DEADLINE EXTENDED to 09:00 BST Thursday 16 September

FastStart Changemakers provides the tools, knowledge, and capability to participants to enhance their entrepreneurial journey and help them get their idea for change out into the world. Successful social enterprises are started by people with the commitment to solve a societal or environmental problem.  Skills can be learned along the way and gained by building a strong founding team. FastStart Changemakers will help you build those skills.

Check out FastStart Innovators if your idea is for a commercial venture.

Before you start your application, please take time to carefully consider the programme and the commitment required.  Do you have the time and focus to attend the required elements and work on an idea in between, perhaps with a team of other participants? During the programme, we anticipate you will need to invest approximately 4-6 hours per week outside of workshops.

We anticipate it will take approximately 30 minutes to think through and prepare your answers to the application questions.

We are looking for individuals who are committed to the programme in the short term and to putting in serious work on an idea, with potential to become successful social enterprises in the longer term.

Overview

Over 8 weeks during the semester, FastStart Changemakers aims to enable participants to assess and test an idea, by identifying an unmet need or problem, with enough customers, users or beneficiaries to suggest it could be viable. The programme is based on Social Shifters, Steps to Start up.

Individuals will be expected to attend weekly workshops, listen to entrepreneurial speakers, pitch regularly and engage with alumni mentors.  Throughout FastStart, individuals will need to demonstrate commitment and making progress with their idea. It is anticipated not all ideas will prove viable, however participants will continue to learn through the process and be supported to form teams around viable ideas where relevant. 

Through the FastStart Changemakers programme, you will be able to:​

• Find bold solutions - Develop the mindset and skills needed to solve social and
  environmental problems, and mobilise resources behind your cause.​
• Move faster on your journey - Work through a startup method developed by international experts, enabling you to confidently design, test, and adjust your idea quickly.
• Increase your odds of success - Get practical advice, tools, and tips that will enable you to crush the challenges you’ll face along the way.

Programme details

There will be 8 weeks of weekly sessions, commencing in Week 2 of the academic calendar.  Four sessions prior to Independent Learning Week and four sessions after. Sessions commence in Week 2 with final sessions during Week 10.

• Workshops - Wednesdays 15:00-16:30 GMT (Commencing on Wednesday 22 September, with a break on 20 October for Independent Learning Week. Final session 17 November.)
• Entrepreneurial Speaker Series - Thursdays 18:00-19:30 GMT (Commencing on Thursday 23 September, with a break on 21 October for Independent Learning Week. Final session 18 November.)
• Pitch with pizza - Fridays 13:00-14:00 GMT (Commencing on Friday 24 September, with a break on 22 October for Independent Learning Week. Final session 19 November.)

Commitment required

• Attend weekly workshops, ideally in person​
• Spend time between workshops carrying out activities and tasks​
• Submit weekly log of what you have done and the progress you are making
• Attend pitch with pizza events, in person as often as you can
• Attend entrepreneurial speaker events, online or in person

Please note, the weekly workshops are in person in the Entrepreneurship Centre, Eden Campus, Guardbridge. Free bus travel will be provided. The service between St Andrews Bus Station and Guardbridge is frequent. For students who are not studying in St Andrews, a live online option will be available.