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Queen Mary Social Venture Fund Pitch Competition 2026 celebrates innovation and impact

The Queen Mary Social Venture Fund (QMSVF) Pitch Competition 2026 took place on Thursday 2 April at The Octagon, bringing together more than 150 students, founders and members of the Queen Mary community for an evening focused on innovation and social impact.

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An image of a large group of people gathered on stage holding a cheque of £15,000

Now in its sixth year, the Social Venture Fund programme continues to support student-led ventures that aim to address pressing societal challenges through business. The annual pitch competition is a key milestone in the programme, offering early-stage founders the opportunity to present their ideas to a live audience of peers, investors and expert judges.

Seven ventures from this year’s cohort took to the stage, each showcasing purpose-driven solutions across areas including healthcare, sustainability and community wellbeing. Founders competed for £15,000 in funding, alongside ongoing mentorship and support from the fund.

The 2026 competition was won by Dotplot, co-founded by Debra Babalola and Shefali Bohra. The venture is developing an AI-powered personal breast monitoring tool designed to improve early detection and accessibility in breast healthcare. Following the final round of voting by both judges and student investors, Dotplot was awarded the top prize of £15,000 to support its continued development.

An image of people standing on stage presenting to a large group of people sat on chairs with a walkway in between

An image of a large group of people standing and smiling infront of a powerpoint in a large hall

The judging panel - Darren Crowder, Katherine Toledo Macedo and Zhi Ling -brought a breadth of professional expertise to the competition. Their feedback provided valuable guidance to all participating teams, reflecting the programme’s emphasis on learning and development alongside investment.

The event also recognised the achievements of the finalist ventures Air Aware Labs, Arcus Dental, Harker, Nattura, Orbion Connect and The Canerow Company. Each demonstrated strong potential and a clear commitment to delivering positive social impact through innovative business models.

 

The success of the evening highlights the dedication of the QMSVF student team, whose work continues to strengthen the programme’s mission of using business as a force for good.

 

 

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