If you do reach the Top 30 that means you will be invited to our tailored Entrepreneurial Development Training Programme and be asked to compete at our Elevator Pitch event on June 1st which is a fantastic opportunity not only to hone your presentation skills but also to network with industry insiders, investors and showcase your idea at our business fair.
And if you still think it’s all about winning that top prize of £71,000, just take a look at Rebecca Pick (University of Strathclyde) from Pick Protection who was a previous runner up of the KickStart category in 2014 but came back and secured third place in the Converge Challenge 2015. She has also received £60,000 of investment from angel syndicate Gabriel Investments and recently won the Investing Women AccelerateHER pitching competition securing a trip to California as part of the prize.
Also, Converge Challenge welcomes applications from any sector, any product, any stage of development. And in celebration of the Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology for 2017, Converge Challenge is dedicating a £10,000 cash prize with the Converge Challenge Design and Creativity Award. This award is aimed at encouraging ideas in digital media, textiles, architecture and design which could be a product, process or a service.
Amongst the many brilliant ideas entered into Converge, we have seen a portable, Russian doll-style drum kit, a mental health app for young people, a cheap and re-usable menstruation hygiene device to improve the lives of women and girls in developing countries, and of course our first ever Social Enterprise winner, Pop Up! Scotland, a project that brings art to the public in unexpected places.
We have had entries from all over Scotland, from larger Universities as well as smaller institutions, and we can guarantee you the support for budding entrepreneurs is consistent and definitely out there, as well as here on our Converge website.
We have different categories to suit everyone - in any case, to make life easier, it is the same application to fill out for all three categories.
So sign up to the website, fill out that application form on the home page and may the odds be ever in your favour!
Good luck!
