Applications open for fresh ideas and business creators

Posted on 10 April 2025 • University news

The Open University’s support for entrepreneurs lifts off this month with the 2025 launch of its fund awarding grants towards setting up a business, open to students and alumni.

Called the Open Business Creators Fund the initiative offers grants of up to £1500 to support OU students and alumni as they start and progress on their entrepreneurial journey.

It is open to ideas for lifestyle businesses, technology solutions, social enterprises and more. Applicants are asked to explain the problem they’re trying to solve by creating their business and detail key elements of their business model.

BA Business Management student, Elijah Akinfenwa, co-founder of Liz Pie Pastry, was among last year’s cohort and was awarded a grant from the Open Business Creators Fund. Liz Pie Pastry, based in London, is a family-run bakery that make modern African pastries and have a passion for bringing people together with their high-quality products.

Elijah said:

“Since receiving the grant, we have enhanced our marketing efforts. The Open Business Creators grant has been crucial to our growth—we allocated part of the funds to purchase and customise our mobile trailer, which provided us with a reliable stream of revenue.”

His advice for those participating in Open Business Creators Fund is to set aside enough time to go through the application process. Participants are given access to SimVenture’s business modelling software tool called Validate which helps them build a portfolio to apply for funding.

“It’s not just about securing a grant”

“You gain as much from the Validate platform as the people assessing your business plan do when reviewing your submission,” says Elijah.

“Validate is an excellent tool for business planning as it helps refine ideas and provides structure. It is user-friendly and accessible to entrepreneurs at any stage—whether you’re in the early stages with just a business idea or already running a business. The way Validate is designed encourages deep strategic thinking and transparency in business planning.”

He also recommends approaching every section on the application platform with enthusiasm.

“Applying to the Open Business Creators Fund isn’t just about securing the grant; it’s a tool designed to help you sharpen your understanding, ultimately making you a better entrepreneur. Take your time and think deeply about every aspect—what you’re offering, why it matters, and how you will implement your plans. And don’t be afraid to reach out and ask questions!”

Visit the Open Business Creators website to find out more about the fund and other entrepreneurship resources. For additional information or alternative format requests, contact Open-Business-Creators@open.ac.uk.

Main image: (l-r) Elizabeth and Elijah Akinfenwa, co-founders of Liz Pie Pastry. Copyright Elijah Akinfenwa