Converge Challenge is a comprehensive entrepreneurial development program designed to support university staff, students, and recent graduates across Scotland in transforming their research and innovations into sustainable businesses. The program offers bespoke business training, access to professional networks, equity-free cash prizes, and peer-to-peer support.

The program comprises four tailored challenges:

• Converge Challenge: Aimed at high-caliber projects with innovative intellectual property and significant growth potential. It offers a £115,000 prize fund.
• Net Zero Challenge: Focused on projects that can accelerate positive environmental impact, supporting the global drive to net zero. This challenge provides a £64,000 prize fund.
• Create Change Challenge: Designed for creative, cultural, and social impact projects, offering a £56,000 prize fund to entrepreneurs aiming to make a positive societal difference.
• KickStart Challenge: Targets early-stage business ideas, providing a £40,000 prize fund to help test, validate, and prepare concepts for the realities of entrepreneurship.

The 2025 program schedule includes key dates such as the application deadline on April 2, regional training sessions in late May, business training in early June, business plan submissions by July 31, and the Converge Awards ceremony on October 2.

Additionally, participants have the opportunity to compete for special sector-specific prizes in social impact, industrial biotechnology, data/AI, and the blue economy, sponsored by various partners. These prizes are awarded on top of the category prizes, providing additional recognition and support for innovations in these critical areas.

The Converge team also offers year-round enterprise support, including events, business workshops, and confidential consultations to assist innovators throughout their entrepreneurial journey.

More information about the Converge Challenge can be seen here: convergechallenge.com

If you have any questions about the information session, please don't hesitate to contact Christina at Christina.starko@ei.ed.ac.uk.