footsteps of his
father –who had great success in other
creations– and became one of the
greatest engineers in the history of the
United Kingdom.
He built the Maidenhead Bridge,
the Wye Bridge and the Royal Albert
Bridge; the Box Tunnel
between Bath and
Chippenham;
ships such as
the SS Great
Western,
the Great
Britain and
the Great
Eastern; the
well-known
Paddington
Station, among
other civil
engineering works
that are still in use today.
Brunel took risks. As the chief
engineer of the Great Western
Railway, he used a track gauge of 7
feet when the standard one was 4
feet 8.5 inches. It was subsequently
discarded. He created what is
considered the first modern ship, the
Great Britain, and one of the first
ships to cross the Atlantic using only
steam power, the SS Great Western.
Brunel was also the creator of
a third ship, the Great Eastern,
which after having been defined as
a catastrophe, became famous for
laying a telegraph cable between
Europe and North America. He was a
genius of his time and accomplished
great things. All he had to do was
try.
ENTREPRENEURIAL
SPIRIT
A hundred and fifty
years after his death, the
entrepreneurial spirit of
Brunel remains alive in
the University that bears
his name. Thousands of
students from all around the
world are part of the University
community and, as he did during
his life even in the hardest moments,
they pursue their goals because that
is the success of entrepreneurs: those
who dare, win. While he never knew
it, Isambard Kingdom Brunel was the
first entrepreneur of Brunel University.
ThoseWhoDare,
By Borja García de Sola
Win!
1962: Brunel College of
Technology becomes College of
Advanced Technology. Three years
later, building work begins on a
new college in Uxbridge.
1966-1968: Brunel University is
founded and opened.
“150 years after
his death, the
entrepreneurial spirit
of Brunel remains
alive in the university
that bears his name.”
•
•
•
•
Image Isambard Kingdom Brunel | Brunel University
Borja - Page 4 - LAUNCHPAD.indd 2 09/04/2014 13:55

5. WORDSOFADVICE
The Innovation Hub Issue 5
ENTREPRENEURSHIP AT BRUNEL
• 1997: Brunel University opens
its doors to arts, humanities,
geography, health, social work,
sport sciences and business.
• 2006: Made in Brunel is set up
to become a showcase of
creativity from Brunel’s
School of Engineering and
Design. See some of their
creations on page 7.
By Manon Schalk
S
amantha Symonds, 21, had
been dreaming of starting her
own business. David Riley,
Brunel’s Entrepreneur-in-
Residence, believed in her
project, and as a duo, they made
The Sneaky Vegetable.
In his spare time, Mr
Riley uses his knowledge
and previous business
experience to help
students break into
entrepreneurship. “One
of the things I try to do is
ingest some realism that the
business world is made up of
normal people with hopes and
fears and worries,” he explained. “I
don’t tell students their project is a
bad idea, that’s not my job.”
Ms Symonds, an English and
Creative Writing student at Brunel,
turned to Mr Riley after coming up
with the idea of setting up a catering
company. Thanks to his advice,
she learned how to make it into a
profitable venture, and after putting
the finishing touches on her project,
The Sneaky Vegetable was born.
“I wouldn’t have been able
to do this were it not for David’s
suggestions, and his advice on being
professional and, above all else,
focused,” she said.
Her “healthy catering company”
offers tasty and filling food while
serving nutritious meal sizes that
are fair and balanced. “Where most
‘healthy’ catering may be focused on
calories, our company sees health
from the perspective of portions of
fruit and vegetables in a meal,” she
said.
Brunel and specialist catering
provider Sodexo have given the team
the opportunity to supply the food at
the launch of the Innovation Hub. It
will be their first professional event as
a company.
Mr Riley takes great
pleasure in helping
students like Ms
Symonds, using his
own innovative
background to
make their ideas
successful. “I have
started a business
which failed, and
another one which
succeeded. During
those processes I learned
a lot. I knew it would be a good idea
not to waste this and share it with
others,” he said.
Mr Riley first started a permanent
recruitment company that he ran
for 12 years until he sold it to a big
international group. Later, he started
two other companies, a state and
lettings agency and an engineering
recruitment company. He takes his
position as a volunteer at Brunel very
seriously, always finding a spot in his
schedule to help a future entrepreneur.
“I like the idea of being involved in
different worlds, work and university.
It makes my life more interesting,” Mr
Riley explained.
Mr Riley has been Brunel’s
Entrepreneur-in-Residence since 2010.
As a result of Ms Symonds’s hard work
and Mr Riley’s advice, The Sneaky
Vegetable is on its way to becoming a
great catering adventure.
Image David Riley | Neil Graveney, Brunel
University
INNOVATION HUB
VOICES
David Riley: Passing on
Business Experience “From
the Innovation
Hub I would like to
see students being given
advice from successful start-up
businesses. Maybe inviting them to
Brunel to give talks and guidance on
how they started up and what students
can do to achieve the same success. It
would be great to actually meet with
these people as they can sometimes
inspire you to create a great idea
yourself.”
Shahbaz Razak,
President, Brunel Economics
Finance Society
@BrunelEFS
“There is so
much creativity and
enterprise in Britain but it
needs help if it is to thrive.”
Chris Summers,
Prospective Parliamentary
Labour Candidate for
Uxbridge and South
Ruislip
“New
businesses are the
lifeblood of a healthy,
expanding economy: a symbol
of aspiration and a source of
jobs. The Innovation Hub clearly
demonstrates the ambition and drive
young people in this country have to
create a business.”
Sir John Randall,
Member of Parliament for
Uxbridge and South Ruislip
PAGES 4 AND 5 - Raya.indd 3 09/04/2014 14:09

6. DESIGN SHOWCASE
LaunchPad6
P
OWERbreathe is the world’s
number one breathing
trainer. It’s used to improve
your respiratory muscles
by strengthening both your
diaphragm and chest in order to
reduce breathlessness. In 2000, it was
awarded Millennium Product status by
the Design Council to British products
for “showing imagination, ingenuity
and inspiration.” It was also given
the honour of being displayed at the
Millennium Dome, now the 02 Arena.
Top athletes looking for an edge
over their opponents can gain from
POWERbreathe. Even those wanting
to make climbing the stairs a less
daunting task can reap numerous
benefits from the product’s influence.
POWERbreathe also has medical
uses and is now available via
prescription from the NHS, and
can be used to treat illnesses such
as asthma, emphysema and heart
disease.
The mind behind this revolutionary
product is Brunel University’s own
professor of Applied Physiology,
Alison McConnell. Named in 2014 by
Science Council UK as one of Britain’s
top 100 leading practicing scientists,
Professor McConnell spoke about her
inspiration for POWERbreathe.
“It didn’t begin as an idea for
a product, it started as a research
project. I started to think about
the muscles that actually bring
about breathing and that led me to
recognize that older people get more
breathless when they exercise
because they have weaker
inspiratory muscles. So I
thought, ‘Well if they’ve got
weak muscles and they’re
more breathless, then we
make those muscles stronger
and that may reduce their
breathlessness’.”
Having seen her vision
transform into a successful
commercial product, Professor
McConnell advises up-and-coming
entrepreneurs to really think about
their products before entering the
market. She said, “You have to reflect
honestly about whether you’ve got a
solution that’s looking for a problem,
or a solution for a problem that
already exists.”
POWERBREATHE
“It didn’t
begin as an
idea for a
product, it
started as a
research
project.”
By Daniel Evans
Top Athletes Get the Edge With
ENTREPRENEURSHIP AT BRUNEL
• 2011: Entrepreneur Nathaniel
Peat wins Brunel’s Alumnus of
the Year Award for The Safety
Box, a company focused on
youth empowerment.
• 2012: Brunel students set up
alternative news network Shout
Out UK. To find out what
they’re doing at the Innovation
Hub go to pages 14-15.
• 2013: Centre for Research
into Entrepreneurship,
International Business and
Innovation in Emerging Markets
begins at Brunel.
Image Above Alison McConnell; Right
POWERbreathe | POWERbreathe Ltd.
Pages6and7.indd 2 09/04/2014 14:21

7. DESIGN SHOWCASE
The Innovation Hub Issue 7
ENTREPRENEURSHIP AT BRUNEL
DESIGNING FOR THE FUTURE
Brunel University is already an established hub
of innovation. Over the years, graduating design
and engineering students work towards creating
cutting-edge products that look towards the future,
filling a need in the marketplace.
Turn the page to find out more about the University’s
innovative product brand, Made in Brunel.
Link Gear System
by Chris Holloway
An alternative for the
chain-and-sprocket gear
system, this design enables
the mountain biker to change
multiple gears with ease,
ensuring greater control and
an increased ability to adapt
to extreme terrains.
Image Made in Brunel 2010
Adapt-Air by Richard Coomber
Working in partnership with Avon Protection,
specialists in respiratory aid, Adapt-Air is able to
anticipate when a shortage of oxygen is beginning to
occur in dangerous work environments. The device’s
digital structure allows for the wearer to continue to
perform in stressful situations.
Image Brunel University 2013
Robolabs – Lunar Elite by Barney Mason
Children can create their own personalized 3D
action figure with this “one-size-fits-all” design.
Using 3D printing technology through
Thingiverse.com, toys can be customized and then
produced using biodegradable plastic.
Image Brunel University 2013
• 2013: Former student Duncan
Shotton wins two A’ Design
Awards for the Duncan Shotton
Design Studio in Tokyo, and for
a pushpin version of the
Pinocchio character.
• 2013: Brunel launches
new MSc in Sustainability,
Entrepreneurship and Design.
• April 24, 2014: The Innovation
Hub opens.
Modular Travel Backpack
by Richard Jarvis
This changeable backpack
design has a multiuse,
enabling the wearer to control
weight distribution that allows
for better long-term comfort
and avoidance of back pain.
Image Brunel University 2013
Pages6and7.indd 3 16/04/2014 11:42

8. By Ahmad Alowaish
MADE IN BRUNEL
LaunchPad8
I
n the growing area of innovation,
developing a brand is essential
in setting yourself apart from the
competition. When products are
constantly being replaced with
new and better inventions, a brand
can last hundreds of life cycles,
bringing extraordinary value to the
entrepreneurs behind it.
Building a reputable brand that
holds together your company’s vision
takes hard work, and when
simultaneously balancing
studies, it takes even
more determination.
Since its
inception in 2006,
Made in Brunel
has been one of
the UK’s best new
creative brands,
consistently
demonstrating the
original ideas behind
Brunel University’s
design and engineering
students. By holding events
with industry professionals and
notable studios specializing in design,
through to a highly anticipated
student-led showcase presented every
June, Made in Brunel is making strides
in the business world long before
graduation.
With an innate passion for their
work, but also for the expansion of
their collective trademark, Made
in Brunel consists of a team of
volunteers, many in their final year of
learning. These designers aim to create
products that have a positive impact,
a message expressed regularly within
their brand identity.
Each year, a new theme is chosen
to inspire products for the annual
exhibition, an opportunity to display
designs produced by the students
throughout the term, and perhaps
even, acquire a work contract. The
showcase typically has projects
encompassing innovative solutions
in a variety of areas like health, the
environment and human behaviour.
For 2014, the showcase will reflect,
“on how our learning experience at
Brunel has prepared us for our future
endeavors.”
24 HOUR DESIGN CHALLENGE
Looking for other ways to break into
the competitive industry, Made in
Brunel brings their originality to a
variety of events that aim to establish
links with those already working in
the field of design.
February 2014 marked
the first edition of the
24 Hour Design
Challenge, an
entire day of
non-stop idea
formation
and design
construction.
Under tight
time constraints,
150 design
and engineering
students
worked alongside
internationally renowned
companies such as Rolls-
Royce, Lego, Seymour Powell and
IDEO, to face real world tests to their
abilities as professional designers.
Not only did the sleepless
challenge draw the attention of
globally established brands, but it
also gave Made in Brunel a chance
to promote their talent and vision in
company with support from industrial
design blog Core77.
THE INNOVATION HUB
Encouraging cutting-edge ideas and
enterprise, while providing important
networking opportunities, is what the
Innovation Hub is all about.
As Made in Brunel continues
to make their mark in the area of
design with a variety of concepts and
products suitable for commercial use,
the partnership between these two
organizations is undeniably bringing
further innovation to the University.
Made in Brunel will showcase their
products from 12-15 June 2014 at
London’s Bargehouse.
For more information about
Made In Brunel,
visit their website at
madeinbrunel.com
Since its inception in
2006, Made in Brunel
has been one of the
UK’s best new creative
brands, consistently
demonstrating the
original ideas behind
Brunel University’s
design and
engineering students.
All Images Brunel University
PAGE 17_MIB.indd 3 16/04/2014 11:58

9. KEYNOTE SPEAKER
The Innovation Hub Issue 9
Lord Bilimoria:
“Entrepreneurship
is celebrated
throughout the
country, including
at universities.”
Why now is the best time to be
an entrepreneur in the UK
I
t was 1988. With degrees from
Cambridge, two recent graduates
took their £20,000 plus in student
debt and set up shop in a flat in
Fulham with Indian food in mind.
Their thoughts were consumed with
past dining experiences in the UK’s
multitude of Indian restaurants, the
taste of saffron infused rice, rich curry
sauces and, more importantly, the
beer.
But the beer wasn’t right. At least
not according to Lord Karan Bilimoria,
Founder and Chairman of Cobra Beer,
and Keynote Speaker opening Brunel
University’s Innovation Hub.
Choosing to use his previous law
studies for something slightly more
refreshing, Lord Bilimoria has come
a long way since his Fulham flat
beginnings. With strong determination
and a knack for spotting a business
opportunity, a unique product was
soon introduced to the UK market.
“I wanted to create a beer from
India that had refreshing qualities and
that would have a globally appealing
taste,” said Lord Bilimoria, whose
professional achievements also
include founding chairman of the UK
India Business Council. “Instead of
going into a career, I went my own
way.”
Cobra Beer was to replace the
typical UK lagers that accompanied
spicy Indian cuisine so poorly, an
unheard of path that had its share of
problems. Importing from a brewer
in Bangalore, India, throughout the
early 90s, Cobra Beer grew into the
preferred drink found in London’s
Indian restaurants. It gradually became
in high demand, spreading across
Britain, bringing its production to both
the UK and Europe.
Unlike today, where government
schemes and student societies stress
the importance of entrepreneurship
in the UK, starting a business from
scratch used to come with little
support.
“It has come a long way in the last
decade,” said Lord Bilimoria. “I had
huge difficulties with funding. It was
a constant challenge to raise money.
It’s much easier now. Entrepreneurship
is celebrated throughout the country,
including at universities.”
Government led programmes like
Sirus, a global competition attracting
entrepreneurs to the UK, are a
testament to the country’s growing
commitment to innovation. The
slow recovery out of recession, and
expectations for the GDP to rise by
2.7% this year, can all be attributed
to the UK’s deregulated, business-
friendly economy, low corporation tax
and top industry designers.
Statistics released by the
government at the start of 2014
showed that creative businesses
outperformed all other major sectors,
having grown by 10% at the height of
the recession in 2012. The importance
of instilling entrepreneurial ventures is
vital for future market expansion and
job creation.
Despite the lack of funding support
at the time, Lord Bilimoria was
strong-willed, a quality needed in
entrepreneurs no matter what the era.
Cobra Beer is growing into a global
brand, now entering the UK’s bars and
supermarkets. Its motto to “aspire and
achieve against all odds with integrity”
is a reflection of its unsure start and
demonstration of entrepreneurial
commitment.
“Success is not a destination.
Entrepreneurship is a journey.”
Image Lord Karan Bilimoria
By Catherine Chapman
Borja - Page 16 - LAUNCHPAD.indd 2 09/04/2014 15:46

10. OCTOPUS 8 STUDIOS
LaunchPad10
Brunel’s
resident game
designers
talk about
Oddlight,
making it in
the gaming
industry and
more...
Game design final dan.indd 2 12/04/2014 10:05

11. The Innovation Hub Issue 11
By Martin Richmond
Octopus 8 Studios
G
aming is an industry
that’s packed with money
spinning franchises
and some truly brilliant
games. Successful
products ensure the companies
behind them earn incredible amounts
of money. In 2013, it was estimated
that the market totalled almost $93
billion.
Games come in all shapes and
sizes, from the hugely popular games
on Playstation and Xbox, to the
intensely played mobile recreations
such as Angry Birds. For Octopus
8 Studios, there is an ambition to
create new games and help nurture
innovative design in order to
breakthrough the very competitive
industry.
gaming market and, for Octopus 8
Studios, there’s an unwavering desire
to help new, up-and-coming talent
make their mark in the industry.
The company was included in
Develop Online’s 2013 Top
100 Most Promising European
Gaming Start-ups. “Getting a
hat tip from Develop, as they
are a big organisation who do
some great work, is fantastic
and a real credit to everyone
involved,” Mr Cox said.
Right from the get-go the company
made a decision to strike out on their
own. “We didn’t want help from
anyone else,” said Mr Cox. It was a
brave move to launch a company
without receiving any funding, but
one that is paying in dividends.
Chris Cox, Octopus 8’s chief
operating officer, is
a lecturer in Games
Design at Brunel
University.
Previously
completing
an MA in
Games Design
at Brunel,
Mr Cox has
been a gaming
enthusiast for
years. “The games
industry is a passion,
almost a vocation,” he said. “I have
played games since I was a child. It’s
an area in which I always wanted to
get involved.”
It’s difficult to stand out in the
OCTOPUS 8 STUDIOS
Games Design complete.indd 3 12/04/2014 10:10

12. Getting any sort of recognition in
an overcrowded industry is tough. As
such, the company have in their midst
Rich Barham, the chief executive
officer who has worked with Blizzard
and Riot Games, and is currently
working for the Hitman franchise in
Copenhagen.
Even with the experience of
Mr Barham in their ranks, Mr Cox
recognises the difficulties in rising to
the top. “You just have to look at the
App Store to see how many options
people have,” he said. “Getting that
recognition is the biggest challenge
we face, and it’s an ongoing one.”
So far the company have launched
one game, Oddlight. The objective
for the player is to avoid the jaws of
hungry spiders and use powers to
vanquish foes. The game is currently
available on iTunes and Android
devices. “Oddlight is really unusual,
it’s different. It’s important to have
some titles under your belt and to get
yourselves going,” Mr Cox said.
Octopus 8 Studios have a number
of upcoming projects in the works
that are under close wraps, which
they hope will be released in the
coming months. The company is also
offering internships to Brunel Games
Design students for summer 2014.
These internships will be on offer to
twenty students for three months.
The students will design games in the
Brunel Games Labs with the help of
gaming industry experts and people
from Octopus 8 Studios.
For any upcoming entrepreneurs,
the advice from the Octopus 8 team is
to work really hard. With lots of hard
work and effort come great things. On
top of this, teamwork and having a
strong chemistry with work colleagues
is something that helps immeasurably.
“It is important to be supportive of
each other and having a solid plan.
We all want to be as good as we can.
We want to work together,” said Mr
Cox.
With their solid team, and their
first game in the market, Octopus 8
Studios are certainly an example of a
successful Brunel-based business.
“You just have
to look at the
App Store to
see how many
options people
have. Getting that
recognition is the
biggest challenge
we face and it is an
ongoing one.”
12 LaunchPad
OCTOPUS 8 STUDIOS
All Images Octopus 8 and Oddlight Game | Octopus 8 Studios
Games Design complete.indd 4 09/04/2014 15:42

13. STUDENT BUSINESSES
The Innovation Hub Issue 13
By Manon Schalk
By Martin Richmond
Innovative
Campus
Online
Bazaar
And The Band Played On
ImageArchitGupta|NeilGraveney,BrunelUniversity
B
runel Business School
student Archit Gupta has
set up Book Bazaar, an
innovative website for
students to sell or buy used
textbooks on campus.
Mr Gupta recognised that students
were spending vast amounts of money
on books that they would only need
temporarily. Most will be thrown
away, or donated to charity shops,
causing the next cycle of students
to simply repeat this expensive and
wasteful pattern. His website enables
students to get in contact with eache
other in order to exchange books on
campus. His team, comprised of five
other business students, is currently in
the process of making a mobile app
that should be released soon. They
hope this will make the whole system
more student-friendly and easier to
use on-the-go.
For the moment, the subscription to
Book Bazaar is free, part of Mr Gupta’s
strategy to increase its use by textbook
hungry consumers. Additionally, the
site forgoes any commission on sales.
“We are planning
to charge for
subscription
once a
significant
portion
of Brunel
students are
using the
Book Bazaar
services,” said
Mr Gupta.
Compared to
established website
retailers such as Amazon or eBay,
Book Bazaar offers better value, while
also allowing students to see the
books before buying them.
The 21-year-old MA student started
his business to make life easier for
the average student, already carefully
counting their pennies. Though he
doesn’t plan to work full time on the
website, he is already thinking about
expanding the current team to
focus on further developments.
In the next ten years, Mr
Gupta hopes to develop
similar websites at different
universities throughout the
country.
You can find Book Bazaar
at bookbazaar.com
“Definitely
aserviceBrunelians
shouldcheckout.”
- Mike Read,
Brunel Student and
Current User
of Book Bazaar
M
usic is an art form that
can transport us to far
away places, inspiring
us in many different
ways. Incredible
music exists as a backdrop to other
mediums, from television to theatre,
and all the way to the big screen. It
is exactly this passion for film music
that prompted Michael Spence to set
up the Brunel Choir and Orchestra
Society.
While studying Conducting and
Instrumental at Brunel, Mr Spence
noticed that there was no society
specialising in film music. He used
this chance to set up the Choir and
Orchestra Society in September of
2013, with a total of thirty members.
The group is now well-established
here at Brunel, with film music being
their forté. Since it’s formation, Mr
Spence has put on concerts all around
the University. The concert for One
World Week, which he described as
“explosive”, sold approximately one
hundred and fifty seats.
Mr Spence’s advice to all budding
entrepreneurs is to have grit and
determination. “You should never give
up. You have to be resilient, have to
overcome the hurdles. You have to
have a relentless drive all the time.”
The importance of having an
organised framework within your
business is another immensely
important aspect that Mr Spence
stresses. “I have a fantastic committee
here, everyone is keen and they are
always willing to help. It is essential
to have a good structure within your
business.”
Launchpad page 13 MANON.indd 2 09/04/2014 16:04

14. SHOUT OUT UK
LaunchPad14
By Phoebe Parke
using journalism and using current
affairs,” he added.
NEW APPROACH TO POLITICS
When Shout Out UK says politics,
they don’t necessarily mean David
Cameron. Shout Out UK uses their
website, newsletter and school visits
to educate young people about what’s
going on in the world, encouraging
them to get involved in politics on
both local and national scales.
Deputy Director Marsha Thompson,
22, shares her partner’s vision in more
political participation by a younger
generation in the UK.
“Your school uniform is politics,
the way your school is run is politics,”
said Ms Thompson. “If you get
involved you can make a difference
and change things for you and the
future generation. For the generation
that feels voiceless, this is your chance
to speak,” said Ms Thompson.
ENTREPRENEURIAL MINDSET
Mr Bergamini and Ms Thompson are
both balancing their entrepreneurial
endeavours with their studies at
Brunel. They met in a lecture and
once Ms Thompson heard about Mr
Bergamini’s plans for Shout Out UK,
she could not wait to join the project.
“Matteo is a people person. He’s
driven, goes for what he wants and
seeks out every avenue. He is a great
entrepreneur,” she said.
Giving a Voice to the
Voiceless Generation
O
nline news source
Shout Out UK is on
a mission to report
on issues ignored by
mainstream media.
And they’re doing it through Brunel
University’s Innovation Hub.
Founded in July 2012 by Brunel
student Matteo Bergamini, 21,
Shout Out UK is one of Britain’s
fastest growing alternative news
networks, with a global community
of over 4,000 journalists and 25,000
newsletter subscribers.
As established news outlets develop
habits of inaccurate reporting, law
breaking and swaying public opinion
for political advantage, Mr Bergamini
thought something new was needed.
“Shout Out UK is all about
getting young people engaged in the
political process in the UK,” said
Mr Bergamini, who was previously
deputy director of the global issues
think tank Civitatis International.
“Only 40% of young people vote and
that’s why most government policy
focuses on pensioners and young
people are left with huge debts.”
“When we first started we found
that young people are very apathetic
towards politics and society in
general. What we’re trying to do is
get them more engaged in politics by
SHOUT OUT UK:
“Your school
uniform is politics,
the way your school
is run is politics. If
you get involved
you can make a
difference and
change things for
you and the future
generation.”
Pages14and15.indd 2 30/04/2014 11:35

15. The Politics and Sociology student
wants to go into politics herself and
runs the events side of Shout Out UK.
“What makes us different is that we
also hold events for young people.
Last week we had Parliament Week
and we got young people together
into dance groups. Instead of saying
to them ‘It’s all about politics’, you
can get them involved in things and
show them that politics is linked to
everything in their lives,” she said.
The entrepreneurial pair sees
the lack of historical context as the
primary reason behind why many
issues around the world, like the war
in Syria, seem “unfixable”. They aim
to create an understanding between
current affairs and the history behind
each issue through stories not
normally on the mainstream media’s
news agenda.
INNOVATION HUB
For the past few months Shout Out
UK has been using Brunel’s Innovation
Hub as a space to expand and work
on their project.
SHOUT OUT UK
The Innovation Hub Issue 15
4 TOP
TIPS FOR
SUCCESSWe asked some of our
favourite entrepeurs
for their tips on getting
to the top... and
staying there.
“Have a very clear
and realistic vision.
If you don’t know
the specifics of your
brand inside and out,
you will be seen as flaky
and unprofessional.”
Hayley Doyle
Founder, Hayley’s Comet
Theatre
“An entrepreneur
comes up with
solutions to
problems. You
hear a lot about
‘entrepreneurial thinking,’
and I think at the centre of that
is problem solving.”
Elizabeth Cawein
Founder, Signal Flow PR
“Do not let
anything demotivate
you because all
you really need is
to believe in yourself
and your business idea.”
Archit Gupta
Founder, Book Bazaar
“Entrepreneurs are
people who come
up with ideas and
make them happen.”
Lord Karan Bilimoria
Founder and chairman, Cobra
Beer
“The Innovation Hub has really
helped us, simply because we have
a room where we can coordinate
our activities and operations. It also
gives us a place to brainstorm and do
interviews. We’re excited to see the
Hub expand.”
“From a networking point of view
the Hub is a great place for us to be,
as well as serving as our own space to
work,” Ms Thompson added.
The pair also uses social media as
a means to reach out, forming a solid
network of active individuals. “Almost
every young person is connected
in some way be it via Twitter or
Facebook. Social media has really
helped us reach young people,” Mr
Bergamini said.
Shout Out UK operates in over
100 countries, covering worldwide
news stories without censorship or
preference. It aims to create a news
network that is inclusive, independent
and gives a means of expression to the
voiceless generation.
For more information visit
shoutoutuk.org
1
2
3
4
Image Matteo Bergamini | Neil Graveney, Brunel University
Pages14and15.indd 3 16/04/2014 11:46

16. BRUNEL ALUMNI
LaunchPad16
Y
asmin Selena Butt, 40, is
not only a successful writer,
she is a self-publishing
entrepreneur. Having
formerly worked in the
Maldives as an English teacher and as
a music journalist for The Times, Ms
Butt has now turned her attention to
fiction.
As competition for publication
through traditional publishing houses
remains fierce, it’s easy to see why
more authors are choosing to go
solo. Ms Butt graduated from Brunel
in 1995 with a BSc in Politics and
Modern History and is now setting
up a publishing company of her
own, Venus Fiction. Her first self-
published novel, Gunshot Glitter, is
a contemporary crime drama-come-
love-story, which was shortlisted by
The Guardian as one of the most
popular self-published reads of 2013.
WHY SELF-PUBLISHING?
When it came to publishing her
own novel, Ms Butt wanted creative
control over the entire process. “I
learned from two best-selling writers
that I was unlikely to get to the level
I was seeking via the traditional
publishing process.”
Of course, self-publishing comes
with its own obstacles. “The biggest
practical challenge is time. As a self-
publisher you are your own team.”
“I don’t think it’s hard to set up a
business, but I do think it’s hard to
make one work, make one succeed.
You need more than just a great idea.
You need to be smart, savvy, hard-
working and willing to let people help
you.”
“Self-education is a must,” she
added. “It’s easy to find advice on the
Internet and social media. There are
hundreds of blogs and companies that
share knowledge and expertise for
free. Also, there are services willing
to take on aspects of self-publishing
that a writer might struggle with,
such as formatting eBooks, designing
book covers, proofreading, editing,
distribution or sending press releases
– for a fee. You have no excuses.
Get browsing, ask questions, build
relationships and always give back.
But above all, have good manners.”
Graduate Entrepeneurs Speak Out
BRUNEL MEMORIES
Ms Butt made the most of her time
at Brunel, quickly taking on the
role of arts editor at the student-led
publication Le Nurb. “I wrote a lot of
pieces during my degree, which was
wonderful for me as a writer.”
In fact, her time at Brunel still
influences her writing. “I’ve got a
work in progress where the male lead
is very reminiscent in some ways of
the kind of guys I came across on
campus.”
THOUGHTS ON THE
INNOVATION HUB
According to Ms Butt, Brunel’s
Innovation Hub is “absolutely
brilliant.”
“Graduating in the current
economic climate is tough,” she
said. “To have something like the
Innovation Hub to help support
students who are heading out into the
world with fresh ideas is great. Giving
them the confidence and dynamism,
the chance to develop ideas and meet
the right people is a proactive, positive
thing. It sounds exciting.”
Head to amazon.co.uk to buy
her novel or find out more at
yasminselenabutt.wordpress.com
By Jessamy Baudains
“You have no
excuses. Get
browsing, ask
questions, build
relationships and
always give back.”
Brunel was only the
beginning for these
successful entrepeneurs, who
have turned their passions
into lucrative business
careers.
Images Above left Yasmin Selena
Butt; Above Gunshot Glitter cover |
Yasmin Selena Butt
jessy ex student pages.indd 2 09/04/2014 16:41

17. BRUNEL ALUMNI
The Innovation Hub Issue 17
“Some people love football.
Some love food. But music and
entertainment are my thing,” said
Sam Ajilore, the creator of renowned
entertainment website That Grape
Juice.
BBC One Xtra recognised That
Grape Juice as the UK’s Number
one Urban blog and one of the most
popular on the net worldwide.
Mr Ajilore set up the website in
2007 when he was in his first year at
Brunel, studying for his BSc in Media
& Sociology.
He and his team of five have
interviewed major celebrities
and published ground-breaking
entertainment stories and reviews.
With more than 60,000 visits a day,
That Grape Juice is a perfect example
of entrepreneurial success as a result
of dedication, commitment and
enthusiasm.
Find out more at thatgrapejuice.net
or follow @ThatGrapeJuice
By Danni Lin
Hayley Doyle, 33, is the founder
and artistic director of Hayley’s
Comet Theatre Company in Dubai.
Graduating from Brunel in 2012 with
an MA in Creative Writing, Ms Doyle
wasted no time to launch her unique
business in January 2013.
Her theatre company is extremely
forward thinking. “We run creative
writing workshops for children
and adults here in Dubai, and
inspire many women from the Arab
community to write and express
themselves.”
Before studying at Brunel, Ms
Doyle, a performer herself, had
already started her own theatre
company with fellow actors in the
UK, performing at regional theatres,
as well as the Edinburgh and Brighton
Festivals.
After moving to Dubai in 2009, she
quickly turned her business vision into
an entrepreneurial reality. “The great
thing about Dubai is if you have a
good idea, people will listen. This is a
new country, just 42 years old, and it
is ready for any kind of innovation.”
“I had a lot of ideas and felt that
they were swamped with the rules and
restrictions of working for somebody
else. The only way to fix that was to go
it alone.”
The new Hayley’s Comet show, which
features songs from Blood Brothers
and Little Shop of Horrors, will run
at The Madinat Theatre in June 2014.
Find out more at hayleyscomet.com
Elizabeth Cawein, 29, is the CEO
and founder of Signal Flow Public
Relations, a boutique music publicity
and marketing firm in her hometown
of Memphis, Tennessee. She graduated
from Brunel in 2008 with an MA in
Contemporary Music Studies.
In 2011, she founded Signal Flow
PR with just two clients. Her portfolio
now includes Archer Records, the
Rock’n’Soul Museum, New Daisy
Theatre, Myla Smith and Chris Milam.
“I never imagined I would be a
business owner. Signal Flow pretty
much happened to me – I was
working for a non-profit company
in Memphis that focused on
equipping independent musicians
to make money from their art. I
discovered what I loved most was
working with artists and helping
them with media, marketing and
branding.”
In today’s music industry anyone
can record, release a record or create
a Facebook fan page. Ms Cawein
believes, “being an artist means being
an entrepreneur,” where artists are
able to make a living in the industry
without being signed to a label.
“Entrepreneurial culture is growing
and that it doesn’t always look the way
that you might think.”
Find out more at signalflowpr.com or
follow @SignalflowPR
Image Hayley Doyle | Tonya Colson
Photography
Image Sam Ajilore with Toni Braxton |
That Grape Juice
Sam
Etherington, only
24, has already
won the Sir James
Dyson Award for
promising, new
design engineers.
He has also been given a place in
Semta, the engineering hall of fame in
te UK.
While studying Industrial Design at
Brunel (2009-2013), Mr Etherington
began working on the idea of a
renewable wave power generator,
which eventually led to his award-
winning product.
Unlike current wave power
technologies, his niche product is
more efficient in turbulent seas,
absorbing energy regardless of wave
direction.
Mr Etherington received £2,000
from the James Dyson Foundation as
part of his award to carry out more
tests.
He joins Barnes Wallis, Isambard
Kingdom Brunel and George
Stephenson in the Engineering Hall of
Fame.
Mr Etherington’s work was part of
the 2013 Made in Brunel showcase.
By Charlotte Bufton
Image Sam Etherington | Made in Brunel 2013
Image Album covers Myla Smith, Hiding Places;
Motel Mirrors, Motel Mirrors | Signal Flow PR
jessy ex student pages.indd 3 09/04/2014 16:41

18. SECTION
U
Po
Learn
entrepreunerial
skills
V
P
What will take place in
the Innovation Hub?
Teamwork
One to
one
bespoke
support
Guest
speakers
Workshops
Business
Plan
Sales
Pitching Branding
Sta
own
Find a niche in
the market
How much
money do
you need
Get
new
clients
Strip your
business to the
minimum
Meet
business
mentors
Meet other
departments
Networking
Investors
Found
Lenders
Clients
INNOVATION HUB
LaunchPad18
“I have a plan
and now I know
where to find help and
advice,”
Kasha, 22
“I’m glad Brunel
encourages
entrepreneurial
initiatives,”
James, 33
Learn more at www.brunel.ac.uk/innovationhub
A space for undergraduates and pos
to develop their own business ideas,
projects with students from other di
learn about innovation and obtain ent
skills.
What are
Brunel students
saying?
Graph.indd 2 09/04/2014 16:51

19. SECTION
Audience:
Under and
Postgraduates
Facilities
Venture
Program
£5000 for
successful
business
ideas
4
Workshops
Starting their
own business
Collaborating with
other students
Learning about
entrepreneurship
Access to books
and information
Free office
space
Training
Innovation
Process
Investors
Founders
Lenders
What is
actually
feasible
What
makes your
business
unique
INNOVATION HUB
The Innovation Hub Issue 19
70% find
the market
difficult for
launching a
business
44% say they
want to set
up their own
business
83% would
like to get
more advice
from their
university
What students in the UK think about entrepreneurship
9%
of the businesses
launched between
2002 and 2012 have
survived
In 2012, there were 4.8
million businesses in the
UK.
Between 2002-2012, 2.6
million businesses were
launched in the UK. 2.4
million folded.
98%
of all UK based
businesses are
micro businesses
tes and postgraduates
iness ideas, undertake
om other disciplines,
d obtain entrepreneurial
s.
Brunel University, Innovation Hub: A Discussion
Paper, February 2013.
Graph.indd 3 09/04/2014 16:52

20. Innovation Hub
Your Facility.
Lecture Centre (LC003)
Brunel University
Kingston Lane
UB8 3PH
@Brunel_InnovHub
facebook.com/
Brunel.Innovation.Hub
01895 267423
innovation.hub@
brunel.ac.uk
heart attack.indd 2 12/04/2014 10:28