Converge Challenge 2018 has now closed. The new programme will launch in March 2019.


Converge Challenge is the leading, pan Scotland, company creation programme for staff, students and recent graduates of Scottish Universities and Research Institutes with the aim of creating a new generation of entrepreneurs in Scotland.

Converge brings together the most ambitious and creative thinkers from academia, research & business. We work with ALL industry sectors, products and service-based ideas at any stage of the development.

By providing high quality training, hands-on mentoring and practical support, including cash prizes, Converge Challenge helps to refine and accelerate the pipeline of spin-outs and start-ups by developing fledgling businesses into investor ready companies.

The ambition and goal of Converge Challenge is to create sustainable profitable companies and help Scotland grow as a CAN Do competitive economy by giving students and staff commercial skills to bring new products and services to market.


Collaboration with Scotland’s universities is essential to the success of Converge Challenge. The support and guidance they provide to applicants, as well as the close working relationships with others within the entrepreneurial ecosystem, including the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Entrepreneurial Scotland, Scottish Enterprise and many more, support Converge Challenge’s contribution to the Scotland CAN Do action plan.

Alumni companies include: hardware and software; diagnostics; medical devices; drug discovery; renewable technologies; photonics; golf performance tracking technology; personal alarms

Between 2011 - 2017, the Converge Challenge programme attracted:

  • 21 Scottish universities and research institutes represented
  • 150 early stage and social enterprise founders trained
  • 210+ Converge category entrepreneurs trained
  • 121 alumni companies created
  • 88% survival rate post 3 years
  • £79 million funding secured

Now a focal point within the Scottish entrepreneurial ecosystem, Converge Challenge continues its ambitions to discover and develop a wealth of new opportunities to create Scotland’s next generation of entrepreneurs.

The three challenge categories you can enter are:

Converge Challenge 2018 has now closed. The new programme will launch in March 2019.