# Top marks for UniDosh at Accelerate Places pitch night competition   Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2017-11-03 Category: TECHNOLOGY Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/technology Meta Title: UniDosh Wins £35,000 Prize Bundle at Live Pitch Event Meta Description: Discover how UniDosh impressed judges and beat out competition to secure cash, workspace, and expert support for their student marketplace app. URL: https://financedigest.com/top-marks-for-unidosh-at-accelerate-places-pitch-night-competitionhtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/fd031117-16-1736843302673-compressed.jpg) _UniDosh scoops £35,000 prize bundle, after beating off four other contenders at live pitch event_ Accelerate [Places](https://www.financedigest.com/investor-appetite-for-italy-returns.html) has announced the winner of its Manchester pitch competition – UniDosh, a new mobile app created for students to earn and save money. Following an exciting live final in front of a panel of judges, UniDosh founders and recent graduates, Joseph Black and Oliver Jacobs, were awarded the £35,000 prize bundle. Launched in Manchester during Freshers’ Week this year, the student [marketplace](https://www.financedigest.com/why-embedded-finance-will-be-integral-in-the-future-of-b2b-marketplaces.html "Why embedded finance will be integral in the future of B2B Marketplaces") app was designed to tackle the student financial crisis. It allows students to balance their work, study, social [life and finances by buying](https://www.financedigest.com/buying-life-insurance-after-a-diabetes-diagnosis.html "Buying Life Insurance After a Diabetes Diagnosis") and selling services via the app. Students can offer [services and skills](https://www.financedigest.com/tackling-the-cloud-skills-gap-in-financial-services.html "Tackling the cloud skills gap in financial services") such as cleaning, music lessons, language tutoring, CV writing, hair and make up, and lifts, for other local students for a fee. The prize presented to the UniDosh duo includes £5,000 cash, six months free desk [space at Accelerate Places Manchester and the opportunity](https://www.financedigest.com/bae-systems-sees-big-opportunity-in-space-after-uk-satellite-bolt-on.html "BAE Systems sees big opportunity in space after UK satellite bolt-on") to work alongside like-minded peers in a collaborative, contemporary environment. The team will receive [expert professional consultations on business readiness as well as web hosting](https://www.financedigest.com/from-implant-chips-to-green-web-hosting-heres-what-experts-believe-the-future-of-the-internet-will-look-like.html "From implant chips to green web hosting, here’s what experts believe the future of the internet will look like"), event marketing, PR, brand and business coaching, promotional video content and a professional photoshoot as well as expert mentoring to scale up their business. Prizes have been supplied by [Manchester](https://www.financedigest.com/runcorn-based-group-achieve-regional-growth-accolade.html) businesses such as UKFast, Dreamr, Toast PR, Fieldfisher, Campus Capital, Juke Media, Conspicuous Marketing and many more. Accelerate Places hosted the competition at the workspace in the [city centre on 31st October](https://www.financedigest.com/citi-halted-financing-for-trafiguras-nickel-deals-in-october-bloomberg.html "Citi halted financing for Trafigura’s nickel deals in October – Bloomberg") and entrepreneurs pitched their ideas in front of judges including Vikas Shah, and representatives from Blenheim Chalcot – backers of leading firms such as Clearscore, TDX Group, and Liberis – and around 20 other key investors. Lisa Murgatroyd, Community Manager at Accelerate Places says: “UniDosh was the clear winner for the judges as it’s a unique proposition and it stands out as the first app of its type that could dominate the student sector. There’s no other student marketplace [app like it and it can really enhance the student experience](https://www.financedigest.com/one-app-for-a-total-communications-experience.html "One App for a Total Communications Experience") and avoid or relieve financial problems. It answers a real life issue by offering a safe and [secure way](https://www.financedigest.com/pandemic-loans-three-ways-to-secure-recovery.html "Pandemic loans: Three ways to secure recovery") for students to find or offer services. It is already commercialised and is certainly scalable, it keeps money within the student community, and there’s no real incumbent that could contend. “While competition was high and all the shortlisted entries were strong contenders, the judges felt UniDosh has a real opportunity to capture a niche marketplace, and we look forward to seeing how they accelerate their business growth over the [next](https://www.financedigest.com/global-crypto-regulation-body-likely-in-next-year-top-official-says.html "Global crypto regulation body likely in next year, top official says") year.” Joseph Black, co-founder of UniDosh, says: “We’re so excited to have won the [pitch competition](https://www.financedigest.com/tmwi-appointed-by-zupa-following-a-competitive-pitch.html "tmwi appointed by ZUPA following a competitive pitch")! It’s a brilliant prize that will really help us with the next stage of the business and to have an award under our belts after just six months is a real landmark for us. We have around 3000 users signed up already and have taken nearly 200 bookings – this is just the beginning for us as we have some exciting growth plans to take the concept around the country to all Universities!” “We spotted a gap in the [market for a way for students to trade and share skills and services](https://www.financedigest.com/constructive-digitization-to-let-the-remote-patient-monitoring-services-market-come-of-age.html "Constructive digitization to let the Remote Patient Monitoring Services Market come of age") to earn money. Part time jobs are not always possible or convenient around studies, parents can’t always provide financial support and banks aren’t offering student loans so UniDosh gives [students an alternative way of earning and saving](https://www.financedigest.com/how-to-save-money-as-a-student-during-the-cost-of-living-crisis.html "How to Save Money as a Student During the Cost of Living Crisis") money.” Lisa adds: “We know that Manchester is full of talent and innovation and the pitches really showed us that. Tech is a [huge growth](https://www.financedigest.com/quad-flat-no-lead-packaging-market-huge-growth-opportunity-between-2017-2027.html "Quad-Flat-No-Lead Packaging Market Huge Growth Opportunity between 2017-2027") area for the city and we’re delighted and excited to support entrepreneurs, start ups and scale ups in our co-working hubs.” The Accelerate Places pitch night competition took place on 31st October hosted by Dreamr founder, Mylo Kaye, with judging led by Mark Onyett from Blenheim Chalcot. Refreshments were provided by Beastro. Accelerate Places is based on Princess Street in Manchester and offers a collaborative environment, superior on-site network, [support services and access to funding – all designed to support business](https://www.financedigest.com/factbox-reaction-to-uks-energy-support-package-for-businesses.html "Factbox-Reaction to UK’s energy support package for businesses") growth. For any further enquiries on Accelerate Places or to take a tour of the co-working space, please contact [https://www.accelerateplaces.com/locations/manchester/](https://www.accelerateplaces.com/locations/manchester/) To find out more about the pitch competition winners, Unidosh, visit [http://www.unidosh.com](http://www.unidosh.com/). --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---