Foundation supporting more young entrepreneurs to launch their own businesses

Two more young entrepreneurs from the local community are set to launch their own businesses following the climax of Tottenham Hotspur Foundation’s second Start Something bootcamp.

The eight-week business-building programme culminates in a Dragon’s Den-style pitch at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Ruun Adan’s financial therapy venture, Wellbeing Through Wealth, along with Mariana Pihur’s tutoring company, The Language Developer, have been selected by judges to receive funding.

Start Something is designed for local residents aged 18 to 30, helping them turn business ideas into reality through a series of group workshops and one-to-one support.

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.

At the end of the eight weeks, participants have the opportunity to pitch for up to £1,000 to help launch their business, with funds awarded based on delivery, traction, potential impact, plans for the future and use of investment money.

The judging panel for this round of funding was made up of Foundation youth, employment and skills manager Damian Zabielski, Socios.com global senior PR manager Sebastian Dieguez, Enterprise Nation chief operating officer Polly Dhaliwal, and HR Sports Academy founder Mickela Hall-Ramsay.

Ruun, 30, from Islington, who took the £1,000 top prize, said: “The Foundation, Socios.com and Enterprise Nation are helping me to achieve my goals, and I certainly plan to come back to help other young people and entrepreneurs reach their goals.”

Mariana, 27, from Haringey, who got £500, added: “Thank you so much to the Foundation, Socios.com and Enterprise Nation for organising this bootcamp and helping fund my dream.”

Monica Yahonnes, Foundation project coordinator, said: “It’s been another brilliant eight weeks, with participants gaining invaluable knowledge and insight for their entrepreneurial journeys. A big congratulations to Ruun and Mariana, whose businesses we’ll be keeping an eye on with great interest in the months and years ahead!

“Start Something began because it was identified that 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.

“In speaking to young people supported through our employment programmes, we realised there was a lack of funding for them to help develop their ideas, so through Start Something, we’re aiming to support the launch of 25 start-ups in Haringey and Enfield over the next two years.”

Ruun and Mariana join Nathan Mubenga, from Tottenham, and Alisha Ahmed, from Edmonton Green, in receiving support from the programme, with Benga Bars and AlishEra clothing having received funding at the end of the first bootcamp.

For more information about Start Something and to sign up for future bootcamps click here.