Thirteen of the country\u2019s most promising entrepreneurs have pitched their way to a share in a \u00a31.1 million prize pot in the Scottish EDGE Round 11 Final.<\/p>\n
Twenty two finalists, chosen from over 242 applicants from throughout the country, had just three minutes to pitch their business plans to an expert panel of judges made up of Rob Jones of FanDuel, Jo Bucci of People\u2019s Postcode Lottery, Andy Lothian of Insights, Petra Wetzel of West Brewery and Majella O\u2019Boyle of Royal Bank of Scotland. <\/span><\/p>\n Each of the thriteen winners, stood out for their potential to scale quickly and disrupt the market with impressive innovation. <\/span><\/p>\n One of the night\u2019s winners, Anna Devitt of DirectDevitt became the first recipient of the Creative EDGE award, a special Creative Industries award introduced this round. <\/span><\/p>\n Presenting the award, Rachael Brown of Cultural Enterprise Office said: \u201cAt Cultural Enterprise Office we believe that Scotland can be the best place to create, scale and grow a creative career or business. Scotland is a vibrant and creative nation, we always have been. Together with our Creative EDGE partners, Creative Scotland and Scottish EDGE, we are proud and delighted to present the first ever Creative EDGE award to DirectDevitt, a business with a true blend of social purpose and creativity.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n Clive Gillman, Director of Creative Industries, Creative Scotland, said: \u201cThis has been a really exciting process that has allowed us to see smart creative ideas to be turned into businesses that have the power to transform the lives of many people. I\u2019ve been really pleased to have the opportunity to see first-hand the skills, ambitions and creative purpose embodied in everyone who has taken part.\u00a0Huge congratulations to Anna and I\u2019m sure that all of these businesses will be winners in their own fields, and we look forward to seeing them all thrive in the future.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n The Higgs EDGE prize, a special award for high scale potential STEM focused businesses, went to uFraction8, a spin-out from Heriot Watt University, taking home \u00a3100,000 after impressing the panel with their ambition to commercialise new liquid particle processing technology.<\/span><\/p>\n Also announced were the winners of Young EDGE, for entrepreneurs under the age of 30, and Wild Card EDGE for businesses who have yet to commence trading. The winners from each of these categories received a share of the allocated \u00a3100,000 budget, with seventeen receiving the maximum amount of \u00a310,000 grant funding.<\/span><\/p>\n As the UK\u2019s largest funding competition, Scottish EDGE is awarded as a 40% grant and a 60% loan, with a maximum award of up to \u00a3150,000. The loan is paid back to help fellow entrepreneurs on their pathway to success. In addition, Scottish EDGE provides mentoring, training and access to professional support.<\/span><\/p>\n Scottish EDGE CEO, Evelyn McDonald said: \u201cThe calibre of businesses we\u2019ve seen pitching today has been exceptional and our judges had their work cut out deciding who should be awarded funding. We received a total of 242 applications for Scottish EDGE round eleven from around the country, representing businesses in every sector. The twenty two businesses who pitched today demonstrated a commitment and intense desire to grow their business and create jobs and wealth for Scotland and I believe many will achieve this.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Sir Tom Hunter, renowned Scottish entrepreneur and supporter of Scottish EDGE, said: \u201cI love seeing entrepreneurs pitch an idea which they are incredibly passionate about, and attending the Scottish EDGE final is a real highlight for me for that very reason. Through EDGE we\u2019re seeing a renewed spirit of entrepreneurship developing in Scotland, heeding our nation\u2019s proud tradition as innovators. This is not just about money however, all entrants, win or lose, receive support packages to help them on their way and come back again to EDGE when they are ready to do so.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n Gordon Merrylees, Head of Entrepreneurship for Royal Bank of Scotland said: \u201cCongratulations to all of the winners for emerging victorious from such an impressive group of finalists. We are delighted to be working in partnership with the Scottish Government and the Hunter Foundation to continue to support entrepreneurial talent, develop Scottish EDGE and breathe life into entrepreneurship across Scotland. \u00a0The 263 winners from rounds one to ten have, thus far, generated an additional \u00a379.78 million in turnover, secured \u00a387.87 million in additional investment, and created 1,204 jobs. We\u2019re delighted with this progress and look forward to continued success as today\u2019s winners join our ever-growing group of high-achieving entrepreneurial alumni.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n The Scottish EDGE winners are: <\/b><\/p>\n Bella and Duke:<\/b> A monthly subscription offering species specific, raw pet food direct to customers.\u00a0<\/span>Amount: \u00a350,000 | Location: Perthshire<\/b><\/p>\n BUBLBag:<\/b> Producer of inflatable packaging products which provide maximum product protection cost effectively. <\/span>Amount \u00a325,000 | Location: Fife<\/b><\/p>\n EBar Initiatives:<\/b> Creator of the EBar device, an innovative, self-service beverage dispenser which pours the perfect pint in 3 seconds.\u00a0<\/span>Amount: \u00a375,000 | Location: Aberdeen<\/b><\/p>\n Gin Bothy<\/b>: Producer of Great Taste award winning gin in flavours such as Mulled Gin, Chilli and Amaretto.\u00a0<\/span>Amount: \u00a370,000 | Location: Kirriemuir<\/b><\/p>\n Industrial Nature:<\/b> Manufacturers of a range of innovative, low cost, insulating construction products made from left-over crop materials. <\/span>Amount: \u00a397,000 | Location: Edinburgh<\/b><\/p>\n StoriiCare:<\/b> A software platform for elderly care, linking families with the care home workers. <\/span>Amount: \u00a3100,000 | Location: Glasgow<\/b><\/p>\n Sansible Wearables: <\/b>Creator of LiveSkin, a wearable sensor to aid decision making following force impact in contact sports.\u00a0<\/span>Amount: \u00a350,000 | Location: Edinburgh<\/b><\/p>\n T30 Fitness Training<\/b>: Deliverer of Fatburn Extreme and GameFit – scientifically devised fitness workouts based around hormone balance and sports science. <\/span>Amount \u00a350,000 | Location: Glasgow<\/b><\/p>\n The Vegan Kind:<\/b> Designer of subscription boxes and online supermarket specifically for vegans. <\/span>Amount: \u00a375,000 | Location: Glasgow<\/b><\/p>\n Higgs EDGE Special Award Winner:<\/b><\/p>\n uFraction8:<\/b> Creating design solutions for the biomanufacturing\/processing industry using new microfluidics based technology. <\/span>Amount: \u00a3100,000 | Location: Falkirk<\/b><\/p>\n Creative EDGE Special Award Winner:<\/b><\/p>\n DirectDevitt:<\/b> Deliverer of the SQA Accredited course, Comedy and Confidence, throughout Scotland and the UK. <\/span>Amount: \u00a350,000 | Location: Glasgow<\/b><\/p>\n The Wild Card EDGE Winners are:<\/b><\/p>\n Adelie Health\u00a0\u2013\u00a0<\/b>Adelie Health Limited is a digital health startup which uses insights from behavioural economics to improve health outcomes for people living with chronic diseases with a focus on diabetes. <\/span>Amount: 10,000 | Location: Aberdeen<\/b><\/p>\n AS-DZine\u00a0\u2013\u00a0<\/b>Go~Charge\u2122 is a multi-award-winning, patent-pending hydration product, which can be attached to any hydration pack. It allows you to instantly switch between plain water and a scientifically formulated sports drink as often as you wish. <\/span>Amount: \u00a310,000 | Location: Stirling<\/b><\/p>\n lil\u2019POP\u00a0\u2013\u00a0<\/b>The Healthy Crop specialises in all things sorghum! Sorghum is a nutrient-rich, gluten-free, and drought resilient crop! Introducing this wonderful ancient grain to the UK with their first product, lil\u2019POP: popped sorghum. <\/span>Amount: \u00a310,000 | Location: Edinburgh<\/b><\/p>\n Attis Fitness\u00a0<\/b>\u2013 Attis Fitness is developing an innovative smart wearable for runners. The product is a compression legging which has smart sensors embedded into the fabric. <\/span>Amount: \u00a36,000 | Location: Stirling<\/b><\/p>\n Casta Spes Technologies\u00a0\u2013 <\/b>CST is currently developing the Heliwheel, a recreational product that comprises of a self-stabilising wheel and camera attachment. <\/span>Amount: \u00a310,000 | Location: Edinburgh<\/b><\/p>\n Design Surge\u00a0\u2013 <\/b>A startup that is dedicated to the design and manufacture of cycling accessories that target the commuter market. The business will aim to provide a range of premium products that provide the consumer with a consistent user experience. <\/span>Amount: \u00a36,000 | Location: Glasgow<\/b><\/p>\n Kingdom Scotland \u2013\u00a0<\/b>Scotland\u2019s First Luxury and Creative Fragrance House, working with a Scottish master perfumer to bottle the essence of Scotland in high-end perfumes. <\/span>Amount: \u00a310,000 | Location: Edinburgh<\/b><\/p>\n Kinetic Utilities t\/a Kinetic Water\u00a0\u2013 <\/b>A supplier of Water filtration products which aims to become a well-known lifestyle brand. The filter increases the quality of drinking water through a five stage filtering process. <\/span>Amount: \u00a310,000 | Location: Larkhall<\/b><\/p>\n Liberise\u00a0\u2013 <\/b>A pre-trading company who aim to empower people who have a surgical stoma, requiring the wearing of a bag on their abdomen to collect waste. <\/span>Amount: \u00a310,000 | Location: Ayrshire<\/b><\/p>\n Seltza\u00a0\u00a0<\/b>\u2013 A disruptive trendsetter that produces unsweetened soft drinks. Seltza also produces carbonated soft drinks that provide an alternative to traditional soft drinks and mixers. <\/span>Amount: \u00a310,000 | Location: Fife<\/b><\/p>\n Talbase\u00a0\u2013 <\/b>Talbase is launching a sophisticated online recruitment software service with avatar interviewing that will provide a suite of cloud facilities suitable for both temporary and permanent staffing solutions. <\/span>Amount: \u00a38,000 | Location: Dundee<\/b><\/p>\n The Young EDGE Winners are:<\/b><\/p>\n The Herbivore Kitchen\u00a0\u2013<\/b> The Herbivore Kitchen is a vegetarian and vegan friendly caf\u00e9 which offers a mail-order brownie service and also hosts a five course vegan dinner every month called \u201cThe Herbivore Supper Club\u201d. <\/span>Amount: \u00a37,000 | Location: Edinburgh<\/b><\/p>\n Alterwaste Ltd\u00a0\u2013 <\/b>A specialist in sustainable foodservice disposables and packaging made from industrial waste products, currently focusing on its product \u201cColleggtion\u201d \u2013 turning eggshell waste into compostable disposable packaging. <\/span>Amount: \u00a310,000 | Location: Edinburgh<\/b><\/p>\n BGR Training\u00a0\u2013<\/b> Following the introduction of the company\u2019s flagship product, \u2018The BGR Suspension Trainer\u2019, BGR Training will extend its brand to offer group fitness training classes and other branded products. <\/span>Amount: \u00a310,000 | Location: Glasgow<\/b><\/p>\n Creatify Digital\u00a0<\/b>\u2013 Helps businesses reach their customers by creating business and metric driven websites. Creatify Digital is able to deliver a traditional agency service while creating smarter websites faster and cheaper than ever before. <\/span>Amount: \u00a310,000 | Location: Glasgow<\/b><\/p>\n GETGUIDED\u00a0\u2013 <\/b>A b2b online marketplace connecting travel suppliers (Hotels and DMCs) with local experienced tour guides and tour guide companies. <\/span>Amount: \u00a310,000 | Location: Edinburgh<\/b><\/p>\n Good Nude Food\u00a0\u2013 <\/b>A Scottish food company dedicated to creating healthy and modern food products. The company\u2019s first product range, \u2018SUPERKRAUT\u2019, is comprised of three nutritious, natural and delicious sauerkrauts. <\/span>Amount: \u00a37,000 | Location: Glasgow<\/b><\/p>\n Hemp Eyewear\u00a0\u2013 <\/b>Designs and manufactures the world\u2019s first plant fibre eyewear. Using a leading edge sustainable technology, used by BMW and Mercedes cars, Hemp Eyewear has pioneered what it claims to be the most innovative frame in the industry. <\/span>Amount: \u00a310,000 | Location: Edinburgh<\/b><\/p>\n MicroSpray Technologies\u00a0\u2013 <\/b>MicroSpray Technologies\u2019 mission is to revolutionise ultra-fine particle manufacturing for pharmaceutical and research industries using an innovative, simple and cost-effective spray technology. <\/span>Amount: \u00a34,000 | Location: Edinburgh<\/b><\/p>\n Ngage\u00a0\u2013 <\/b>Ngage\u2019s headline product, Smart Concierge, allows accommodations to offer guests a simple and seamless way to make the most of their stay via their own personal, digital, on-demand concierge service. <\/span>Amount: \u00a37,000 | Location: Dumbartonshire<\/b><\/p>\n Oddity Innovations\u00a0\u2013 <\/b>A product design company with the aim of bringing innovative and unique products to market. The first innovation from Oddity is \u201cpkt\u201d, the reliable and efficient packaging solution for the parcel networks. <\/span>Amount: \u00a35,000 | Location: Denny<\/b><\/p>\n Teqnox Limited\u00a0\u2013 <\/b>An innovative startup company that designs body protection for equestrian sport. It was founded by director Carmen Cummiskey after it was identified that current body protection was bulky, restrictive and often difficult to put on. <\/span>Amount: \u00a310,000 | Location: Glasgow<\/b><\/p>\n Triyit\u00a0\u2013 <\/b>A product discovery club operating within the UK\u2019s Fast Moving Consumer Goods industry (FMCG). The platform empowers consumers to try more new products and discover new favourites, whilst providing FMCG brands with an affordable and highly engaging marketing solution. <\/span>Amount: \u00a310,000 | Location: Paisley<\/b><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Thirteen of the country\u2019s most promising entrepreneurs have pitched their way to a share in a \u00a31.1 million prize pot in the Scottish EDGE Round 11 Final. Twenty two finalists, chosen from over 242 applicants from throughout the country, had just three minutes to pitch their business plans to an expert panel of judges made […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":42106,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[19,20,27,1],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n