5 Reasons Why University of Southampton Students Should Apply for EWOR

What do Google, Snapchat, and FedEx all have in common? They were all started by university students with an idea – and the drive to build something bigger than themselves.

That same entrepreneurial energy exists on campuses like University of Southampton, where bright minds are solving tough problems, pushing boundaries in research, and testing ideas that could shape the future. If you’re already thinking beyond the classroom – building a product, exploring a concept, or wondering what it would take to make it real – EWOR might be precisely what you need.

We’re a founder-first ecosystem designed to support people with the drive to build. Whether you're still studying or already working on your first venture, EWOR offers flexible support, access to unicorn builders, experienced mentors, and funding opportunities to help you go further, faster – on your terms.

Here are five reasons why University of Southampton students – and aspiring founders connected to its community – should consider applying for an EWOR fellowship.

1. Access Mentorship from Global Entrepreneurs

Top students at University of Southampton often benefit from academic mentorship and interdisciplinary collaboration – whether through business, engineering, or design faculties. These environments foster innovative thinking and encourage the development of early-stage ideas.

Students at the University of Southampton are known for their drive in entrepreneurial and research-based innovation. The university actively supports this through initiatives like the Student Enterprise Team, which provides skills, funding, and guidance to help students and recent graduates launch ventures, from scalable startups to social enterprises. Future Worlds, the on-campus tech startup accelerator, offers a vibrant network of mentors, investors, and events to nurture aspiring entrepreneurs and cutting-edge technologies. Programmes such as The Foundership offer significant equity-free funding, dedicated workspace, and intensive mentoring to help early-stage founders develop their ideas into viable businesses. Additional support comes from the Student Enterprise Fund and competitions like 100 Big Ideas, fostering a dynamic environment for student-led innovation.

EWOR builds on that foundation by connecting founders to mentors who’ve actually built and scaled companies. From unicorn founders to early-stage investors, our mentors offer 1:1 support tailored to your journey – whether you're refining your go-to-market, navigating early hires, or preparing for your first raise. And, because our mentors work hard to personally know your context, they’re better equipped to give actionable feedback, intros, and hands-on perspectives you won’t find in a one-size-fits-all model.

This kind of bespoke real-world guidance bridges the gap between classroom learning and startup execution – helping you move faster and make smarter decisions from day one.

2. Access to Funding and Investment Opportunities

For early-stage founders, access to capital can be the difference between an idea that stays on paper and one that gets built. Yet, funding opportunities aren’t always clear or accessible – especially if you're just starting out.

Students at the University of Southampton can face hurdles when seeking startup funding. A significant challenge is the often limited availability of early-stage funding, coupled with information asymmetry issues that can make it difficult for new ventures to secure investment. There's also a perceived shortage of experienced early-stage investors in the local ecosystem willing to actively help build companies. Furthermore, accessing sufficient financial resources can simply be a major bottleneck for students trying to get their ideas off the ground or grow existing ventures. Notably, international students on a Student Visa face an additional challenge as they are generally not eligible for certain university funding due to visa restrictions on business activities.

EWOR provides up to €500,000 in early-stage funding for selected fellows, with a capped valuation that favours founders. But funding is just the surface. Unlike traditional VCs who bring capital but little time, or angels who offer scattered advice, EWOR acts more like a co-founder – pairing capital with hands-on guidance and long-term alignment.

Our network includes hundreds of active European investors, and we help founders prepare for conversations that matter – from building the right narrative to structuring smart deals. In fact, EWOR fellows go on to raise an average of €1 to €11 million within six months of their fellowship— not by chance, but by design.

3. No Traction Needed. No Industry Limits.

Unlike many other programmes, you don’t need traction, a co-founder, or a pitch deck to apply to EWOR. And you definitely don’t need to be building in a specific industry. We support early-stage founders – including students – who are serious about solving real problems, even if they’re just starting out.

In fact, we’re idea-agnostic. Whether you’re exploring a solution in AI, education, energy, health tech, finance, or sustainability – or still figuring out what you want to build – we focus on your potential, not your polish. Because real impact starts with mindset, not perfection.

That’s why we’ve backed founders across a wide range of industries – from Jørgen Tveit, who’s building a next-gen underwater flywheel for energy storage, to Rihab Lajmi, who’s developing a conversational AI recruiter, and Faris Fakhry, who’s leading the creation of a new fission test reactor. Different industries, different ideas, but the same potential to make a real-world difference.

As a student, you may not have a company yet, but you might have the founder mindset, and that’s exactly where EWOR comes in. We don’t just offer community – we provide structure. Through a clear development path that includes ideation, prototyping, and investor readiness, our fellowships help turn early ambition into real momentum. And because you’re building alongside peers at a similar stage, you’ll benefit from shared accountability, feedback, and support – without having to figure it all out alone.

4. Become Part of Something Bigger

University of Southampton has long been a launchpad for innovation. Whether it’s through research labs, startup competitions, or entrepreneurial student societies, it’s a place where ambitious individuals test ideas, build early projects, and push the boundaries of what’s possible.

EWOR amplifies that momentum. As a fellow, you're surrounded by a global network of high-performing peers – deep-tech PhDs, top-tier athletes, former Tesla engineers, and repeat founders. It’s not just a community – it’s a culture where ambition is expected, and progress is contagious. As EWOR mentor, Olaf Schmitz put it,

“This is not just a community – it’s a movement towards sustainable and transformative change... The courage and creativity displayed by each new entrepreneur reaffirms my belief that our collective efforts can forge a better tomorrow.”

At the University of Southampton, interdisciplinary collaboration is key to cultivating successful student startups. By bringing together students from diverse faculties like engineering, business, and design, the university fosters an environment where varied perspectives converge on real-world problems. This cross-pollination of ideas, often facilitated through project-based learning and dedicated enterprise programmes, sparks genuine innovation. Students learn to combine technical know-how with market insight and creative design thinking, gaining essential collaborative skills and a holistic understanding of launching a venture. This practical experience, supported by the university's entrepreneurial ecosystem, effectively prepares them for the multifaceted challenges of the startup world.

If you’re already leading projects or exploring startup ideas at University of Southampton, EWOR gives you the structure, accountability, and global network to take your next step. It’s an ecosystem for students who want to build beyond the campus – and be part of something that doesn’t stop at graduation.

5. Join a Prestigious Global Network of Entrepreneurs

Being part of EWOR means joining an exclusive, global network of high-achieving individuals who are building at the highest level. With an acceptance rate below 0.1%, the fellowship is highly selective – ensuring each founder receives focused, tailored support to move fast and build with confidence.

That kind of environment might sound intense – but if you’re thriving at University of Southampton, you’re likely already operating at that level. Students here are used to high-performance settings – whether through rigorous academics, cutting-edge research, or leading ambitious projects within entrepreneurial societies. Many are already working on ideas with real potential but lack the global network or structure to take them further.

Top students at the University of Southampton thrive in demanding settings, already pushing boundaries through cutting-edge research, rigorous academic pursuits, and impactful student-led initiatives. This immersion in high-performance environments cultivates a drive and capability that makes joining a selective global network like EWOR a logical progression. EWOR offers a unique opportunity to step beyond the university bubble, connecting them with a curated community of equally ambitious peers worldwide and providing tangible, real-world support for entrepreneurial ventures. Surrounding themselves with this calibre of talent and accessing dedicated startup resources is the natural next step for these students ready to translate their potential into global impact.

EWOR fills that gap. It’s not just a programme that is over in a matter of months – it’s a long-term community of builders, thinkers, and operators committed to solving problems. Surrounded by people who match your ambition and pace, you’ll gain the peer support, accountability, and exposure needed to grow beyond the university setting – and build something that lasts.

That’s a Wrap

As a student at University of Southampton, you already operate in a high-performance environment – surrounded by brilliant minds, breakthrough ideas, and bold ambitions. But if you’re serious about turning that momentum into something bigger, it takes more than just potential. It takes the right backing.

EWOR is built for students like you – those ready to move fast, think globally, and build with purpose. From tailored mentorship and early-stage funding to a global network of top-tier founders, it’s not just another opportunity – it’s the next step for those who refuse to settle.

If you’re ready to build at the highest level, apply for an EWOR fellowship and take your venture from idea to execution – with the ecosystem to match your ambition.

Image credits: by Dom Fou on Unsplash