The Rose Award
Extra Help for Female Founders
If you’re a woman setting up a business, the chances are you face a number of additional challenges. Yet numerous studies show that female-led businesses tend to perform better than those of men.
To help an aspiring female entrepreneur achieve their full potential – and to inspire others to take the first step – we have partnered with the Royal Bank of Scotland to offer The Rose Award. Named after Alison Rose, CEO of the Royal Bank of Scotland, and author of the HM-Treasury commissioned independent review of female entrepreneurship, the Rose Award is open to ambitious female founders from this year’s pool of Converge semi-finalists.
What's in it for you?
Winning this award will give you a real boost - not just to your confidence but your bank balance, connections and profile.
Erin Reid, LU Innovations, 2022 winner
£10k cash prize
An equity-free cash prize of £10k to progress your business idea
1-2-1 with Alison Rose
A money-can’t-buy mentoring session with the Royal Bank of Scotland’s CEO
PR and promotion
Inclusion in our winners’ press release sent to local, regional and national media
Who can apply?
The award is open to female semi-finalists from our advanced categories (Converge, Net Zero and Create Change). To be considered you need to demonstrate ambition, purpose and be leading a new or prospective business with high-growth potential.
The Cisco Future Tech Award
Supporting Scotland's Tech Start-ups
Scotland’s technology sector could be “world class” according to the recently published Logan review but, to get there, we need a healthy pipeline of tech start-ups. That’s why we’re delighted to have teamed up with Cisco, one of the world’s leading technology companies, to offer a ‘Best in Class’ prize to springboard an innovative, break-through tech company.
What's in it for you?
As well as £10,000 in equity-free cash, this award comes with a tailored package of support from Cisco including technology, advice and mentoring.
Mike Huang, Rigpa, 2022 winner
£10k cash prize
An equity-free cash prize of £10k to progress your business idea
Support package
A tailored package of Cisco support including technology, mentoring and advice
PR and promotion
Inclusion in our winners’ press release sent to local, regional and national media
Who can apply?
The award is open to Converge semi-finalists across all sectors but particularly AI, machine learning and cloud security. To be considered you need to demonstrate ambition, purpose and be leading a new or prospective business with high-growth potential.
IBioIC Award
Help for Industrial BioTech Businesses
Scotland is a global powerhouse for industrial biotechnology innovation with the race to net zero offering even more opportunities to grow the sector. If you have a new biotechnology process or product that addresses a real market need, then this Award can help you to make it a commercial reality.
What's in it for you?
Winning this award will give your project a £20,000 financial boost plus a package of tailored benefits including a dedicated IBioIC account manager.
Hua Wang, Scent No. M, 2022 winner
£20k cash prize
£20k cash prize for the university where the project originated.
Support package
A tailored package of support including a free annual IBioIC membership and a dedicated IBioIC account manager.
PR and promotion
Inclusion in our winners’ press release sent to local, regional and national media.
Who can apply?
We welcome projects in all areas of Industrial Biotechnology including, but not limited to: Biorefining; Food and drink; Biotech in textiles and materials; Biomanufacturing; Biotechnology in waste management; Enzymes and catalysts; Downstream processing; Agritech; Biopharmaceuticals
CENSIS Award
Help for Early-Stage Projects
New for this year, the CENSIS Award aims to support an early-stage, innovative business idea related to sensing, imaging or Internet of things-based technologies.
What's in it for you?
Winning this award will give you a £5,000 cash boost as well as tailored support from CENSIS, Scotland's Innovation Centre for sensing, imaging and Internet of Things technologies.
£5k cash prize
£5k cash prize for the university where the project originated.
Support package
As part of the support package, the CENSIS team will help to explore your idea and assist with developing the future proposition.
PR and promotion
Inclusion in our winners’ press release sent to local, regional and national media
Who can apply?
This prize is available to KickStart participants who complete their training and go on to submit a business case. Technologies can be applications in any market sector.