Students from the University of Greenwich’s BSc (Hons) Human Nutrition and Health and BA (Hons) Business Management programmes successfully launched their first Hackathon on 7 May 2026. The event brought together Nutrition and Business students to collaborate on innovative food product ideas and develop entrepreneurial solutions.
The event attracted enthusiastic participation from nearly 50 students across Human Nutrition and Health, Business Management, MSc Food Innovation and PhD students.
The Hackathon created a vibrant and collaborative learning environment where students worked in multidisciplinary teams to develop product concepts, business strategies, and presentations
The event was organised by the Employability and Apprenticeships team in the University and supported by colleagues from both the School of Science and Greenwich Business School, with guidance and encouragement from our business guru, Mr Peter James Le Voir (A Lifelong Connection to Cranbrook, Cranbrook Connects), Dr Anthony Boateng , Raluca Marinciu , Operational Lead – Employer Engagement Jodie Clark, Dr Zahra Khan, Claire Pallett, and Professor Linda Brownlow. Their contributions played a key role in creating a highly engaging, supportive, and inspiring experience for students.
Dr Shaobo Zhou, Programme Leader for BSc Human Nutrition and Health, said:
“I was very proud to see students from different academic backgrounds and year groups working together with enthusiasm, creativity, and professionalism. The Hackathon not only encouraged innovation and entrepreneurial thinking, but also strengthened teamwork, communication, and confidence among our students.”
Students presented a range of innovative nutrition-related products, including:
- Ironup, developed and led by Abhinandu Madhu
- Orga Marine, developed and led by Zainah Alslem
- BeeVital Elixir, developed and led by Gergana Bivolaru (winner group)
- GlucoBalance, developed and led by Rabia Hanif
- Gluten-Free Savory Vegetarian Protein Muffins, developed and led by Awontemi Azantilow
Students toured Medway Food Innovation Centre and attended a presentation by Dr Parag Acharya, Dr Vahid Baeghbali. The Hackathon received very positive feedback from participants. Students described the event as a valuable opportunity to gain practical experience, develop confidence, and explore the business side of nutrition innovation.
Some students commented:
“I had a great time at the Hackathon and learned a lot. I learned how to develop products, different methods of selling products, including social media and website development, as well as the business side such as production cost and pricing. Listening to other people’s ideas and perspectives really helped improve our presentation.”
“Such events not only provide experience, but also the opportunity to explore different ideas and improve confidence in speaking in front of a large audience. I would be very happy to participate again in future events.”
Students also expressed appreciation for the support and encouragement provided by staff throughout the programme.
“Your support, encouragement, and commitment to teaching have made a real difference to me. Your passion for teaching has not only helped me academically but has also motivated me to keep improving and stay focused on my goals.”
The event concluded with awards, networking, and programme celebrations, reflecting the strong sense of community across the university.
The programme team hopes to continue developing similar activities in the future to help bring together ideas, knowledge and skills from across different subject areas.
