Scotland’s largest company creation programme for the university sector has unveiled the 28 finalists who will compete for over £300,000 of equity-free funding and start-up support at a ceremony in Edinburgh in early November.
The fledgling businesses have been whittled down from more than 200 initial entries for the Converge 2022 competition.
Finalists come from universities across Scotland, with projects spanning a range of sectors from tech, robotics and sensors, to the chemical industry, healthcare and engineering.
The finalists are competing for individual cash awards of up to £50,000 and in-kind business support from Converge’s network of investors, lawyers and business experts.
In the early-stage, KickStart Challenge category, is Roma Gibb, a nursing student from the University of the Highlands and Islands. Her project, Person Centred Solutions, aims to help people who are bed bound and struggle with everyday tasks to sit comfortably and with greater freedom.
Projects from the Converge Challenge, a category focused on novel solutions and high commercial potential, include Danu Robotics, headed up by Xiaoyan Ma from the University of Edinburgh which uses artificial intelligence to tackle contamination in recycling – which results in millions of tonnes of waste being sent to landfill every year.
Also making the shortlist is Lightwater Sensors from the University of St Andrews. Founder Dr Ross Gillanders has invented a hand-held monitoring system that meets the need for real-time water pollution detection.
The six finalists in the Converge Challenge category will also be invited to pitch their ideas live at an exclusive investors-only event at Scotland House in London next month. Organised in collaboration with Scottish Development International and featuring an address from Trade Minister Ivan McKee, the event will let UK-wide investors see the entrepreneurship emerging from Scotland’s universities.
Claudia Cavalluzzo, executive director at Converge, said: “Scotland’s world-class universities continue to be brilliant hotbeds of innovation and creativity, as exemplified by this year’s Converge finalist cohort.
“The judges who reviewed this year’s cohort’s business plans believe that these emerging entrepreneurs are leading projects with real market potential and the power to strengthen our economy while creating a fairer future for all.”
Three special awards will also be made on the night, including the Future Tech award, sponsored by Cisco; the Rose Award which recognises ambitious female entrepreneurs, sponsored by the Royal Bank of Scotland; and the IBioIC Award. This new award is sponsored by the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre and offers a package of support to one biotech project, including a free centre membership, a dedicated account manager and £20,000 in project funding for the university where the project originated.
The full list of finalists:
Converge Challenge |
||
Project |
Name |
University |
Danu Robotics |
Xiaoyan Ma |
Edinburgh |
Eye to the Future |
Emanuele Trucco |
Dundee |
Lightwater Sensors |
Ross Gillanders |
St Andrews |
PlusPEP |
Robert Goodfellow |
Edinburgh Napier |
Theo Health |
Jodie Sinclair |
Dundee |
X-Genix |
Rebecca Goss |
St Andrews |
Create Change Challenge |
||
Project |
Name |
University |
Everybodycounts |
Andrew Ridgway |
Robert Gordon |
Boom Publications |
Helen Gorrill |
Dundee |
LU Innovations |
Erin Reid |
Edinburgh Napier |
Metacarpal |
Fergal Mackie |
Strathclyde |
Set Ready Safety |
Lisa Kelly |
Glasgow |
Two Raccoons |
Lasse Rasmussen |
Aberdeen |
Net Zero Challenge |
||
Project |
Name |
University |
Agrecalc |
Kaia Waxenberg |
Scotland's Rural College |
Bennu.ai |
Jonathan Feldstein |
Edinburgh |
Robocean |
Niall McGrath |
Edinburgh |
Zephyrus Aerolabs |
Christopher Solomon |
Aberdeen |
KickStart Challenge |
||
Project |
Name |
University |
Airspection |
Matthew McLean |
Strathclyde |
Altra ERC |
Jack Walker |
Edinburgh |
Atomic Architects |
Aidan Campbell |
Heriot-Watt |
Aura |
Benjamin Noar |
Glasgow School of Art |
CoBAlt |
Robin Pflughaupt |
Dundee |
Concinnity Genetics |
Jessica Birt |
Edinburgh |
Inclu |
Nick Fitzpatrick |
Dundee |
Mude Underwear |
Kat Pohorecka |
Edinburgh Napier |
Person Centred Solutions |
Roma Gibb |
Highlands & Islands |
SAMASTAR |
Asma Abdullah |
Edinburgh |
SensiBile |
Sofia Ferreira-Gonzalez |
Edinburgh |
Vertical Forest CIC |
Kimia Witte |
Glasgow School of Art |
Converge is Scotland’s largest company creation programme for staff, students and recent graduates of Scottish universities and research institutes.
Funded by the Scottish Funding Council, Creative Scotland, all 18 of Scotland’s universities, and a network of 10 professional partners, the programme is designed to springboard new businesses through training, networking, cash prizes and expert advice.
Since launching in 2011, Converge has trained more than 500 academic entrepreneurs and supported the creation of over 300 companies that enjoy an unusually high survival rate of around 80%.
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