The Converge Challenge team are once again looking forward to working on the new 2016 programme with our expert Converge partners and are delighted to welcome some NEW partners to the Converge 'family'.
We recognise the value of the in-kind support provided by our partners and how this allows access to a diverse range of skills and resources vital to support any new start up. These relationships mean we can continue to ask 'what can we do to help our alumni?' and respond with the correct advice at the correct time.
Any relationship - new or existing - requires trust, flexibility, honesty and good relationships with key people to make it work. At Converge we respect and appreciate our partner family and enjoy working with each and every one of our sponsors. These strategic partnerships unlock significant benefits for the participants via the expert and varied advice on offer, key networking opportunities, and general learnings that contribute to the innovation process of any new business.
Our four NEW partners include -
Royal Bank of Scotland - NEW
This relationship stems from the hard work of Enterprise Manager Yvonne Greeves who along with her team will provide holistic support across many strands of the 2016 Converge programme from mentorship of our winners to hosting our respected training in May/June - and so much more in between. The support provided by RBS will impact the whole programme delivering a wealth of benefits to this year's participants.
Badenoch & Clark Scotland - NEW
We understand that getting the right team in place is of vital importance for any new start up. So working with Bonnie Clarke and her team, Badenoch & Clarke will ensure our winners receive some first-class recruitment advice - ideal for when your start up needs to move to the next stage.
Mazars - NEW
The expert team at Mazars via Fiona Martin and Jennifer Allison will provide our winners with accountancy, tax and legal advice - no matter your market or sector. They have a strong entrepreneurial spirit which has delivered them sustained growth over the last few years. This will be shared with our winners!
BQ Live - NEW
This new media partnership presents a great opportunity for our participants to receive fantastic PR and media coverage via BQ. Business Quarter Magazine is a leading business to business brand recognised for celebrating entrepreneurship and corporate success. BQ has established a UK wide regional approach to business engagement reaching a highly targeted audience of entrepreneurs and senior executives in high growth businesses both in-print, online and through branded events.
AND special mention and thanks goes to our existing partners who we will continue to work with in 2016...
Murgitroyd -
Murgitroyd are ranked among the largest groups of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys in Europe. Our winners will work with Gordon Stark, Fiona McKenzie and their specialised team to identify the right practical, commercially relevant and technically accurate advice.
Informatics Ventures -
Informatics Ventures supports globally ambitious technology companies head-quartered in Scotland. Through practitioner led entrepreneurship education and community networking, they prepare and connect Scotland’s technology entrepreneurs with opportunities to scale their businesses and give them the confidence to take on the world. Ideal for 'what next' after Converge!
Morton Fraser -
Morton Fraser, a leading commercial and private client law firm, has an experienced IP, information and technology law team of Austin Flynn and Katy Conlan who will ensure our winners receive the best advice. They will guide you through every aspect of the business growth process from first round funding through to successful business angel or venture capital investment and beyond.
Fearsome -
The Fearsome team lead by Geoff Jones will support the winner of the new Converge Challenge Design & Creativity Award. Fearsome is a product design and engineering company based in Glasgow, Scotland, with a unique service offering that encompasses all areas of product advancement. In particular, innovation is central to their ethos and is the highest of their values - ideal for this new challenge award.
Entrepreneurial Scotland -
Entrepreneurial Scotland is offering the winner of the Entrepreneurial Spirit Award 2016 some fantastic networking opportunities via their events and membership programme - Future Leaders. This will open some fantastic doors and networks after your Converge experience.
Mortonward -
Last but by no means least is Mortonward lead by Ewan Morton. Mortonward is a graphic design agency with a proven track record of working with business start-ups and university spin-outs. Mortonward works with their clients to build brands that inspire trust and respect, communicating their technological expertise with a visible commercial edge across printed and digital media. We are also VERY proud to say they created all the 2016 Converge brand work which we are very pleased.
So with such a stellar line-up of expert partners the 'class of 2016' will WIN WIN WIN!!
