The winners of just IMAGINE if…2026 have been revealed. Winners, Arnav Collaco, Godfrey Dekara and Paula Garzon are set to receive funding and business support to develop their innovative ideas.
The just IMAGINE if… final was held at our Greenlands campus on Wednesday 23 and Thursday 24 September.
What is just IMAGINE if…
Created by our University Chancellor, Paul Lindley OBE, just IMAGINE if… was first hosted by the University in 2019 and is now in its fourth cycle, returning to Reading in its centenary year.
“I founded just IMAGINE if… to drive real, sustainable change by taking little ideas and making them huge and transformative. Imagination can change the world.
“The University of Reading and I believe in the limitless potential of humanity. just IMAGINE if… is the strongest representation of this vision. By combining opportunity, kindness and great ideas, let’s see if we can create something that begins to address the global challenges we face.”
In honour of our centenary year, the award was open to applications from both Reading students and alumni, inviting ideas from around the world. As a social enterprise grant scheme, the programme aims to promote and support fledgling business ideas whose purpose actively supports the achievement of one or more of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. The three winners of just IMAGINE if… benefit from £5,000 funding as well as ongoing support from the University, Henley Business School and business mentors, to help them develop and scale up their sustainable and socially responsible business ideas.
The final
Current students and alumni submitted their business proposals for scrutiny and shortlisting by an expert judging panel, with ten business ideas taken forward to the final. The chosen ten received mentoring from successful entrepreneurs, as well as professional skills coaching and corporate support from Hogan Lovells Cadwalader and One Young World.
Over the two-day final, the ten finalists each presented a comprehensive business plan to a select panel and then delivered a concise business pitch to an invited business audience. Guests Amy Clarke (alumna and sustainable investment and finance expert, Tribe Impact Capital), Alex McPherson and Rosa Gamble (Ignition Law), Yasmina Siadatan (Henley-based business executive and a winner of ‘The Apprentice’) and Felix Weaver, the winner of just IMAGINE if…2024 also provided valuable knowledge and business insights through their own presentations during the event.
Our winners
Following a robust voting process, three business ideas and their originators were selected to receive the awards. Our successful finalists, and their business ideas, were:
Arnav Collaco – UoR alumnus (BEng Biomedical Engineering, 2026) – ‘Abiliti’ – A device that can be attached to existing walking canes or aids to provide gait monitoring and analysis by collecting important data. The device aims to provide better insights to physiotherapists and better outcomes for patients managing long-term mobility conditions. When asked about the just IMAGINE if… experience, Arnav said:
“If I had to describe the experience in one word, it would be…a springboard.
The mentoring, the connections from the mentors, the lecturers’ support – all the support I received already made me feel like I’d won, before I was dubbed an official winner. Meeting everyone and having so many insightful talks left me with so much to think about. just IMAGINE if... gave me a wealth of experience in such a short period of time.”
When asked what his highlight of the event was, he said:
“The highlight of the event for me was attending the dinner. I loved hearing everyone’s stories; learning more about their backgrounds and what inspired their ideas was really moving.
“Plus, listening to the Chancellor’s stories about his early experiences as an entrepreneur was fascinating. Overall, it was just an amazing opportunity, and I am very grateful for the experience.”
Godfrey Dekera – Henley Business School MSc in Applied AI for Business student – ‘V-Vet’ – V-Vet is an AI-powered platform that supports decision-making and improves access to veterinary services for smallholder livestock farmers in sub-Saharan Africa. These farmers often make critical decisions about their animals with limited access to reliable information and professional veterinary support.
Accessible through WhatsApp and designed to support local languages, V-Vet helps farmers make more informed livestock management decisions and connects them with veterinary professionals when needed. When asked about the support he received, Godfrey said:
“I had two wonderful mentors, Amy Clarke and Nigel Clarke. I learnt so much from them throughout the three-month mentorship programme.
“With their guidance, I was able to strengthen our business model and prepare for this opportunity with greater confidence.”
Godfrey shared what winning meant to him: “It’s an exciting milestone for me and my team. We started V-Vet with a vision of helping smallholder livestock farmers access the information and veterinary support they need to make better decisions for their animals.
This grant brings us a step closer to turning that vision into a validated, sustainable business that can make a meaningful difference across sub-Saharan Africa.”
Paula Garzon – Henley Business School student –MSc Entrepreneurship and Innovation student – ‘DUNA’ – ‘DUNA is a climate-smart luxury sleepwear brand with a hidden thermal layer that keeps women warm at home without bulky layers or high heating bills. DUNA empowers women in vulnerable communities in Colombia through fair employment, while tackling fast fashion through durable, long-lasting design. When asked about her experience, Paula shared:
It was amazing having the opportunity to network with and meet fellow entrepreneurs who have already grown their companies and developed their business ideas so much.
“I also really enjoyed listening to ideas exploring so many different topics and fields of interest.
“Throughout the process, I had two great mentors who supported me, Mark Corrigan and Nick Lee, who have both achieved so much. I really appreciated the time they took to help me develop and improve my idea and business structure to ultimately help me win the competition.”
Hear more from our winning finalists
More ingenious ideas
We were delighted that a total of four alumni and two final year students (now alumni) were among the shortlisted ten. With ideas ranging from agricultural intelligence, water treatment services, to a cognitive fatigue detection device – our alumni showcased their ingenuity, innovation and care for others.
Learn more about the ingenious ideas of our alumni finalists who made it to the shortlisted 10
We also spoke with finalists Matt Bridger, Elias Montanari and Cian O’Neil, where we heard more about their ideas and experience.
Hear from finalists Matt, Elias and Cian
Passing the baton
2024’s winner, Felix Weaver, also delivered a heart-warming speech full of inspiration, pride and gratitude. He expressed what it meant for him to win and what the subsequent support, mentoring and seed funding have meant for his business:
“Winning just IMAGINE if... in 2024 was life-changing for me. I had developed a music-assisted learning system called Ultra Rapid to help children with special needs.
“Despite studying neuroscience and months of research, there was a lot of work that still needed doing. The professors at the University of Reading and Henley Business School dedicated time and energy to helping me turn Ultra Rapid from a concept into a commercially viable product.
“The grant funding supported professional help with AI software development and product design. Ultra Rapid now has a small team, and we are starting our first paid pilots following research and co-design with over 200 students. Without just IMAGINE if… I am not sure how or even if I would have gotten Ultra Rapid to where it is today.”
The final takeaway
Reflecting on the success of the event and the extraordinary calibre of all the finalists and their business ideas, Paul Lindley commented:
“Every one of our finalists has already imagined a better world because of their ideas… I believe that our world can be richer in opportunity, in kindness and ideas and these are at the heart of just IMAGINE if... and the ideas that have been shared with us today.
“It’s the opportunity to take academic excellence and deliver change to people’s lives and address the global challenges we face.”
Discover the innovative ideas of our previous just IMAGINE if winners
