The launch event provided guests with the opportunity to learn more about the competition and hear about the exciting new development that will make CC '14 the biggest and most exciting year yet!
Dr Olga Kozlova, Director of Converge Challenge began proceedings with an introduction, followed by a welcome from Professor Steve Beaumont, Vice-Principal for Research and Enterprise at the University of Glasgow.
(Dr Olga Kozlova, Director of Converge Challenge)
Humza Yousaf MSP, Minister for External Affairs and International Developement delivered the keynote speech, where he announced that the Scottish Government will be supporting a series of Converge Challenge entrepreneurship seminars that will take place across Scotland's Universities.
(Humza Yousaf MSP, Minister for External Affairs and International Developement)
The winner of Converge Challenge 2014, SACCADE Diagnostics led the alumni presentations. Madhu Nair and Dr Philip Benson discussed their proposal for a novel eye movement test that can detect and diagnose psychiatric disorders, and talked about how the company has progressed since winning CC '13 in September.
(Madhu Nair, SACCADE Diagnostics)
Past Converge Challenge alumni, including Kanika Bansal from Medicen Devise and Adam Brown from Bellrock Technology, delivered presentations on their experiences of the competition and their progress since taking part.
Dr Olga Kozlova then provided the audience with an overview of the competition that included a variety of new developments for 2014. This year, Converge Challenge has been opened up to all students at Scottish Universities, as opposed to only 4th year undergraduates and postgraduates in 2013. In addition, two new prizes have been offered to both early stage and more developed social enterprise ideas.
The CC '14 promotional video was then given it's official premier!
The closing words were provided by Mervyn Jones, Chair of the Converge Challenge Judging Panel, before the networking reception began where guests, past winners, partners, sponsors and prospective applicants made introductions over a glass of wine.
