Social responsibility central theme of winners Tilburg University Challenge 2021

The Tilburg University Challenge offers students the opportunity to participate with their innovative and entrepreneurial ideas. During the challenge, these ideas are developed into a feasible and profitable business plan, in co-creation and with the guidance of coaches from the business community. Over the past few months, 84 teams have worked to develop an idea into a business idea and perhaps even a start-up. 14 teams were selected for the finals. They had the opportunity to pitch their idea to an expert jury and online audience during the Grand Finale. There were two categories available: Ideation and Business Ready. The team with the most votes from the online audience received the Audience Award.

Ideation Award

This year's Ideation Award went to Anouk van Anrooij and Daniel Gelsing, who developed the lemonade drink AnDa. The drink is intended to fill a gap in the market for alcoholic drinks on the one hand and 0.0% drinks on the other, which often contain a lot of sugar. AnDa is a fruity drink in the form of powder or syrup that is sugar-free and made from natural products. Sustainable, healthy and circular. The jury found their idea convincing. ‘It is based on good research. The team is open to change and interested in sustainability.'  Anouk van Anrooij (Master Strategic Management: Entrepreneurship) received the prize of 2,000 euros.

Business Ready Award and Audience Award

Freek van Litsenburg of Bigger Picture Clothing was the lucky winner of both the Business Ready Award and the Audience Award. Bigger Picture Clothing offers an answer to the polluting clothing industry and to the clothing industry that claims to produce more sustainably, but is not transparent to the consumer about how and to what extent this is done. Bigger Picture Clothing sells sustainable clothing with a high social impact, which is 100% transparent to the consumer. The negative impact on the environment is minimized by creating a supply chain that is sustainable. The social impact is maximized by providing clean drinking water, education etc. The judges were very enthusiastic about this plan, which is more than a plan. "It is already a business!” They praised Freek's enthusiasm and self-confidence. Freek van Litsenburg (Master Strategic Management: Consultancy) received the prize of respectively 3,000 and 1,000 euros.