Can you build an award-winning startup during a full-time MBA? At Alliance Manchester Business School, two students did just that. Find out how their MBA experience has helped them.
Raymond Xiang Zheng and Fancy Fan, both members of the Full-time MBA Class of 2025 at Alliance Manchester Business School (AMBS), are celebrating a major milestone. Their startup, PurFetch, recently took home the top prize in the Services Category at the 2025 Venture Further Awards.
What is the Venture Further Awards?
Hosted by the Masood Enterpreneurship Centre at AMBS, the Venture Further Awards (VFA) is the UK's leading university start-up competition. Boasting a £100,000 total prize pot, it provides aspiring founders a unique platform to turn ideas into viable businesses.
For Raymond and Fancy, the MBA wasn't just an academic journey. It was the launchpad for their entrepreneurial mission, which was to launch PurFetch.
What is PurFetch?
PurFetch is a pet tech platform that integrates AI and interactive devices to improve animal welfare.
PurFetch's technology can detect signs of unusual behaviour, emotional stress, or potential health issues in household pets.
It then provides personalised care advice, enabling pet owners to take early action before problems become serious or costly – and to stay connected with their pets, even while away.
Looking ahead, Raymond and Fancy's plan will be to expand the business and support farmers in monitoring livestock, enhancing welfare standards and reducing losses in agriculture.
Why AMBS was the top choice for these entrepreneurs
Raymond was drawn to AMBS for its hands-on learning and its three live consultancy projects, which gave him the chance to work directly with real businesses. "I applied only to AMBS," he said, "because I wanted practical experience to close the skill gaps I needed to build a company."
Fancy, on the other hand, saw the MBA as an opportunity to break out of the corporate mould. "I wanted to gain new perspectives, challenge myself, and turn my ideas into something real. AMBS gave me the environment to do just that."
How the Manchester MBA helped Raymond and Fancy start a business
Both Raymond and Fancy highlighted how AMBS's structured approach, supportive faculty, and entrepreneurial resources were key to shaping their startup.
"The MBA gave me a solid foundation in strategy and financial planning," Raymond explained. "electives like Platform Ecosystem Strategy helped me think critically about growth and sustainability. It wasn't just theory; I applied everything directly to my business."
Fancy echoed this sentiment: "Being surrounded by faculty, mentors, and classmates who believed in innovation made a huge difference. I could test assumptions, validate the model, and turn an abstract idea into a working venture."
Supporting entrepreneurs beyond the classroom
Raymond and Fancy credit much of their growth to AMBS's extracurricular ecosystem. From Startup Weekend and Accelerate ME to pitch competitions and mentorship programmes, the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre offered critical support every step of the way.
"The consultancy projects helped me build a roadmap for execution," said Raymond. "And the peer support, especially from two of my classmates from Vietnam was just as impactful. We worked together on financial projections, and that collaboration still continues."
Fancy added: "The diverse student cohort allowed me to test ideas with people from different cultural and commercial backgrounds. That's been invaluable as we aim for a global market."
Can you build a startup during a full-time MBA?
These students did, but it wasn't easy. Raymond launched his startup just three months into the programme.
"The core phase was intense," he admitted, "but I aligned my assignments with my startup. The overlap made the business part of the learning, not something separate."
Later, during the elective phase of the programme, Raymond doubled down. "That's when I really pushed forward. I'd recommend all aspiring founders use this time to build momentum, you've got flexibility and access to incredible support."
Fancy agreed: "The MBA taught me how to prioritise, stay focused under pressure, and use theory in real-time business situations. The support from the Masood Enterprise Centre made it possible to build the business while keeping up academically."
The verdict: is an MBA worth it for entrepreneurs?
In Raymond's words, while you don't need an MBA to become an entrepreneur, "starting something is very different from building something great and sustainable".
For him, the MBA created space to reflect and refine his business idea. He highlighted the value of gaining essential business knowledge, from go-to-market strategies and financial forecasting to business model development. Through AMBS's hands-on consultancy projects, he also developed practical skills for solving real business challenges and deepened his commercial awareness.
Perhaps most significantly, the programme opened doors to a powerful professional network. He met both his business partner, Fancy, and his VC advisor through the AMBS community - both of whom are also MBA alumni.
Their journey is a testament to the entrepreneurial spirit nurtured at AMBS. With the right support, structure, and a bit of courage, a great idea can turn into an award-winning startup.
Whether you're dreaming of launching your own venture or just want to develop sharper business skills, the Manchester Full-time MBA could be your first step toward something extraordinary.
Find out more about what you'll learn on the Manchester MBA.
