Are you an innovator looking to use your creativity as a tool for change?
The Create Change Challenge is for creative, cultural and social impact projects looking to become sustainable businesses.
What's in it for you?
The Create Change Challenge can be your springboard to success with equity-free cash prizes and bespoke training with a sharp focus on creative and social business needs. At the end of the programme, you will have gained the skills, confidence and network to make your idea a reality.
We welcome applications for both product and service-based ideas with the potential to develop into sustainable businesses that deliver either creative, cultural or social impact.
Network
Connect, learn, growBy joining our cohort of like-minded innovators, you'll benefit from expert guidance, invaluable connections and peer-to-peer support.
Training
Bespoke trainingAll successful applicants benefit from bespoke business training delivered by experts with real-world experience of starting and growing global businesses.
£56k
Prize fundWinner: £30,000 in equity-free cash and £10,950 of in-kind business support.
Runner-up: £10,000 in equity-free cash and £5,300 of in-kind business support.
Plus
Alumni network and supportOnce you've completed our programme, you'll join a thriving and diverse community of Converge alumni spearheading breakthrough businesses.
Who can apply?
This is a broad category for social shakers, creative thinkers and cultural entrepreneurs looking to change the world for the better. Whether it’s a technical solution tackling mental health issues or a new cultural or educational tool bringing people together - and everything in between - then you’ve come to the right place.
Read our full terms and conditionsMembers of staff from all Scottish universities are welcome to apply including early-career researchers, academic and professional staff.
We welcome applications from postgraduate and undergraduate students from all Scottish universities.
Recent graduates (up to 36 months after graduation from the initial application date) from all Scottish universities are eligible to apply.
Team and joint applications are welcome provided one member of the team is a staff member, student or recent graduate from a Scottish university.
Applicants must plan to have their business headquartered in Scotland.
Active participation in all training sessions and events is mandatory for the lead applicant. For key dates, see the 'What's involved' section on this web page.
You must either own or have the right to use and commercially exploit all Intellectual Property Rights related to your business idea.
Applicants need to demonstrate validation of their product/service, early customer engagement, a viable route to market and be ready to start operating within twelve months of our annual Awards in October.
If you do have an existing company, it must be dormant, non-trading or trading for no longer than 24 months with a secured income not higher than £200,000 (including but not limited to grants, investment, loans, revenue, prizes)
Judging criteria
We’re looking for projects with creative, cultural or social impact that are grounded in sound market research and planning. Tell us if you'd like your application to be evaluated as either a creative or social project. For full judging criteria, see below:
Innovation
- For impact projects: novel solutions to social problems
- For creative projects: imagination and creativity
Impact
- Potential for long term financial sustainability and growth
- Specifically for social projects: tangible economic, social or environmental impact
Market validation
- Customer engagement
- Viable route to market
- Market fit
Team
- Relevant experience
- Planning for future team
Resource planning
- Understanding of market readiness requirements including funding, operations and logistics
What's involved?
Our challenges are split into four stages over a period of six months. Applications open in January and are evaluated by a panel of university representatives.
If you're successful, we'll give you access to our online, on-demand training modules from 9 May. You'll then be invited to attend a one day, in-person regional training session w/c 26 May followed by intensive business training and pitching in Edinburgh* from 2-5 June.
Having completed your training, you'll have the tools you need to prepare a business plan, financial forecast and 1-minute video pitch - all of which will be assessed by a panel of university representatives.
If you're shortlisted as a finalist, you'll be invited to attend further training on 10 September and to pitch your idea live to a panel of investors and business experts on 22 September. Winners will be announced at our annual Awards ceremony on 2 October.
*Travel expenses for in-person training and events are available. We can also cover overnight accommodation and childcare costs.
- Application deadline
2 April 2025 - In-person regional training
w/c 26 May - In-person training & pitch event
2-5 June - Business plan submission
31 July - Investment training
10 September - Final pitches
22 September - Awards
2 October
Judging panel
Our expert judging panels are selected for their depth and breadth of entrepreneurial and business experience across Scotland's creative industries and social impact sector. Here's last year's panel to give you a flavour of who will be assessing your business idea.
Lucinda Bruce-Gardyne
Founder Genius Foods LtdFounder, Genius Gluten Free
Lucinda Bruce-Gardyne is Founder of Genius Gluten Free, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and a Royal Society Entrepreneur in Residence at Edinburgh University. In 2018, she was included in the Maserati Top 100 Innovators and in the top 100 Women to Watch by Cranfield University.
Ross Isdale
Senior Associate Challenges GroupRoss Isdale is a Senior Associate at the Challenges Group, a family of social businesses committed to building prosperity and impact at a global level. Working within Challenges' Ventures and Investment team, Ross manages a Scottish Government-funded venture-building programme and investment facility focused on supporting Scottish-based enterprises to internationalise into sub-Saharan Africa and beyond.
Ross has extensive experience of working within Scotland's Private, Third and International Development sectors with a particular emphasis on project management and business development.
Daisy Ford-Downes
Head of Group Investment Programmes FirstportDaisy’s career in finance and investment has included roles at Deloitte, the Scottish Investment Bank and Foundation Scotland. She has a Masters degree in Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship, and is a Chartered Accountant and Responsible Finance Clore Fellow. As an innovative finance enthusiast, Daisy is interested in how doing business differently can get more great ideas into the world, with a particular focus on risk capital for early stage businesses. She is also a scout for a venture fund that invests in underrepresented founders.
Lynne Martin
Lynne Martin has over 10 years' experience in economic development and has led in the creation and delivery of business support and coaching to creative entrepreneurs, businesses, artists and designers across Scotland. With extensive experience of public speaking and performance she delivers pitching and presentation training, as well as design-led values based training to help organisations and businesses stay aligned with their purpose. Supporting individuals to realise their potential is core to the work that she does.
She believes in the power of collaboration, empathy, and kindness as qualities we can embody as we work together to create real and lasting change for the future.
Ready to apply?
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