Zeet wins Cardiff’s Student Start-Up Awards

A high-growth FinTech start-up has snapped up the top prize at in Cardiff University’s Student Start-up Awards.

Founded by Steve McCormick (BSc Business Management) Zeet lets customers instantly collect loyalty points as they use their bank cards.

Steve will receive a cash prize sponsored by Santander Universities as well as ongoing mentoring and support from the University’s Enterprise & Start-up Team.

Steve said: “Winning the Cardiff University Start-Up awards came as a complete surprise and I am over the moon with the result! This generous prize money will be immensely helpful as we prepare to raise pre-seed investment in our pursuit in becoming a globally recognised business.”

First runner-up went to Azaria Anaman (BSc Accounting and Finance). Azaria founded her business, Eni Lashes after struggling to find an ethical false-eyelashes retailer with an uplifting message, so she created it herself.

Azaria said: “I’m delighted to have been awarded runner up for the startup awards for my business Eni Lashes. It’s made me more confident in my pitching abilities, and will allow me to put my conceptual plans into action.”

Third prize went to Tillie Page (BA Chinese) who founded an Etsy shop during the 2020 lockdown which she rapidly scaled-up alongside her studies.

“This is an amazing opportunity for me to invest in my business and hopefully turn it into my full-time income,” said Tillie. “I am over the moon!”

Rhys Pearce-Palmer, Enterprise Manager said: “The standard has never been higher as so many students used the global pandemic to explore business ideas. Unlike existing businesses working hard to adapt, these startups are ready for new ways of working from the outset. I hope the students are as proud of themselves as we are of them.”

Enterprise & Start-Up helps Cardiff University students realise their full potential in business and entrepreneurship through workshops, competitions and skills sessions, allowing them to put ideas and innovations into practice.