Post by Evan Scadden

Last week, I had the opportunity to attend the University of Exeter Engineering Technology Entrepreneurship Bootcamp (TEB). Over five intensive days, I gained practical experience in building and managing a startup, pitching for investment, and, most importantly, turning an idea into a viable business in an increasingly AI-driven world. All skills that I hadn't been directly taught throughout my degree. One of the biggest lessons I took away was the value of specificity and clarity. If there are gaps or assumptions in your business model, investors will spot them immediately. Being able to communicate a clear, focused strategy is essential. My personal highlights included hearing from David Sanger, founder of Rollover, on how he scaled the iconic hot dog brand from a handful of London coffee shops into a nationally recognised business. What stood out most, however, were his insights into company culture and authenticity. Another highlight was Melissa Irace’s excellent, refreshing talk midway through an intense week, focusing on the role of purpose and wellbeing in building resilience as an entrepreneur - a topic that is often overlooked in these environments. Overall, it was great to develop our pitching skills through progressively larger audiences and receive invaluable feedback from a range of experienced mentors throughout the week. A huge thank you to Gigi Wang and Amber Strong for delivering such a well-run programme and creating so much professional development in such a short space of time. Finally, thank you to my team Pierce Maughan Eleanor Hewlett Thomas Chambers Sophie Beekman for all their hard work, ideas, and support throughout the week. Building something together under pressure was a challenging but incredibly rewarding experience. #ExeterEngineering #TEB2026Bootcamp