Swansea University has announced the winners of a pioneering programme designed to nurture a new generation of female entrepreneurs. The university is among the first partner members of the WE Innovate National network, launched by Imperial College London to address gender inequality in entrepreneurship. The first cohort of the programme spent six months receiving expert mentoring and tailored business training.
Grand Final and Prize Winners
The grand final saw students, staff, industry leaders, and investors witness finalists pitch for a share of a £30,000 prize pot, donated by Swansea University alumna Anne Boden MBE, founder of Starling Bank. The winners included first prize of £15,000 awarded to biomechanical engineering doctoral candidate Sahar Sattar, founder of DAWN, a surgical training range for advancing women's health and neonatal care. Runner-up prize of £7,500 went to 2024 graduates Srushti Mande and Anusha Suresh for XR for the Green Economy, an immersive learning platform for renewable energy workers. Third prize of £5,000 was awarded to medical management master's student Ruchi Dutta for Health Bridge, a platform supporting UK residents traveling overseas for surgery. Fourth prize of £2,500 went to materials engineering doctoral candidate Anna Voytyukova for greener paint removal methods. The audience pitch winner of £1,000 was Sabriya Hussain, a biomedical engineering doctoral candidate, for a non-invasive pacemaker charger.
Impact and Quotes
Sahar Sattar said: "Winning means so much to me. Over the past six months this programme has transformed not only my business, but also my confidence as a founder. The support, mentorship and opportunities I've received have been incredible, and this funding will allow me to take DAWN to the next stage of development and make a real impact." Pro-Vice Chancellor for Education Professor Deborah Youngs added: "This final is the culmination of six months of courage, growth, challenge, and transformation. We have witnessed innovation in action. The impact of this cohort will extend far beyond the final."
Judging Panel and Future Support
The judging panel featured leaders in innovation, academia, and entrepreneurship. WE Innovate National lead Nadia Ahrazem from Imperial College London said: "It's incredibly exciting to see Swansea's first cohort deliver such a strong and confident showcase. This event demonstrated exactly why this work matters - these women are building the future." Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Enterprise Professor Peter Dunstan added: "Programmes like this are central to our mission to unlock talent and create meaningful impact. These founders are the future of entrepreneurship, and we are incredibly proud to support them as they take their next steps." The university has pledged to support the cohort as they continue to grow their ventures.
