QMU shortlisted in Top 60 Converge Challenge 2018
QMU has attained four shortlisted entries in the Converge Challenge 2018, the leading company creation competition and entrepreneurship development programme for staff, students and recent graduates of Scottish universities.
Following record-breaking entries to this year’s Converge Challenge, the QMU shortlisted entries are four of the top 60 projects from Scottish universities. The top 60 include a range of innovative ideas covering women’s health, virtual reality, renewables and environmental sustainability, demonstrating that Scotland’s pipeline of new and innovative businesses is robust and healthier than ever before.
QMU’s shortlisted projects are:
1. Converge Challenge - for those with a developed idea:
- Animation Garden: an animated family show starring a positive representation of a gay couple, whose sexuality will be secondary to their engaging and appealing personalities.
- YAIA: eco-friendly, plastic free lifestyle products starting from an innovative water bottle, as a healthy alternative to conventional brands to reduce impact on the environment.
2. KickStart - for early stage ideas:
- Maria Hussain: creation of an innovative self-measuring toolkit to produce custom made bras to address problematic issue of women wearing the wrong size bra.
3. Social Enterprise - for ideas focussing on social and environmental issues:
- Health Design Collective: a line of aesthetically pleasing footwear for people with foot drop due to Multiple Sclerosis or stroke designed through user-centred and co-design principles.
Professor Petra Wend, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Queen Margaret University said:
“We are delighted with the success of our students and graduates in the Converge Challenge. This success demonstrates QMU’s commitment to supporting enterprise and entrepreneurship amongst our student and graduates, and the growing vibrancy of the entrepreneurship culture in the University. As the first Scottish university to host a Business Gateway on campus, we believe that this facility, and our associated Business Innovation Zone, is doing much to nurture our emerging student and graduate entrepreneurs.”
As participants progress to the top 60 they will benefit from a range of opportunities and an extensive programme of support that is critical to enable them to further develop their business propositions. Benefits of the programme include 1-2-1 bespoke advice, enhanced business and pitch training; hands-on mentoring and a total prize fund of over £160,000 of cash and in-kind business support for the winners.
Timeline:
- Entrepreneurial Training & Elevator Pitch – 29 - 31 May 2018
- Converge Challenge Business Surgeries – 27 & 28 June 2018
- Business Plan Submission – 27 July 2018
- Converge Challenge Top 10 Selection – 17 August 2018
- KickStart and Social Enterprise top 15 Selection –20 August 2018
- Top 6 Selection – Wednesday 30 August 2018
- KickStart and Social Enterprise winners Selection 03 September 2018
- Awards –20 September 2018
A full list of all finalists can be found on the Converge Challenge website.
