MindMate, led by Susanne Mitschke of the University of Glasgow, is an assistance platform for people with dementia, their caregivers and family members. MicroSense Technologies Ltd is led by Professor Marc Desmulliez of Heriot-Watt University. It provides a sensor system aimed at reducing waste and improving process monitoring in food processing lines for the Food and Drinks industries. Converge Challenge is Scotland’s leading company creation competition and start up development programme for staff, students, and recent graduates of Scottish Universities.
Dr Olga Kozlova, Director of Converge Challenge, said:
“It is a privilege to present these two fantastic companies with their prizes today. This is the first time we have had a joint first place and it is testament to the quality of this year’s finalists. I would like to thank our sponsors for accommodating this decision with many of them agreeing to increase the value of their business support prize. The Converge team have enjoyed working with both MindMate and MicroSense over the last 12 months and we look forward to watching their organisations grow and scale."
Applications for Converge Challenge 2017 will launch online in February 7th 2017 at: www.convergechallenge.com and can be a product or service, in any industry sector and at any stage.
Notes
| Award Category |
Name |
Company |
University |
Prize |
Converge Challenge
JOINT Winner |
Susanne Mitschke |
MindMate |
University of Glasgow |
£49,500
(£30,00 in cash and £19,000 in business support) |
Converge Challenge
JOINT Winner |
Professor Marc Desmulliez |
MicroSense Technologies Ltd |
Heriot-Watt University |
£49,500
(£30,00 in cash and £19,000 in business support) |
| Converge Challenge 2nd place |
Chris Hughes |
Estendio |
University of Strathclyde |
£32,000 (£15,000 in cash and £17,000 in business support) |
| Converge Challenge Design & Creativity Award |
Dr Alexander Enoch |
Robotical Ltd |
University of Edinburgh |
£26,500 (£10,000 in cash and £16,000 in business support) |
| KickStart Winner |
Dr David Harris-Birtill |
Beyond Medics Ltd: Automated Remote Pulse Oximetry |
University of St Andrews |
£3,000 |
| KickStart Runner up |
Yuri Belotti |
Automated Time-Resolved Cell Stretcher |
University of Dundee |
£2,000 |
| KickStart Digital Entrepreneur Award |
Richard McAdam |
Regenerative Shock Absorber |
Edinburgh Napier University |
Ipad Air |
| Social Enterprise Winner |
Erika Grant |
Project TurnKey |
University of Aberdeen |
£5,000 |
| Social Enterprise Runner up |
Dr Christopher Murray |
The Comics Studio |
University of Dundee |
£3,000 |
| Entrepreneurial Spirit Winner |
Anna Renouf |
Orrin Equestrian Ltd |
University of the Highlands & Islands |
£1,000 |
The judges for the main Converge Challenge award category were:
- Mervyn Jones, Chairman of Converge Challenge
- Gillian MacAulay, Director of Gabriel Investments Ltd
- Professor David Milne, founder of Wolfson Microelectronics
- Mary Jane Brouwers, an investment specialist
- Gordon Stuart, Director of Operations at Informatics Ventures
- Douglas Anderson, founder of Optos Ltd, an expert in healthcare technology product design
Website: www.convergechallenge.com
Twitter: @ConvergeC
Launched in 2010 by Dr Olga Kozlova, Converge Challenge is a high profile pan-Scotland company creation competition and entrepreneurship development programme for staff, students and recent graduates of Scottish universities and research institutes aimed at creating a new generation of entrepreneurs in Scotland.
Converge Challenge has three core categories:
- Converge Challenge
- KickStart: for early stage ideas
- Social Enterprise : positive impact on social and environmental issues
Applications can be for a product or service, from any industry sector and at any stage of their development. Converge Challenge is funded by the Scottish Funding Council and eight research-intensive universities (Heriot-Watt University, University of Strathclyde, University of Glasgow, University of Stirling, University of Edinburgh, University of St Andrews, University of Aberdeen and University of Dundee).
Sponsors and partners
- RBS
- Mazars
- Badenoch & Clark
- Murgitroyd
- Informatics Ventures
- Morton Fraser
- Morton Ward
- Fearsome
- Firstport
- BQ Live
- Entrepreneurial Scotland
