Shantanu: My Enterprise Experience

Posted on: 7 January 2026 in Enterprise

While studying at the University of Liverpool, Dr Shantanu Kundu turned a personal idea into a national mental health charity. In this story, he reflects on the process of starting Be Free Campaign, the role of university enterprise support, and what current students can take from his journey into mission-driven work.

My name is Dr Shantanu Kundu, a part-time doctor and part-time CEO and founder of Be Free Campaign. Be Free Campaign started as a blog in my bedroom and became a registered charity in 2020. The spark came from my own lived experience and through watching too many young people, particularly those from racialised and marginalised backgrounds, struggle with their mental health in silence, without culturally responsive support or spaces where they felt truly understood. What began as a small idea to make conversations about mental health feel human, hopeful and relatable has grown into a movement led by young people, for young people. Today, we deliver early intervention programmes in schools, universities and communities, helping 11 to 25 year olds recognise distress, build resilience, and support one another before reaching crisis point.

At Be Free Campaign, everything we do is co-created with young people who’ve lived it. 90% of our staff and volunteers are 25 and under. Our Youth Board shapes campaigns and strategy. Our youth-led outreach team lead workshops that turn lived experience into life-changing education. Drawing on the diverse backgrounds of our community, our sessions are culturally informed and responsive to the communities we serve. We’ve now supported over 5,000 people to understand themselves and each other a little better, and that number grows every week. With a focus on creating early and accessible mental health support for all, our programmes are free at the point of access, making sure our offer is not dependent on income or circumstances.

The journey hasn’t been straightforward. Building a youth-led charity from the ground up, without major institutional backing, meant learning to be strategic and deeply community-driven. From unsuccessful funding applications to challenges in connecting with schools, there were, of course, moments of doubt. Connecting with the University’s Start-Up and Enterprise Team was really beneficial. Through their programmes, I gained access to mentorship that helped me think like a social entrepreneur, not just a passionate student with an idea. I learned how to articulate our impact, build sustainable income streams, and navigate the charity sector with confidence.

Being part of the enterprise community opened doors I didn’t know existed. It connected me with collaborators, funders and fellow founders who understood the unique challenges of mission-driven work. More than that, it validated that what we were building mattered, and that it was possible to scale impact without losing our values. Community is what helped me keep going during the hardest moments. The young people who showed up to our programmes and told us it changed their lives. The volunteers and donors who believed and continue to believe in the mission. The mentors who reminded me that real change takes time.

My advice to other students or graduates starting something of their own is simple: start where you are, with what you have, and who you have around you. Real change doesn’t need permission. It needs persistence, purpose, and people who care. Don’t wait for the perfect moment or the perfect plan. Build in public. Ask for help. Surround yourself with people who challenge and champion you in equal measure. And remember, if you’re solving a problem you’ve experienced, there are thousands of others waiting for the solution you’re creating.

Read the full feature in the magazine here: https://fdd4381ab0b54b01bcbed836ed0b4f8c.elf.site