Student Wins £3,000 at LSST Dragons’ Den 2025 for Natural Skincare Brand
By Kunal Chan Mehta | Article Date: 3 June 2025
LSST brought entrepreneurial ambition centre stage with the culminating event of its annual Dragons’ Den 2025 student competition.
Representing each LSST site, four outstanding LSST student finalists delivered high-stakes pitches before a distinguished panel of industry leaders – and unveiled commercially viable ventures designed to confront real-world challenges with ingenuity and purpose.
More than a showcase, the event, hosted at LSST Birmingham, exemplified LSST’s staunch commitment to enterprise-led education – one that fuses intellectual rigour with applied strategy, preparing graduates to lead with conviction in volatile and complex markets.
“In a climate where employability is no longer enough, LSST equips students to become architects of opportunity – confident, credible and investment-ready,” said Elena Soare, LSST’s Student Union President. “LSST’s Dragons’ Den is not simply a contest; it is a crucible for tomorrow’s trailblazers and is something I recommend all LSST students apply to.”
Hear what our students had to say about LSST’s Dragons’ Den 2025:
A Winning Formula
The top honour – a £3,000 grand prize – was awarded to Nashika Spence, a Health and Social Science student at LSST Birmingham, whose all-natural skincare brand – TropicSkin – captivated the judging panel with its compelling fusion of scientific integrity and commercial promise. Her venture, designed to support individuals with chronic skin conditions, distinguished itself through a bold brand narrative and an articulated market strategy.
“I feel elated to have been selected as the winner – especially knowing how incredible the other finalists and their business ideas were. I genuinely didn’t think I stood a chance, so when they announced my name, I was in complete shock – I cried! I encourage anyone who has ever dreamed of becoming an entrepreneur or brand owner to pursue their goals. If your mind can conceive it, you can achieve it. I’m so grateful to LSST for this incredible opportunity and for believing in my vision. This experience has truly been life-changing.” Nashika Spence, LSST Dragons’ Den 2025 Winner
Judges praised Nashika’s pitch for its depth of research, commitment to sustainability and powerful human impact.
“Her passion for creating inclusive, transformative skincare solutions was both authentic and inspiring. Nashika’s presentation demonstrated not only a strong business model but a mission with meaningful reach. This is a venture with genuine commercial and social potential,” said James Platt, Careers Manager at LSST.
Creativity across Campuses
Each campus finalist was awarded a £500 prize in recognition of their entrepreneurial merit and advancement to the national stage. Runner-up, Mariia Deputat, a Business Management student at LSST Elephant and Castle, secured an additional £1,000 for her visionary Ukrainian loungewear brand HoneyBe – a venture that seamlessly fuses luxury with cultural identity.
Looking Ahead
consultancy Doyle Blackfriars. Photo: LSST.
“As LSST continues to cultivate the next generation of entrepreneurs, plans are already underway for the Dragons’ Den 2026,” commented Ali Jafar Zaidi, LSST’s Deputy CEO. “Our Careers team is already actively seeking pitch mentors, sponsorship partners and judges to support next year’s competition and ensure even greater impact.”
“This competition is more than just a showcase – it’s a launchpad,” added James Platt. “We’re proud of every student who stepped forward and pitched. Their courage and creativity are what LSST is all about.”
Editor’s note: Special thanks to James Platt, LSST’s Careers Manager, for coordinating photos and information for this article.
TropicSkin from Nashika Spence, LSST’s Dragons’ Den winner 2025, is available to buy on Etsy here.
HoneyBe from Mariia Deputat, LSST’s Dragons’ Den runner-up 2025 up is available to buy here.
See last year’s LSST Dragons’ Den competition winners here.
For additional information, please direct inquiries to LSST’s Public Relations Manager via kunal.mehta@lsst.ac.
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