Alumni Businesses
Many Newcastle University Business School graduates are making their mark in entrepreneurship. Discover how our alumni have turned their business dreams into reality.
From campus to entrepreneurship
At Newcastle University Business School, we equip our students with the tools and knowledge they need to succeed in the business world. Many of our alumni decide to put these skills to use by starting their own business.
The businesses below are all owned or founded by Newcastle University Business School alumni. Each story is unique, but they all share a common thread. Each individual was inspired to use their skills and knowledge to create something new and innovative.
Our alumni have forged diverse careers across many industries and sectors. These range from sustainable fashion to socially responsible investing.
Our goal is to continue to inspire current and future students to pursue their entrepreneurial ambitions.
Alexander Iles - Iles Group Ltd
2012 graduate Alexander Iles founded Iles Group Ltd. They give historical tours of the North East of England. These guided walking tours provide amazing experiences and bring history to life.
Emma Grant - Figment Agency
2009 Graduate Emma Grant runs an award-winning, family-run agency that specialises in helping businesses get discovered on Google through personalised SEO strategies.
Ilker Aybey - Thor Teknoloji
2018 graduate Ilker Aybey founded Thor Teknoloji. He aims to bring beloved kid brands to life through delicious and fun confectionery products.
Josh Puddle - MOMO Kombucha
2009 Graduate Josh Puddle's company produces some of the UK's best tasting and highest quality kombucha.
Kerr Wilson - SoundSurf
2016 Graduate Kerr Wilson co-founded this video platform. It gives creators 100% of their earnings and access to the best opportunities in the world.
Lanne Anders - Equine Fusion AS
2015 MSc Graduate Lanne Anders' company aims to enhance the welfare, soundness and performance of horses. They have developed flexible shoes which adapt to different terrain, activities and appearances.
Louisa Rogers - Studio Courtenay and Trendlistr Vintage
Studio Courtenay is a sustainable British-made fashion & homeware brand. It was founded by 2016 Graduate Louisa Rogers. She wanted to shop more ethically, but not surrender to a sea of hemp!
Nitin Girdhar - Betaflex Jointing Pvt. Ltd.
MBA Graduate Nitin Girdhar is the founder of Betaflex - a manufacturer of jointing sheet, beater addition sheet and oil resistant paper
Rachel Skeoch - Truenorth Marketing
Truenorth is a specialist B2B marketing consultancy. It helps SMEs in the North East strengthen their marketing capabilities to cultivate sustainable growth.
Rachel Woolford - North Studio
NUBS alumna Rachel Woolford set up this boutique fitness studio. It has locations in Leeds and Harrogate.
Rizwan Rizwi - SAR Wealth Management
Rizwan Rizwi founded this boutique wealth management firm which boasts clients across the USA and Middle-East.
Rojin Yarahmadi - PolyBox Solutions
2020 Graduate Rojin's goal was to eliminate physical receipts with digital and provide clients with dynamic reports
Sarp Metin - Mizansen Limited
2015 Graduate Sarp Metin set up this consultancy business. It's focused on textile sourcing as well as providing manufacturing direction.
Tahmid Zaman - Onnow
NUBS alumnus Tahmid Zaman set up Onnow in 2021. It's an asset-light direct-to-consumer (D2C) start-up which makes freshly-made food accessible to over 165 million people.
START UP
The Newcastle University START UP team offers dedicated business start-up support. They provide clear, practical direction to support your entrepreneurial goals.
The START UP service is available to:
- current students
- alumni who graduated in the last three years
START UP offers:
- one-to-one coaching
- workspace in King’s Gate building
- workshops and events
- equity-free grant funding
- a six-month business pre-accelerator
As a new start-up this gave us hope and motivation to have a strong start. The feeling of acceptance from experienced professionals gave us more hope and strength to go forward.