YES success for University of Reading researchers

Two teams from the University of Reading have made it through to the final of the Young Entrepreneurs Scheme (YES). YES is a global competition developed to raise awareness among postgraduate students, postdoctoral researchers and technicians on how research can be commercialised. 

Now in its 27th year, the competition brings teams together to develop a business plan for a start-up company based on a hypothetical but plausible idea that attempts to deploy novel science and engineering to address societal challenges. There have only been a few times in YES’s history when two teams from the same institution made it through to the National Finals.

Team MindXLab 

PhD students from the School of Food and Nutritional Sciences, Saumya Sood, Dimitra Zannidi, Choshani Dalukdeniya, Nick Giannoulis and Chara Tsagkaropolou, will be pitching their idea for an alternative treatment of mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. The treatment is embedded in a sustainable delivery method – a film that is absorbed in the mouth – which they found to cause fewer side effects and have significantly less environmental impact than traditional forms of antidepressant. 

Watch our YouTube video to find out more about MindXLab's business idea and their experience taking part in YES22.

Team Algaemino  

Ross Wilson (Technical Services) and PhD students Pradeep Vijaya Kumar (Pharmacy) and Hannah Thomas, Roisin McCarron and Patricia Sanz (Food & Nutritional Sciences) are pitching an idea that utilises the sea as an alternative food source. Their product ‘Algaemino’ is a sustainable seaweed-based protein powder that requires minimal processing and is nutritionally complete, palatable and suitable for vegetarian and vegan diets. 

Watch our YouTube video to find out more about Algaemino's business idea and their experience taking part in YES22.

Dr Simon Cutler, Business Relationship Manager, Knowledge Transfer Centre (KTC) at the University of Reading, said: “When you are deep in your research it can sometimes be hard to see the opportunities available outside academia or how research can make a real-world difference. YES has given our researchers the opportunity to see their worlds a little differently, explore the entrepreneurial mindset and unleash their ingenuity. For mentors in the Henley Centre for Entrepreneurship, the KTC and our own Entrepreneur in Residence, it has been a pleasure to work with teams and watch them grow over the last ten weeks.”

Professor Richard Frazier, Head of the School of Chemistry, Food and Pharmacy said: “It is unprecedented for us to have two teams in the final from Reading, let alone the majority coming from a single School. This is an outstanding achievement of which we are very proud. It also demonstrates the transformative impact of a Royal Society Entrepreneur in Residence, Bill Kilgallon, working alongside our researchers to nurture their skills and unlock their potential.”

Jurek Sikorski, Executive Director for the Henley Centre for Entrepreneurship said: “To make it through to the final of the YES competition is a fantastic result. It confirms that entrepreneurship and innovation is alive and kicking at Reading and it's been great to unleash these skills and potential. It was a real pleasure to have worked with and support the teams throughout in developing their business ideas. I wish both teams great success at the final.”

Reading’s Team MindXLab and Team Algaemino will be presenting their business ideas at the UK final being held online  on 27 January 2023.