The Huckletree Innovation Lab at Regent’s is designed to make ideas happen and build networks. It’s a nucleus of mentoring and expertise where entrepreneurs, disruptors, and innovators can come together to envision a new world.
A natural fit
Regent’s is one of the universities in the UK that develops the highest percentage of company founders, including Huckletree Co-Founder & CEO, Gabriela Hersham.
Gabriela graduated with a BA (Hons) in International Business with French and Spanish from Regent’s in 2006. Since founding Huckletree in 2014, she has been an active member of the Regent’s alumni community.
Professor Geoff Smith, Vice-Chancellor & CEO, Regent’s University London, said:
‘At Regent’s, we have a reputation for nurturing successful founders and Gabriela is one of them. This makes it an added pleasure to be partnering with Huckletree to help our entrepreneurial-minded students fulfil their ambitions. Cultivating possibility is at the core of what we do, and this collaboration will bring with it boundless opportunities for our community.’
Gabriela Hersham, Co-Founder & CEO, Huckletree, said:
‘Huckletree is excited to be partnering with Regent's to bring our Huckletree ecosystem and expertise to the next generation of entrepreneurs through our new Innovation Lab. This is our first university hub, which marks a crucial milestone for Huckletree, towards democratising education and opportunities for aspiring business owners. Our mission is to support and accelerate the growth of ambitious, innovative startups, and we believe that by providing students with access to our expertise and resources, we can help them realise their potential and make a real impact in the world.'
Dan Lanigan, Chief Commercial Officer, Regent’s University London, said:
‘Through our partnerships, we give students insider access to industry icons. The Huckletree Innovation Lab at Regent’s will bring some of London’s most pioneering entrepreneurs and changemakers in to work with our students. Regent’s should be first choice for students with dreams of building a startup or disrupting their field.’
Key elements of the Innovation Lab
The collaboration will consist of three core elements:
Space
An on-campus, Huckletree Innovation Lab centred around entrepreneurship and ecosystem. The lab will aim to provide a base for students, staff and alumni with entrepreneurial aspirations and grand ideas as well as an event space.
Content
Tailored sessions and programmes will help accelerate the entrepreneurial journey of aspiring founders at Regent’s. The events will take the guesswork out of entrepreneurship, provide guidance and a roadmap for the journey, leveraging the incredible knowledge and experience of the Huckletree community.
Network
Bringing the Huckletree and Regent’s communities together will create new opportunities for networking, investment, and innovation. Recognising that entrepreneurship can be a lonely journey, the collaboration will not only create new connections but also provide a supportive group of peers.
82 Regent’s students are already doing the inaugural round of the Future Founders programme which is a cornerstone of the collaboration. Over summer, construction of the new Huckletree space will take place so it’s ready for the start of the new academic year in September.