Six months into the Warwick Enterprise Start-up Programme

Warwick Enterprise Start-up Programme supports WBS students and alumni in founding their own start-ups, offering specialist coaching, entrepreneurial workshops, and networking, all from WBS London, The Shard.

Six months in, Eraj, MBA alum and co-founder of Velominati.ai, a start-up which uses AI to aggregate and maintain up-to-date financial and regulatory data across markets, helping institutions monitor compliance and streamline data processes, shares all about his experience.

Why did you apply for the Warwick Enterprise Start-up Programme?

Although our product was already launched, we needed structured support to build the organisation around it, strengthen our strategy for scaling, and prepare the business for future fundraising. The expertise, coaching, and ecosystem provided by Warwick Enterprise are exactly what we were looking for at this stage in our journey.

How have you benefited from the entrepreneurial skill building workshops?

The workshops are helping us sharpen core business skills, particularly around strategic planning, operational frameworks, and commercial readiness. They are giving us the tools and confidence to professionalise our processes, challenge assumptions, and address gaps we might not have prioritised otherwise.

Tell us about the support you’ve had from your coach

Our start-up coach has been a cornerstone of the programme and an invaluable source of support. He takes the time to truly listen and understand our business, offering advice that is directly relevant to our unique challenges and opportunities. With his knowledge and expertise in working with early-stage ventures, he helps us identify the right remedies and solutions when we face obstacles.

Importantly, he helps us stay focused on what matters most, clarifying our priorities and guiding us on how to make the best use of the resources available through the programme. His insight has strengthened our decision-making and provided a structured approach to progressing our business toward its next milestones.

What mentoring support have you received from the advisory board?

Working with our advisory board has been hugely valuable. They are providing strategic insight, helping us refine our narrative, and offering different perspectives on market positioning and readiness. Their support is shaping our thinking and equipping us to make stronger decisions as we continue to scale.

How has joining the programme from The Shard benefited you?

Being based at WBS London, The Shard has been a significant benefit to us. Having access to one of the most iconic buildings in the heart of London is both inspiring and motivational, it creates an environment that encourages ambition and drive.

Working alongside other start-ups in the same space has also been incredibly valuable. It gives us the opportunity to build our network, exchange ideas, and learn from a wide variety of experiences from other founders who are navigating similar challenges in building and scaling their businesses.

Additionally, the credibility that comes with being able to host meetings and engage partners from The Shard adds a great degree of professional confidence to our organisation. For a small start-up, that sense of legitimacy when engaging investors, partners, and customers is a real asset.

What’s been the key element of the programme for you so far?

The most impactful element to date has been the combination of coaching and advisory support. The personalised guidance is helping us build organisational capacity and refine strategic thinking in real time, which is crucial at this stage of development.

What do you hope to achieve in the next six months of the programme and beyond?

Over the remaining months, we aim to strengthen our organisational structure, continue maturing our operational processes, and make meaningful progress toward our fundraising readiness. Beyond the programme, we want to leverage these foundations to secure investment, expand market traction, and scale sustainably.

What’s your advice to anyone thinking of applying to the next intake?

If you’re considering applying to the Warwick Enterprise Start-up Programme, my best advice is: just do it, early and with commitment. Whether you’re at the very beginning of validating an idea or you’ve recently launched your product, this programme provides structure, expertise, and connections that can dramatically accelerate your progress.

Take advantage of every part of the programme, the coaching, workshops, mentoring, and community, because each element is designed to help you clarify your strategy, build organisational strength, and focus your efforts in ways you might not have on your own. Don’t wait until everything feels “perfect”, the programme can help you shape what’s imperfect into something investable and scalable.

Approach it with an open mind, a willingness to learn, and a proactive attitude. You’ll get out of it what you’re prepared to put in, and that’s true whether you’re just starting out or already in market. It’s a unique opportunity to grow alongside other founders and draw on support that’s genuinely tailored to your stage and ambitions.

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