Scottish EDGE has announced the return of its Regional EDGE competition, giving entrepreneurs outside the central belt the opportunity to win up to £50,000 in funding.
Now in its second year, Regional EDGE awards target entrepreneurial talent in regions with historically lower levels of engagement, including Tayside, the North East, the Highlands and Islands and the South of Scotland.
Each applicant is judged by assessing the strengths of their business proposal, including key ares like value proposition, impact, growth potential, and funding utilisation, with successful startups invited to pitch at a live final in March.
Each region, led by local partners like ONE, Elevator, GrowBiz, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, and South of Scotland Enterprise, will host its own final, picking five winners to be awarded tens of thousands in grants.
Awards will consist of one top prize of £50,000, two of £15,000, and two of £10,000, with winners also joining the EDGE alumni network, gaining access to expert business mentorship and a wide-reaching community of contacts.
“Regional EDGE highlights the incredible innovation and entrepreneurial spirit thriving in our region,” said Caroline Maclellan, senior innovation manager at HIE.
“It offers ambitious entrepreneurs the crucial funding and support needed to bring their visions to life. Working with our partners to deliver the Regional EDGE programme is a fantastic opportunity for rural entrepreneurs, and we encourage anyone with big ambitions to apply and claim their share of the prize pot.”
Backed by Scottish Government funding, Scottish EDGE has awarded funding of more than £30 million to 739 recipients across the country, including businesses such as Dundee-based MedAscend, Aberdeen’s InGlaze, and Bookr in Perthshire, all of which have scaled operations since their win in the previous round of Regional EDGE.
“With continued support from the Scottish Government and our dedicated delivery partners, we are proud to again shine a spotlight on high-growth start-ups,” said Evelyn McDonald, CEO at Scottish EDGE.
“Being able to provide critical funding and expert mentorship will help a new cohort of ambitious entrepreneurs make their businesses a success.”
Entries for the Regional EDGE competition are now open, with the application window closing on the 11th February – find out more and apply here.
Source: DIGIT