Bedford entrepreneur and friends who met on Facebook enlist Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak to judge innovation award

Three friends who met on Facebook have come up with a great way to engage and support young people during the coronavirus pandemic.

And it's attracting the likes of The Rolling Stones' Ronnie Wood, Michael Jackson's former manager and even the mighty Woz, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak.

Harry Beard, 20, from Bromham, together with friends Adam Flanagan, 18, and Alexandre Daillance, 23, have been running online competitions to help give young people confidence and opportunities during the pandemic.

Harry said: "It's born out of corona. It's by young people for young people."

The first initiative from the trio, who hail from Bromham, Belfast and Paris, was a music competition with their only tool being Instagram.

Alexandre said: “I just got on my phone and started trying to find emails for the teams of all of my favourite artists - most of the emails I found via Instagram. We were very lucky to have the panel we did. I didn’t expect any responses at all, but to have the opportunity to bring together a panel of judges who are as experienced as this was incredible."

The initiative received social media support from artists including Ronnie Wood of The Rolling Stones and Dan Rothman of London Grammar. After these endorsements, a flood of applicants came in from 41 different countries.

The overall winner, EX.IN will now receive a six-month mentorship from Gut Records founder Guy Holmes, who previously managed Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder.

And on the back of the guys' latest success, they've launched another initiative - the Global Tech Competition - with head judge Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak at the helm.

The competition aims to give young people a chance to work in groups and solve real world problems - and even pitch directly to Woz. The winners will then have the chance to work alongside one of the world’s biggest charities on a global project of theirs.

Harry - a former Bedford School student - said: “What’s really unique about the tech competition is this chance to work on a global project with a massive charity.

"Not only will the charity be funding some of the ideas so they can come to life, but imagine being able to put on your CV or university personal statement that you have already worked on a successful global project, and your work was endorsed by Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak.”

Registration closes today (July 28) at 5pm for the Global Tech Competition. Visit here