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Bright Ideas is Kingston University's annual ideas competition. Whatever subject you are studying, it gives you the opportunity to develop an idea, receive feedback, have it evaluated and win a prize.
All you have to do is answer 4 simple questions about your idea to enter the competition;
1. The need or problem you are addressing
2. What your product/service is
3. Who your first customer will be or who will pay for your service
4. What alternative and competitors exist
This is a great opportunity to develop your CV and boost your employability.
You need no prior business experience to enter Bright Ideas. It’s open to all Kingston University students from any course and level, and graduates of 2025/26 academic year. The only requirements are open-mindedness, creativity, and enthusiasm!
If you want extra support with developing an idea, please reach out to us at entrepreneurship@kingston.ac.uk
All you have to do is answer 4 simple questions about your idea to enter the competition;
1. The need or problem you are addressing
2. What your product/service is
3. Who your first customer will be or who will pay for your service
4. What alternative and competitors exist
This is a great opportunity to develop your CV and boost your employability.
You need no prior business experience to enter Bright Ideas. It’s open to all Kingston University students from any course and level, and graduates of 2025/26 academic year. The only requirements are open-mindedness, creativity, and enthusiasm!
If you want extra support with developing an idea, please reach out to us at entrepreneurship@kingston.ac.uk
People's Choice Winner and Pharmaceutical Science Undergraduate Student Amal Yussuf
shares her Bright Ideas Journey.
Judging Stage 1: SUBMIT ONLINE APPLICATION
Deadline : Wednesday 9 December 2026
The first stage of the competition is to enter your idea via our You Noodle Competition platform (you are here).
Click the blue button "Apply now" on the top of the page to create an account on YouNoodle and start your application.
You can start, save and come back to your application as long as you submit it before the deadline.
You can enter the competition once as an individual, but you can be as part of many teams, if you have several ideas.
Your online application will be scored and this will be your ideas first score in the Bright Ideas process.
The first stage of the competition is to enter your idea via our You Noodle Competition platform (you are here).
Click the blue button "Apply now" on the top of the page to create an account on YouNoodle and start your application.
You can start, save and come back to your application as long as you submit it before the deadline.
You can enter the competition once as an individual, but you can be as part of many teams, if you have several ideas.
Your online application will be scored and this will be your ideas first score in the Bright Ideas process.
Judging Stage 2: ATTEND HOW TO COMMUNICATE YOUR IDEA EFFECTIVELY AND PITCH PERFECT SPRINT SESSIONS
Attendance at the Bright Ideas Sprint workshops will help you develop your idea further. You will learn how to communicate your idea and how to pitch an idea effectively. Each session will last approx 2 hours and you will receive valuable feedback on your idea. What you learn at the Sprints can be used to develop any idea you have.
Points will be awarded for attending the Sprint Sessions.
After the Bright Ideas Sprints, Online Application and Sprint Attendance scores will be added and the strongest ideas will be invited to the Bright Ideas Finals.
Sprint workshops, take place between 18 - 26 January 2027.. Exact Sprint dates and timings will be available and bookable soon. If you are participating in Bright Ideas as part of your course Sprints may be delivered in class. If you attend the Bright Ideas Sprint sessions as part of your course you will not need to attend again in January.
Points will be awarded for attending the Sprint Sessions.
After the Bright Ideas Sprints, Online Application and Sprint Attendance scores will be added and the strongest ideas will be invited to the Bright Ideas Finals.
Sprint workshops, take place between 18 - 26 January 2027.. Exact Sprint dates and timings will be available and bookable soon. If you are participating in Bright Ideas as part of your course Sprints may be delivered in class. If you attend the Bright Ideas Sprint sessions as part of your course you will not need to attend again in January.
Bright Ideas Celebration Event (Final)
The final takes place on Wednesday 10 February 2027 at Town House, Penrhyn Road Campus.
Up to 49 ideas will be chosen to pitch their Bright Idea to a panel of illustrious alumni, staff, business professionals and entrepreneurs. The ideas will be split into, up to, 7 categories of Faculty or School Panels. After hearing all pitches judges from each panel will decide which ideas to recommend for prizes.
Prizes: The winners and runners-up in each category will be awarded prizes as follows:
£1,000 Winner to the entrant or team ranked in first place (up to 7 prizes = one from each panel)
£250 Winner to the entrant or team ranked in second place (up to 7 prizes = one from each panel)
£500 People’s Choice Award during the celebration event, £1000 winners from each Faculty or School panel will give a 1-minute pitch from which the audience will vote their favourite. (one prize)
£250 Golden Ticket Networking Award during the networking, the Bright Ideas Finalist will pitch to the guests who will vote their favourite. (one prize)
£100 Social Media Award will be awarded to the Bright Ideas applicant/s based on the audience poll on the social media platform which will take place a couple of days before the final (one prize).
Up to 49 ideas will be chosen to pitch their Bright Idea to a panel of illustrious alumni, staff, business professionals and entrepreneurs. The ideas will be split into, up to, 7 categories of Faculty or School Panels. After hearing all pitches judges from each panel will decide which ideas to recommend for prizes.
Prizes: The winners and runners-up in each category will be awarded prizes as follows:
£1,000 Winner to the entrant or team ranked in first place (up to 7 prizes = one from each panel)
£250 Winner to the entrant or team ranked in second place (up to 7 prizes = one from each panel)
£500 People’s Choice Award during the celebration event, £1000 winners from each Faculty or School panel will give a 1-minute pitch from which the audience will vote their favourite. (one prize)
£250 Golden Ticket Networking Award during the networking, the Bright Ideas Finalist will pitch to the guests who will vote their favourite. (one prize)
£100 Social Media Award will be awarded to the Bright Ideas applicant/s based on the audience poll on the social media platform which will take place a couple of days before the final (one prize).
Important Dates
Make sure that you have these dates in your diary:
- Information Session: 25 November 2026
- Application Deadline: 9 December 2026
- Sprint Sessions: 18 - 28 January 2027
- Grand final: 10 February 2027
- Information Session: 25 November 2026
- Application Deadline: 9 December 2026
- Sprint Sessions: 18 - 28 January 2027
- Grand final: 10 February 2027