Entries include a raft of business propositions to develop a variety of ideas. These include the development of an alternative eye dropper device that consistently delivers an accurate dosage of medicine to the eye, a novel anti-influenza therapeutic and a retail space where consumers co-create their own eyewear.
Submissions for this year’s Converge Challenge have increased by 85% on last year’s total, which delights Converge Challenge Director, Olga Kozlova.
“This is the fifth year for the Converge Challenge programme and I am delighted to see more and more projects coming forward as the competition acts as a beacon for entrepreneurship among our scientists and students. This year Converge Challenge is bigger than ever with dedicated training provided to over 50 budding entrepreneurs and record total funding pot of £68K in cash and £56K worth of business support.
As our economy continues on its road to recovery, it is crucial that we can keep the pipeline of innovative ideas coming forward from our university-based flowing and do our best to help the individuals develop them into successful profitable businesses.”
For the participants there is now an anxious wait to see if they made it into the Elevator Pitch stage which will take place on the 3rd June at the Royal Society of Edinburgh, when they have to deliver a 60 second pitch to a panel of judges, a hundred-strong audience and a ticking clock. And this would be just a small part of the tasks they have to complete before the winners are announced on the 30th of September at the awards dinner held at Heriot Watt University.
We will be contacting short-listed entrants on the 20th & 21st May, so if you've submitted an idea - keep an eye on your inbox! If you have any questions, don't hestitate to get in touch. Best of luck!
The Converge Challenge Team
