The latest young entrepreneurs to receive start-up funding after taking part in Tottenham Hotspur Foundation’s Start Something programme have been announced.
Start Something is an eight-week business-building bootcamp for local residents aged 18-30 that culminates in a Dragon’s Den-style pitch at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
It was launched to address a lack of funding for young people interested in starting their own businesses, with the Foundation aiming to support entrepreneurs in Haringey and Enfield as part of its wider employment and skills work.
Start Something activities are delivered by Enterprise Nation, with Club partner Socios.com funding the programme through its social impact arm, Socios.com Supports, and helping mentor participants.
Up to £1,000 of seed money is up for grabs on pitch night, with funds awarded based on delivery, traction, potential impact, plans for the future and use of investment money.
Judging this latest round was Marc Leckie, Foundation chief executive, Polly Dhaliwal, Enterprise Nation COO, James Baxter, business information centre manager for Enfield Council, and Sebastien Dieguez, global senior PR manager for Socios.com.
They awarded the top prize to Joe Jacobs, 22, and his sustainable menswear company, whilst Farihaa Motala, 26, took £500 for her plant-based brownie venture.
Joe said: “I did it! It’s given me real belief and I think opportunities like this for young entrepreneurs, especially from Tottenham, are everything.
“You might have an idea and the willpower to do it, but sometimes you need that foot in the door.
“Start Something’s not about winning. It’s about your whole process through it. I’m now in a position where I fully know my next steps, where I want to go, my why, and that’s from this course.”
Farihaa added: “I’m so happy. Without this, it would have taken a lot longer to get to the space I want to get to.
“Being part of the programme has been really informative, with the workshops run by people who are knowledgeable and passionate. I’ve learned quite a lot of things I wouldn’t have if I wasn’t part of the cohort.”
Monica Yohannes, Foundation project coordinator, said: “We’re wishing Joe and Farihaa every success with the business ideas they’ve drawn up over the last eight weeks. We’re excited to see where their journeys go from here, and we’re proud of the really high standard of pitches from all the participants.”
The number of Brits thinking about starting a business in 2024 had risen to 35%, with this figure rising to more than half among young adults aged 18 to 24.
Start Something is helping bridge the gap for future business leaders, with Ruun Adan’s Wellbeing Through Wealth and Mariana Pihur’s The Language Developer having received funding earlier this year, following Nathan Mubenga’s Benga Bars and Alisha Ahmed’s AlishEra clothing brand during the inaugural cohort.
All alumni will continue to be supported through workshops and masterclasses in 2026, with the Foundation hoping to spur even more start-ups across the local area.