Got a breakthrough innovation with serious potential?
The Converge Challenge is for novel business propositions 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.
Network
Connect, learn, growBy joining our cohort of like-minded innovators, you'll benefit from expert guidance, invaluable connections and peer-to-peer support.
Training
Bespoke business trainingAll successful applicants benefit from bespoke business training delivered by experts with real-world experience of starting and growing global businesses.
£115k
Prize fundWinner: £50,000 in equity-free cash and £17,250 of in-kind business support
Runner-up: £25,000 in equity-free cash and £7,800 of in-kind business support
Runner-up: £15,000 in equity-free cash
Plus
Alumni network and supportOnce you've completed our programme, you'll join a thriving and diverse community of Converge alumni spearheading breakthrough businesses.
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 conditionsMembers of staff from all Scottish universities are welcome to apply including early-career researchers, academic and professional staff.
We welcome applications from postgraduate and undergraduate students from all Scottish universities.
Recent graduates (up to 36 months after graduation from the initial application date) from all Scottish universities are eligible to apply.
Team and joint applications are welcome provided one member of the team is a staff member, student or recent graduate from a Scottish university.
Applicants must plan to have their business headquartered in Scotland.
Active participation in all training sessions and events is mandatory for the lead applicant. For key dates, see the 'What's involved' section on this web page.
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).
Technology readiness levels (TRLs) are a scale used to measure the maturity of a technology during its development. To apply for this challenge, we recommend TRL4-7.
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.
Sam Kremer
Senior Analyst British Design FundFollowing an undergraduate degree in Business and Economics, Sam was the second hire for the team at the British Design Fund, joining in late 2022. Since then, the fund has grown from 21 companies to 45, deploying capital across the UK, including previous Converge Challenge Winner, SolarisKit.
British Design Fund invests in purpose-led, IP-backed, early-stage hardware, doing so since being spun out of a charitable initiative in 2017.
Ready to apply?
We have a range of resources designed to increase the success of your application.
Find out more