University-backed grants fuel three Welsh startups
The competition, funded by alumni donations and the Research Wales Innovation Fund, recognizes student and graduate ventures with potential for growth. Winners were chosen by a panel reviewing business plans, with three ventures receiving the top prize to develop over the next 12 months.
Cider bar expands with new product line
The £10,000 will fund a new range of cider products, allowing Roberts to scale beyond the local area. She called the award a chance to invest in growth she couldn’t justify otherwise.
Roberts’ business operates in a niche market where craft cider and board games attract a specific clientele. The bar blends hospitality with a curated selection of drinks and games, appealing to both locals and visitors.
Farm-sitting service gains momentum
Holly Zeidler, a BSc Agriculture and Business Management student, secured £10,000 for her farm-sitting business, The BZy Shepherd, which provides livestock care and maintenance for traveling farmers across the UK. The prize will help expand operations, building on the support she’s received from the university’s Enterprise Team.
Read Also: Welsh primary schools teach farm eye safety
Zeidler credits the university with providing industry connections and feedback that pushed the business further than she expected.
Music festivals get a funding boost
The third £10,000 winner was Gwŷlan, a live events company run by Fine Art MA student Camp Wender and 2025 graduate Alana Batty Hughes.
The prize will support logistics, marketing, and artist development, helping the company move from grassroots events to larger productions. Wender and Hughes noted that the university’s resources, including networking opportunities, were key to their application.
Seven other winners also received funding, including a £5,000 grant for a creative arts charity and £2,500 awards for a legal education game and a device-refurbishment social enterprise.
