Got a breakthrough business idea with serious potential?
The Converge Challenge is for novel business ideas with solid IP foundations, high commercial potential and scalability.
What’s in it for you?
If you’re looking to take the entrepreneurial leap from academia to business with your breakthrough innovation, then Converge Challenge is for you.
£50k
First prizeWinning our top prize will net you £50,000 in equity-free cash and £20,500 of in-kind business support from our industry partners towards turning your idea into a reality.
£20k
Runner-up prizeThe runner-up will receive £20,000 in equity-free cash and £9,500 of in-kind business support from our industry partners to help get your business up and running.
Training
Bespoke business trainingAll successful applicants enjoy a money-can’t-buy package of training and pitch coaching from experts with real-world experience of starting and growing global businesses.
Plus
Post-programme supportDedicated events, workshops, access to the Converge Enterprise team and opportunities to get involved in future activities and publicity.
Who can apply?
The Converge Challenge is for high-calibre projects with the potential to become successful, sustainable companies that will have a positive impact in Scotland. We welcome applications across all industry sectors and enterprise types, for both product and service-based ideas.
Read our full terms and conditionsStaff and students at all Scottish Higher Education Institutions are eligible to apply.
Recent graduates (up to 36 months after graduation from the initial application date) from Scottish Higher Education Institutions are eligible to apply.
Team and joint applications are accepted, provided one member of the team is a student, recent graduate or member of staff from a Scottish Higher Education Institution.
Applicants must plan to have their business headquartered in Scotland.
The lead applicant must commit to attending the final investor pitches and our Awards ceremony. Our Inside Innovation showcase is also a compulsory event but can be attended by any team member.
We highly recommend you attend our training events as past experience shows these dramatically increase the quality of business plans/cases and your chances of reaching the final stages of the challenge.
You must either own or have the right to use and commercially exploit all Intellectual Property Rights related to your business idea.
Applicants need to demonstrate validation of their product/service, early customer engagement, a viable route to market and be ready to start operating within twelve months of our annual Awards in October.
If you do have an existing company, it must be dormant, non-trading or trading for no longer than 24 months with a secured income not higher than £150,000 (including but not limited to grants, investment, loans, revenue, prizes).
Judging criteria
Converge Challenge applications are judged on their growth and innovation potential. Successful applicants will be able to confidently demonstrate their prospective business’s competitive advantage, market potential, and expected team and resources. See the full list of criteria below:
Innovation
- Intellectual property
- Disruptive potential
- Competitive advantage
Growth potential
- Market opportunity
- Viable business model
Market validation
- Customer engagement
- Viable route to market
- Market fit
Team
- Relevant experience
- Planning for future team
Resource planning
- Understanding of market readiness requirements including funding, expertise and operations
What’s involved?
Our challenges are split into four stages over a period of six months. Applications open in January and are evaluated by a panel of university representatives.
If you're successful, we'll give you access to our online, on-demand training modules from 9 May. You'll then be invited to attend a one day, in-person regional training session w/c 26 May followed by intensive business training and pitching in Edinburgh* from 2-5 June.
Having completed your training, you'll have the tools you need to prepare a business plan, financial forecast and 1-minute video pitch - all of which will be assessed by a panel of university representatives.
If you're shortlisted as a finalist, you'll be invited to attend further training on 10 September and to pitch your idea live to a panel of investors and business experts on 18 September. Winners will be announced at our annual Awards ceremony on 2 October.
*Travel expenses for in-person training and events are available. We can also cover overnight accommodation and childcare costs.
- Application deadline
2 April 2025 - In-person regional training
w/c 26 May - In-person training & pitch event
2-5 June - Business plan submission
31 July - Investment training
10 September - Final pitches
18 September - Awards
2 October
Judging panel
Our judging panels are handpicked from across Scotland's business community for their unique experience and success in entrepreneurial and business ventures. Here's last year's panel to give you a flavour of who will be assessing your business idea.
Professor Andy Porter
Chief Technical Officer Elasmogen LtdAndy is the Director and Chief Technical Officer, Elasmogen Ltd. He is also currently Professor of Medical Biotechnology, University of Aberdeen, Scotland and Director of the Scottish Biologics Facility. He was founder and CSO of the University spin-out, Haptogen Ltd until it was acquired, in October 2007, by Wyeth Inc. Andy has been on the Board of the biologics company NovaBiotics Ltd since 2009.
Emmi Nicholl
Managing Director Cambridge AngelsEmmi has an educational background in Applied Linguistics, but her career path always led her into operations leadership roles. She has worked in finance, consulting and telecoms, across two continents, and has worked in a tech start-up as COO. This has given her the advantage of being familiar with the start-up journey. Emmi is the Managing Director of the angel investment group, Cambridge Angels. The group provides smart capital from entrepreneurs to entrepreneurs and helps to equip future generations of entrepreneurs by supporting innovative technology companies. Emmi’s role is to support Cambridge Angels’ reach by building networks to attract high quality investment opportunities.
Aydin Kurt-Elli
Independent board adviser, early-stage investor and entrepreneurAydin is a former medical doctor who trained in Edinburgh and went on to create and grow an Internet and Datacenter Services business. The journey included exit to PE investor Bridgepoint, working as part of the new board on a buy and build strategy, and now investing and working with startups in Europe, the UK, and the US.
Professor Gillian Fleming
Founding Director & CEO Mint Ventures LtdGillian is a Strategic Advisor, Non-Exec Director and Angel Investor for start-up and spinout companies with a background in sales and marketing for the energy and engineering sector.
She has 25 years’ experience in the entrepreneurial ecosystem both advising and nurturing early-stage ideas across multiple sectors to successfully transition to company creation and as an experienced venture capitalist.
As honorary professor and entrepreneur in residence at the University of Stirling she provides strategic input to the International Business Advisory Board and supports women to consider entrepreneurship as a career.
On a mission to make angel investment more accessible to women both founders and potential investors, Gillian is Co-Founder, Director and MD of Mint Ventures (Syndicate) Ltd, a women-led angel group focused on investing in women led and diverse teams with an environmental, ethical or social purpose.
Gillian is an Entrepreneurial Scotland Saltire Fellow, motivational speaker and judges for various accelerator programs and business competitions.
Resources
Find answers to your questions plus a sample copy of the application form you'll need to complete.
Sample Application Form
DocumentHere's a preview of the questions you'll need to answer
FAQs 2025
DocumentAnswers to some commonly-asked questions, to help you get started.
Guide for Applicants 2024
Pre-Application PackThinking about applying? This pack explains what's involved and what to expect.
Elasmogen
Case study
"Being my own boss is the most stable job I've had in years!" Read more about Caroline's entrepreneurial journey.
Nebu~Flow
Case study
Sounds can make you laugh, they can make you cry, they can make you sing – and, thanks to Nebu-Flow, they could soon also help people with conditions such as asthma or cystic fibrosis.
