Building OHX: The Bright Ideas winner on innovation, wellbeing and entrepreneurship

To be completely honest, it started in quite an unexpected way. A couple of years ago, I would never have thought of myself as business-minded or entrepreneurial. That started to shift when my mum introduced me to the entrepreneurial world; I found myself developing a genuine interest in coming up with new ideas.

When I joined Kingston University London and discovered the Bright Ideas competition, I arranged a call with the team to better understand what the competition involved.

I learned that Bright Ideas is an annual competition designed to foster innovation and entrepreneurship amongst students. It provides a platform for students to pitch their ideas and receive feedback in a Dragon's Den-style format with the potential of winning prize money to fund your idea. The competition is open to all Kingston University students with the aim of developing a variety of skills important for their future careers. Participants engage in workshops, pitch sessions, and the grand final, where their ideas are evaluated and judged by industry experts.

After that initial conversation, I knew I wanted to take part! I reached out to a close friend of mine, Nisa, who shared the same drive, and together we decided to enter. On the day, we were incredibly nervous, but that experience paid off. We were awarded runner-up for our idea, MediDuo, a liquid and tablet dispenser designed to support healthcare accessibility. That moment was a turning point for me, as it made me realise that I could take an idea and build something tangible from it.

This year, I returned with a different mindset. I set myself a new goal - to go for gold. I also wanted to challenge myself by entering independently. It was important for me to build confidence in expressing my ideas on my own and to understand what I was capable of individually. So I developed OHX, a handheld breathalyser designed for chemotherapy monitoring. I began thinking more like a founder, focusing on how the idea could be tested, refined and applied in a real-world context. The idea stemmed from a summer internship, where I explored how certain drugs generate reactive oxygen species, which led me to consider whether these biochemical changes could be measured non-invasively through breath.

The experience was both exciting and challenging. Being surrounded by other students with innovative ideas created a motivating environment. Presenting my idea and receiving feedback from the judges was one of the most valuable aspects. It pushed me to think critically, communicate clearly and consider how my idea could develop beyond its initial concept.

Winning Bright Ideas with OHX felt incredibly rewarding. It was not just about the outcome, but about recognising how much I had grown from my first experience in the competition. More than anything, it was a moment of validation. It showed me that I can take initiative, trust my ideas and succeed independently, not just by doing it, but by doing it well.

Throughout this journey, having the right support made a real difference. My lecturer, Dr Shearman, and our lab technician, John, helped shape the technical side of the project, while my family kept me grounded and focused. I had initially thought about using the prize money to take my parents on holiday, but they encouraged me to think long-term instead. That moment stayed with me and shaped how I now think about growth and long-term progress.

The key lesson this competition taught me is not to see myself as one-dimensional. Yes, I am a Pharmaceutical Science student, but that is only one aspect of what I bring. I also generate ideas, explore opportunities and think beyond the boundaries of my degree. I see students as mosaics, shaped by different experiences and perspectives. The more we engage in different opportunities, the more versatile we become.

Looking back, Bright Ideas has helped me grow academically, personally and professionally. It has given me the confidence to take initiative, the skills to build and test ideas, and the mindset to keep learning. Winning with OHX is not the end. It is just the beginning, and I am now focused on developing the idea further and exploring its real-world impact.

If you are inspired by this story and want to find out more about the Bright Ideas competition or explore the enterprise support available at Kingston University, get in touch with the Enterprise Education team at [email protected]. Whether you have a fully formed idea or are just starting to think about one, they are there to help you take the next step.