Ali Toosi's Story
When Ali started his MBA at the University of Leeds, he had already run and sold a business in ERP consulting.
But what truly shifted his perspective was realising how much untapped value existed between students and the SME community.
“I knew firsthand how challenging it was to run a small business without clear strategic guidance. Then, during my MBA, I saw students producing valuable work, market research, business planning, digital strategy, that was often never used beyond the classroom.”
That disconnect inspired Ali to build Experiential Academy: a platform that connects management students with Startups and SMEs to collaborate on strategic marketing projects. Students gain practical, CV-worthy experience while entrepreneurs and businesses get much-needed insights without the cost of traditional consultancy.
Since launching, Ali has facilitated over 100+ student-business collaborations spanning across three universities. 66% of the businesses supported so far are female-led, with the majority focused on delivering social value in their communities. Experiential Academy have been recognised nationally and internationally, including a nomination for AMBA Startup of the Year 2025 and becoming a finalist in the Great British Entrepreneur Awards.”
We’re now onboarding more SMEs helping them expand into new marketsover the summer. For the upcoming academic year, our focus is on scaling activities and partnering with three more universities across the UK.
Launching a startup in a completely new environment felt like a leap into the unknown. What gave Ali the confidence was learning about Spark’s support while he was studying and also attended their workshops.
“Spark has played an instrumental role in helping me and bring Experiential Academy to life. They provided the targeted support that helped me navigate the unique challenges of launching a business in a new environment.”
As an international graduate, understanding visa pathways and legal requirements for setting up a business in the UK was crucial. Spark offered Ali clear, timely advice on these areas, something he found lacking in other support programmes he was involved with across the region.
“In early-stage entrepreneurship, your network is everything. Spark not only provided me with office space in Nexus, but also created opportunities to meet fellow founders, exchange ideas, and access external experts.”
Having bootstrapped a company before, Ali understood both the practical and financial value of Spark’s support. That’s why he proudly recommended Spark to more than 10 fellow student entrepreneurs, helping them build impactful businesses of their own.
