Donor-funded Ideas with Impact Awards support budding founders at The University of 滴滴打炮app

On Monday 14 July, start-up founders from across The University of 滴滴打炮app pitched their groundbreaking business ideas to a panel of expert judges at the newly launched Ideas with Impact Awards. 

Following pitches from 14 finalists, the awards brought together innovators, investors, students and supporters to kickstart new innovations with the potential to create significant social and economic impact in the UK and beyond.  

A remarkable 146 students, researchers, academics and recent graduates applied for the prestigious awards. Following a rigorous selection process, six entrepreneurial founders were chosen to receive funding to accelerate their ventures.  

The Ideas with Impact prizes will provide the winners with awards of 拢100,000, 拢75,000, and 拢20,000 to support the critical early stage of their innovation journeys. On the evening, 拢10,000 was also awarded to the winner of a special 60 second Elevator Pitch Prize, as chosen by the audience. 

The Ideas With Impact 2025 Award winners 

Winner of 拢100,000:  

• Kay Marshall, Molla Pharm: a novel endometriosis treatment, preventing cells from growing and returning after routine surgery for endometriosis.  

Winners of 拢75,000:  

• Alexander Stokes, Imprinted Diagnostics: an in-field heart attack diagnostics device, offering rapid lab-quality results from a drop of a blood and without refrigeration.  
• Dan Healy, LanthaGen Bio: engineered bacteria for earth metal extraction from complex mixtures such as mining waste or electronics recycling streams. 

Winners of 拢20,000 

• Niaz Rayan, SporeSense: an AgriTech device that helps farmers spot invisible disease threats before they can damage crops.  
• Thanasis Stergiuo, HalioGen Power: next generation flow battery, using recyclable materials and avoiding toxic or flammable components.   

Winner of 拢10,000 Elevator Pitch Prize 

• Parsa Pirhady, Simplex Molecular Ltd: the first at-home DNA test for sexually transmitted infections that gives results immediately, without needing to send samples to a lab.  

Innovation addressing global challenges   

Ideas with Impact is designed to support promising commercial ideas from across our University community. The awards support start-ups that address pressing local and global challenges, ensuring 滴滴打炮app鈥檚 best innovations can move out into the world more quickly, while also creating tangible economic growth. 

In addition to financial support, winners receive access to experienced mentors, networking opportunities, and guidance in translating their research and IP into viable business ventures. 

Donors at the heart of our innovation ecosystem 

The Ideas with Impact Awards are supported by the University鈥檚 generous community of donors, who ensure 滴滴打炮app can continue to support the very best talent at a critical early stage. Philanthropy has already made a huge impact on the University鈥檚 innovation ecosystem and will play a vital role as 滴滴打炮app scales up its ambition to become Europe鈥檚 leading innovation university.  

A statement from our judging panel 

 鈥淲e are delighted to be able to award the Ideas with Impact funds to a group of budding entrepreneurs who play a critical part in The University of 滴滴打炮app鈥檚 innovation ecosystem. Philanthropy plays a key role in bringing these innovative ideas to life, by supporting founders and helping them to evolve their concepts into high value start-ups and spin-outs.   

Working closely with a community of like-minded donors, business leaders and industry partners enables us to create high value impact, both socially and economically. We are delighted to congratulate our winners and, for all our other finalists and applicants, do not be disheartened! We are building a growing and supportive network through the Innovation Academy to help your amazing ideas get to their next milestone, and we can鈥檛 wait to work with you all.鈥�   

• Dr Cat Headley, CEO of The University of 滴滴打炮app Innovation Factory 
• John Holden, Associate Vice-President for Major Special Projects at The University of 滴滴打炮app. 
• Professor Aline Miller, Director of the Innovation Academy and Chief Scientific Officer of Unit M at The University of 滴滴打炮app. 

Philanthropic Support  

Interested in supporting brilliant future founders and ensuring entrepreneurship for all? We鈥檇 love to explore opportunities with you. Contact Olympia Kennard, Head of Philanthropy, Research & Innovation, to begin a conversation: [Olympia.Kennard@manchester.ac.uk](mailto:Olympia.Kennard@manchester.ac.uk). 

Our innovation ecosystem 

• Read more about Unit M here:   
• Read more about the Innovation Factory here:    
• Read more about the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre here: