Grow your seed of an idea.
Innovation doesn’t have to be space travel or scientific breakthroughs – it can be smart solutions, faster services, or everyday improvements.
The College Creators Fund is designed to support Scotland’s college students take their first steps towards entrepreneurship.
So if you have an idea to make this better, easier or smarter, this programme can provide support to grow your early-stage idea.
What’s in it for you?
Funded by the Scottish Government and backed by Converge, the College Creators Fund offers participants the chance to access funding and training to help you take your early-stage idea further. No prior business experience is necessary.
Network
Connect, learn, growBy taking part, you'll connect with a group of peers from across Scotland's college sector.
£25k
Prize fundThere will be 10 cash prizes of £2,500 available.
Training
Business trainingIn addition to funding, awardees will be invited to attend a training session on key aspects of business development after they have been awarded the funding.
Application Form
Applicants must clearly outline:
The core idea – What problem does it solve? What makes it unique?
How the funding will be used – A budget and spending plan.
A realistic timeline – Key milestones for development.
The long-term potential – How could this idea grow beyond the funding period?
What's involved?
If you're awarded a prize, you'll be invited to attend a day of in-person business training with your fellow winners.
- Application deadline
16 February (12 noon) - Training & Awards
17 March (Edinburgh)
The small print
Applicants will be students from Scotland's colleges with an early-stage idea.
Your enterprise idea can take a variety of forms, including:
- Social Enterprise – a business that prioritises social impact over profit
- Not-for-Profit/Charity - organisations benefiting the wider community
- Commercial Enterprise – a profit-driven business with innovative potential
This fund is designed for extra-curricular projects and cannot be used for coursework or academic research projects.
Students from all Scottish colleges are welcome to apply.
Funding can be used for:
- Seed funding for early-stage ideas or business concepts
- Prototyping an idea, service, or product (inc. marketing, branding, or research).
- Supporting start-up costs (e.g. registering a business, building a website, or running test events)
- Attending industry training, networking events, or trade fairs that enhance your ideaDeveloping a prototype to test market potential
- Covering your time and expertise in developing the project
Funding cannot be used for:
- Coursework-related activities
- Already registered companies
- Retrospective costs for completed projects
- Large-scale equipment purchases (e.g. laptops, vehicles etc.)
If you hold a Student Visa, you are eligible to apply; however, there are restrictions on self-employment and trading activities under UK Home Office rules.
You can use the fund for:
- Pre-trading activities, such as research, training, business planning, mentorship, or attending events
- Developing a business idea that could later qualify for a Start-up Visa or other entrepreneurship-related visas
However, the fund cannot be used for:
- Engaging in paid entertainment work
- Undertaking activities classified as self-employment beyond the "pre-trading" phase
If unsure, please contact veronica.ferguson@convergechallenge.com for guidance before applying.
We strongly encourage applicants to pay themselves and their collaborators fairly for time spent on the project. The Real Living Wage or industry-standard union rates should be used where possible.
Given the limited size of the award, we recommend structuring your project in phases or focusing on key areas to ensure sustainability and fair payment.
Read the full Terms & Conditions here.
By applying, you agree to Converge’s data protection policies. A full privacy notice is available at https://portal.convergechallenge.com/privacy/
What's next?
- Got questions or need help with your application? Get in touch with Veronica Ferguson.
- Are you ready to apply? Check out the form here. Application deadline: 16 February (12 noon)