Announced at the final were the winners of Higgs EDGE, which is designed to identify innovative science and technology businesses with global commercialisation potential; Young EDGE, for entrepreneurs under the age of 30, and Wild Card EDGE for businesses who have yet to start trading were announced. The panel of judges was chaired by Lucinda Bruce-Gardyne of Genius Gluten-Free.
Scottish EDGE is awarded as a 50% grant and a 50% loan. The loan is paid back to help fellow entrepreneurs on their pathway to success. Both the Young EDGE and Wild Card EDGE awards are grants of up to £10,000. In addition, Scottish EDGE provides mentoring, training and access to professional support.
Scottish EDGE CEO Evelyn McDonald said:
“For those who didn’t win this time around, it’s not a closed door, over fifty percent of our winners to date were returning entrants, we encourage both previous and new applicants to apply for Scottish EDGE funding and support. After the New Year we’ll be jumping straight back in as we begin preparations for round ten, opening our application window in early 2017.”
Historically Converge Challenge alumni do very well at the Scottish EDGE so we are delighted to announce the Round 9 winners were:
Converge Challenge Alumni Scottish EDGE Winners
- Samuel Zawadzki, Property Technology Ltd was awarded £50,000 for Apply Property which is a viewing booking tool for estate agents to respond to out of hours enquires to viewings and viewing into offers. Sam made it to the Converge Challenge top 30 in 2012.
Converge Challenge Alumni Scottish Young EDGE Winners
- Chris Hughes, Estendio was awarded £10,000 for Present Pal, the first ever presentation support app specific to dyslexia users. Chris was a runner up of the main Converge Challenge in 2016.
- Corien Staels, Staels Design was awarded £10,000 for WheelAir, the first temperature-regulating wheelchair pad designed to alleviate pain points for wheelchair users. Corien made it to the Converge Challenge top 30 in 2016.
- Douglas Martin was awarded £10,000 for MiAlgae which utilises nutrient rich wastewater to produce microalgal products for the livestock feed industry. Douglas was a KickStart Top 10 finalist in 2016.
Converge Challenge Alumni Scottish EDGE Wildcard Winners
- Jack Ng, Sansible Wearables was awarded £5,000 for LiveSkin which offers a combined hardware and software system to improve performance and help prevent injury. Jack was as a Converge Challenge top 6 finalist in 2012.
- Jamie Kunka, Lonely Mountain Skis Ltd was awarded £10,000 – a ski manufacturing company based in Birnam Scotland producing high performance and environmentally friendly skis Jamie made it to the Converge Challenge top 30 in 2014.
- Michael Tougher, Spark and Rocket was awarded £10,000. Spark and Rocket aims to market and sell fun, accessible and creative products to enable children to learn and play. Michael made it to the Converge Challenge top 30 in 2016.
- Salman Malik, MicroSpray Technologies was awarded £10,000. MicroSpray is on a mission to revolutionise particles manufacturing for pharmaceutical and research industries. Salman was a KickStart top 10 finalist in 2016.
A full list of winners can be read here.
The Scottish EDGE Round 10 will open early 2017. We’ll keep our alumni updated with news!
