This third year could be pitching to Richard Branson

A third year Business Management student is competing to pitch to Richard Branson. 

Matt Pate is working with first year Essex student Jamie Hagerty on “Ylex”, a set of smart wireless earphones designed to “fit and adapt to your lifestyle”.

Ylex can be charged on a wireless dock which also transforms into a speaker to spread music around the house.

Matt got on board with the idea after Jamie came up with it on his gap year in Australia.

The two business students now work together and the earphones have been developed into a non-working prototype.

Matt said: “I have been involved in quite a few of my own businesses, but this is the largest project I have got on board with.

“I have bought loads of different styles of headphones yet none did everything I wanted them to do.

“I was tired of having to trade off mobility for sound quality and it was about time a pair of headphones came out with the ability to control the audio and notification settings you constantly receive from your phone.

“Wires are an out-dated accessory that tangle, break and provide an uncomfortable experience.

“Ylex is equipped with wireless charging and a unique dock speaker to spread music around the house.”

The product will retail at around £90

The competition, aptly named “Pitch To Rich”, consists of three categories. Matt and Jamie are in the “startup” category, which is aimed at new businesses.

The winner gets £150,000 campaign as well as support from the Virgin team for a year while the runners up win £50,000 campaigns.

The competition relies on social media, as the top 150 teams with the most votes are shortlisted. Candidates then go through rigorous phone and Skype interviews and are whittled down by Branson’s team into 30 finalists.

Those who aren’t shortlisted will be in with a chance to win the “People’s Choice Award”, which would give them a share of over £1,000,000 in prizes.

If you like the sound of Ylex you can vote here. Voting closes on May 5.