2024 Startups 100 | Young Entrepreneur shortlist and award winner

WINNER – Brent Oldfield (Voltric Mobility Technologies)

Brent Oldfield has been hustling since his university days. Growing up in Guernsey, he was unable to access student loans, and so took matters into his own hands, setting up his first business upcycling lamps to fund his studies. His choice of degree, Team Entrepreneurship (TE), proved to be a strategic move, providing him with the tools to navigate the world of business while juggling his academic pursuits.

In 2019, Oldfield’s entrepreneurial prowess reached new heights when he co-founded Voltric while still at university. Voltric’s all-inclusive monthly or yearly subscriptions take the hassle out of EV ownership, making the switch to electric as smooth as a ride in a Tesla.

Despite the demands of full-time study, Oldfield’s achievements have not gone unnoticed. He was named a finalist for the UWE Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2020 and recognised as one of the top 11 UK student founders in 2020 by Beauhurst.

Oldfield is still involved as a mentor for current TE students and Voltric has successfully raised nearly £500,000. He sees Voltric as a catalyst for change, shaping the future of mobility and transport to make the UK a greener place for generations to come.

What did Eloise Skinner have to say? 

“Along with the impressive amount of funding and investor interest, I loved hearing about the founder’s passion for giving back to the student entrepreneurial community,” says Skinner. “Brent is clearly passionate about supporting others.”

SHORTLISTED – Alyssa Ottley-Awuah (Frobelles)

When most kids were busy with cartoons and colouring books, Alyssa Ottley-Awuah was already flexing her entrepreneurial muscles. At the age of six, she noticed a glaring gap in the world of dolls and dress-up – a lack of characters that reflected the beauty of afro hair.

Unwilling to settle for subpar representation, Alyssa teamed up with her cofounder and Mum, Yvonne, to create Frobelles, the UK’s first Afro hair dress-up game. This wasn’t just a casual after-school project; Alyssa poured her heart and soul into the game, spending hours designing characters, hairstyles, textures, and clothes. She even lent her voice to every character, instruction, and expression, and had the brilliant idea to add an educational section to the game, providing valuable information on Afro hair care and maintenance.

With Yvonne’s guidance and their shared vision, Alyssa (now aged 11) is leaving an indelible mark on the gaming world, proving age is just a number when it comes to making a difference. Skinner expresses admiration for Alyssa’s motivation to break down barriers. “Frobelles is such an important and meaningful business,” she commends.

SHORTLISTED –  Abisola Bright (PolishPad)

While studying at Essex University, Abisola Bright decided to nail nail artistry. But instead of doing  manis and pedis, she found herself drowning in a sea of messages trying to manage her busy schedule. This experience laid the base coat idea for PolishPad, an all-in-one management tool for nail technicians.

In 2019, Bright  pitched her venture at the Essex Startups Summer Bootcamp, where her infectious passion and well-crafted pitch earned her a £200 investment (funded by Santander Universities) – the first step on her entrepreneurial journey.

Since then, Bright has secured investments from corporations like SKY & BEO, joined the prestigious Microsoft for Startups program, and even graced the stage as a panellist at Enterprise Nation’s Next Gen Fest to share her wisdom with aspiring young entrepreneurs.

Skinner praises PolishPad for its goal of polishing up the nail sector by addressing a challenge faced by underserved nail technicians and sole traders. “I love the community aspect – PolishPad has a really clear and effective product market fit,” she enthuses.