Three serious ways
to back student work.
We work with a small number of partners per cycle and we keep relationships long-term. Sponsorship sits inside one of three tiers; we are happy to discuss bespoke structures with university and civic partners.
What partnership looks like.
- Edition Host
- For universities or civic bodies hosting an entire city edition. Includes naming on the regional showcase, two seats on the academic council, faculty slots in the methods clinics and full access to the alumni archive for research.
- Prize Underwriter
- For organisations underwriting one of the named prizes (Founder’s, Research, Impact, Medal). Includes the right to nominate one jury member, branded prize at the ceremony, and a feature on the Partners page.
- Mentor Cohort
- For agencies, studios and venture firms contributing senior mentors. Includes co-branded recruiting at the showcase, listing in the alumni handbook, and quarterly access to demo days.
How we work with partners.
We commit to a few things in writing. We do not allow partners to set the brief or influence the rubric. Jury members nominated by partners are subject to the academic council’s veto. Student work remains the property of the team, including any intellectual property created during the programme.
In return, partners get the kind of access that’s genuinely useful: early sight of shortlist projects, recruitment access at the showcase floor, and a long-term relationship with the alumni network. The strongest GQC partners have hired or invested in alumni teams within twelve months of the Global Final.