Pitch it easy start up competition

After a successful Pitch it easy business competition held in 2023, Bayes Business School (formerly Cass) is delighted to partner once again with founder of easyJet Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, and launch the ‘Pitch it easy’ start-up competition.

Open to current students or alumni of recognised universities listed in the top 500 of the 2024 Global QS ranking, Pitch it easy will provide the winner a cash prize of £100,000 and an opportunity to work with Sir Stelios and the easy family of brands to develop and grow their business idea.

The qualifying applicants must be

1. A UK or EU registered for-profit company that was incorporated no later than 1^st January 2019.
2. The founder and/or CEO must be a current student or alumnus/a of a recognised university, i.e. listed in the top 500 in the 2024 Global QS ranking, listed here
3. The company must have a UK or EU business bank account in its own name to receive the grant.
4. The company must be able to show accounts with revenues of at least £50k per year for 2 years.
5. The business model must be compatible with the easy family of brands and brand values as seen in the video, The business model must be compatible with the easy family of brands and brand values as seen in the video, available on the easyHistory website here
6. Be willing and able to enter into a 10-year brand license agreement to exclusively trade under an easy sub brand to be agreed and remove all other prior branding.
7. Be willing to pay a minimum royalty of £100 per month or 1% of revenues, whichever is greater. The minimum will be adjusted for UK RPI each year.
8. From the 3rd anniversary of the brand license agreement contribute to the brand protection fund the sum of £2k pa adjusted for UK RPI matched by easyGroup or 0.1% of turnover, whichever is higher.

Timeline with key dates

The competition will be run in accordance with a timetable, as follows:

• 19^th February 2024 GMT: opening online applications to Pitch it easy 2024 start-up competition
• 7^th March 2024, 5pm GMT: Zoom launch event with interview of Sir Stelios and Alexis Murat (the winner of the Pitch it easy 2023 business competition) followed by a Q&A.
• 29^th March 2024, 12pm GMT: application deadline
• 20^th April 2024: Sir Stelios to select (likely) winner to negotiate brand license
• 17^th - 18^th May 2024: winner to be invited to Monaco with easyJet flights and accommodation provided by easyGroup to present their business at the reunion of the easy family.

For more on the business model and history of the easy family of brands see the easy history website.

"As a student at City, University of London business school in the late 80s I realised the university was a rich source of entrepreneurial talent. Today I am delighted to be able to support this talent by launching "Pitch-it-easy" a competition with a prize of £100,000 for an entrepreneur running a qualifying business that meets the criteria to join the easy family of brands. Good luck to all who apply! Who knows, the next easyJet might be out there!"

Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou

About Sir Stelios

It is noted that Sir Stelios graduated with a Master’s degree from City, University of London business school in 1988 and has been funding several scholarships each year from his charitable foundation for underprivileged students to do a master’s degree at Bayes Business School (formerly Cass).

Interested in getting more information before applying? Watch the interview of Sir Stelios and Alexis Murat, the winner of the 2023 Pitch it easy business competition!