QIdea Resources

If you scored low on your hook, often the problem is you havent been specific enough or explained your idea well enough. 

Here's some more examples on how to write a good hook:

Enterprise Nation - How to Deliver the Perfect Elevator Pitch

Startups.co.uk - How to write your own elevator pitch

If you scored low on who you are trying to help, often the problem is you havent been specific enough or have said "everyone".  While this may be true in the long term, you need to focus on a specific audience to start and ensure you understand their pain points and needs.

Here's some more examples on how to find your actual customers:

MITx Online - Entrepreneurship 101: Who is Your Customer

Founder Foundry - Stop chasing, Start attracting. How Getting Your Customer Segment Right Can Save your Business

MaRS Startup Toolkit - Identifying and understanding your target customer and market segments

If you scored low on your problem or value proposition statement, chances are you haven't been able to explain well enough either what the actual issue is, or it isnt clear how big (or significant) an issue it is.

Here's some more examples on how to write a good problem statement:

Y Combinator - Building a startup is about solving a problem

Antler - How To Craft A Compelling Problem Statement

If you scored low on how people will find out about your idea, you may have either chosen a channel which may not work, or not been specific enough about how to actually reach people.  This is a common issue when working through an idea - for example, it's easy to assume that you can reach thousands of potential customers through Tik Tok really quickly, even if you havent used it before! 

Here's some more examples on how to market your idea:

Startups.co.uk - Target marketing (and how to identify your target audience)

Y Combinator - How to get your first customers

MassChallenge - Startup Marketing Strategy: Key Steps to Grow Your Business

If you scored low on your business model, it may not have been clear how you would make money, or the model chosen may not actually work for your idea.  You may also have chosen too many income streams - you can have multiple ways to make money but focussing on one avenue (at first) keeps it clear for anyone looking to work with you.

Here's some more examples on how to determine the best business model for your idea:

Forbes - A Checklist For Selecting The Right Business Model For Your Startup

Strategyzer- Business models: the toolkit to design a disruptive company

Y Combinator - YC guide to business models

If you scored low on your team and resources,you may have underestimated the support you will need or how you will get it.  It's worth exploring how to build up the support for each stage as you go rather than thinking you need to build a complete team from day one.  

Here's some more examples on how to get the right team and resources for your idea:

HubSpot - How to Build a Strong Startup Team from Scratch

Strategyzer- The Business Model Canvas

Y Combinator - How to build and manage teams

Check out the QIdea Personalised LinkedIn Learning Pathway! Find videos explaining each of the 6 questions from the application. (You may need to connect your QM SSO to your LinkedIn profile first - Access LinkedIn Learning)

Santander X Online Courses (Entrepreneurial Projects) - learn key skills and tools you can apply to your company or entrepreneurial project.

Barclays Eagle Labs: Starting Your Business - All great businesses started as an idea. But ideas only become successful businesses when they’re commercially viable, profitable and sustainable.

Have you signed up for the QUEST and SBM Entrepreneurship Hub newsletters? 

You can also follow them on LinkedIn: QUEST | SBM Entrepreneurship Hub

ConceptionX - Designed for PhDs at any stage, even without a clear startup idea - apply by 16 December 2025

Santander X Online Courses (Business/SME) - practical solutions for your day-to-day business needs

Barclays Eagle Labs Entrepreneur Academy - Browse Barclays' library of free online courses, designed to help tech founders as they start, develop and scale their business

Santander X Challenges - Do you want your company to get more recognition and visibility? Introducing you Santander X global competitions, which will help you develop your business with access to cash prizes, gain greater visibility and access to Santander X 100, our global community with the best Santander X companies.

Register your interest for QIncubator, QMUL's flagship incubator programme.  Applications open 5 November 2025.

ConceptionX - Designed for PhDs at any stage, even without a clear startup idea - apply by 16 December 2025

ConceptionX Raise - For incorporated startups led by PhDs, postdocs and early-career researchers - apply by 16 December 2025

For social ventures, check out London Social Ventures, offering LSV Build and LSV Validate programmes