Forms

Sample Application Form

Here’s a preview of the questions you will be asked to answer:

Have you previously applied to one of the Converge Challenges?

☐Yes

☐ No 

If yes, please clarify what progress you have made since your last application (200 words).

Non-confidential summary (100 words) 

  • Please provide a brief summary of your project and product/service. This summary may be publicly shared and should not include any confidential information about your business idea.

Marketing Information

  • Please provide your business description in 280 CHARACTERS (not words), in the style of a Twitter bio.

Your Business Proposition (500 words)

  • What is your product/service and what problem does it solve?
  • What is the innovative element of your idea and how will you protect it? Please include details of your Intellectual Property position and IP strategy.
  • What is your competition and why is your idea better?
  • What is the potential scale and growth opportunity of your proposed business?
  • What is your proposed business model?
  • What stage of development is your product/service (e.g., prototype, market-ready)? If you are a university spinout, please state your proposed spinout date. 
  • Please provide details of any previous funding/investment received

Your Customers (250 words)

  • Who are your target markets and customers?
  • How have you engaged with your customers/end users?
  • What is your evidence of product-market fit?
  • What is your proposed route to market?

Resource Planning (250 words)

What resources do you require to make your business “market ready”? For example:

  • Funding
  • Current and future team
  • Skills/expertise
  • Equipment
  • Premises

Your Impact (250 words)

  • Please provide a summary of your project’s social, cultural, educational or environmental impact.  

Detail the kinds of benefits you would plan to deliver to individuals, the communities and/or the environment. For the Net Zero Challenge, please specify your environmental impact, its potential scalability, and how you intend to measure it.