HEAT's Ignite Prize Will Champion the Next Generation of Digital-First Young Entrepreneurs
In partnership with FLANNELS, the award will give three winners £10,000 GBP, mentorship and more.
Joe Wilkinson and Mario Maher haven’t just proven that there’s a market for their mystery box business HEAT, they’ve shown the world that they are the new vanguard of entrepreneurship. Now, with help from FLANNELS, HEAT introduces The Ignite Prize.
Sitting within FLANNELS’ Youth-Phoria project, The Ignite Prize is aimed to highlight digital-first young entrepreneurs who either have a business proposal or a business in its early stages. Wilkinson and Maher, alongside accompanying panelists — Beckie Stanion, Frasers Group, Chief Marketing Officer; Michael Adex, NQ Chief Executive Officer and Founder; Sam Ross, New School Represents, Director; Tora Northman, Highsnobiety, Head of TikTok; and Sonika Phakey, TikTok, Global Lifestyle Partnerships — are specifically looking to champion the industries of fashion, innovation and circularity.
With The Ignite Prize, HEAT and FLANNELS will award three businesses that represent the aforementioned categories a multitude of prizes and opportunities. Firstly, each will receive a £10,000 GBP grant, before being given mentoring courtesy of Wilkinson and Maher and the range of panelists, as well as a chance to work within FLANNELS, depending on the winner’s needs.
Speaking exclusively to Hypbeast, Mario Maher said: “Starting out in the fashion industry is notoriously tough. The education system in the UK doesn’t adequately [prepare] people to set up and run their own businesses. Couple that with funding cuts in recent years within the creative industry and the barriers to entry couldn’t be higher. We want to break down those barriers and show people that with real drive, passion, and the right idea, you can make this work. We aim to uncover and nurture the next generation of industry leaders. To feed their talent, through offering strategic advice to structure and scale their brand — whether it’s already up and running or just a great idea (with a business plan!).”
The HEAT duo added, “We’re looking forward to being able to support future entrepreneurs; encouraging young people to get behind great business ideas is something we’re passionate about. It’s amazing to be able to share some of our experiences building HEAT to help bring new businesses to life.”
Beckie Stanion concluded, “FLANNELS is proud to be able to offer real support to future business leaders through the HEAT Ignite Prize. Our current Youth-Phoria scheme is truly a platform for all of the ability and drive that we see in the next generation, so it was vital that we were able to launch an initiative like this. I’m looking forward to seeing the applications and am hopeful we will get to see some brilliant entrepreneurs from all over the UK.”
Applicants have to be aged between 18 and 25, and preferably based in the UK. You have until June 9 to apply online, with the winner’s announcement coming on July 5.
In other news, LABRUM has won the Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design 2023.
