Let your ingenuity lead.
Apply to our programme to transform your academic research or innovation into an impactful business. Applications open on 28 January.
Empowering academic entrepreneurs
We work with Scotland’s universities to empower staff, students and graduates to transform academic research and innovation into real-world solutions. Through collaboration, we harness expertise, knowledge and connections to support the creation of impactful businesses that contribute to a more sustainable future.
Our online workshop series for university founders covers the essentials of starting a business. Learn more.
Our expert team helps aspiring academic future founders navigate their first entrepreneurial steps. Learn more.
Read our annual report documenting Converge’s most successful year to date. Find it here.
Our track record
Established in 2011, Converge was launched to develop and support the pipeline of new businesses in Scotland based on university IP, innovation and talent.
- Backed by all Scottish universities
- Supported by industry leaders
- 800+ aspiring entrepreneurs trained
- 425+ businesses supported
- with an 86% average survival rate after 3 years
- 94% of those surveyed rated the quality of support provided by Converge as ‘Great’ or ‘Excellent’ (2025 cohort)
“The whole programme was beyond expectations. The connections, camaraderie and knowledge have all been a highlight. It has completely streamlined the next steps – it’s taken the fuzzy picture and fine-tuned the direction.”
Sam Evans, Founder, Aeroflow
Stories worth sharing
Fantasy Fibre Mill
Case study
The current global fashion industry is an exploitative and extractive system that pollutes the environment at every step in the supply chain. Rosie Bristow of Fantasy Fibre Mill wants to build a viable alternative.
Bioliberty
Case study
Most people spent lockdown baking banana bread, building back garden bars, or vegging to Netflix. Ross O’Hanlon and his pals decided to start a company instead.
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