Edinburgh Innovations

Don't miss the first Freelancer's Workshop taking place on Wednesday 23rd October.

Learn the basics of how to become a freelancer or sole trader and discover the wider support available with our service and beyond.

We will help you explore the possibility of becoming a freelancer or accelerating your already established freelancing journey.

Find out more and book via the link in our bio or searching: eil.ac/FreelancersWorkshop

Student companies tackling global challenges pitched an expert panel for prizes in this year's Startup Accelerator. The winners are focusing on carbon capture, breastmilk donation and machine learning.

Teodora Handrea, Student Enterprise Manager at Edinburgh Innovations, said: "Our goal is to provide these start-ups with the resources, mentorship, and support they need to develop successful businesses, whether that is by bootstrapping, finding beachhead markets, or investment. We’re committed to helping them achieve their full potential and contribute to a more sustainable future.”

Find out who won ➡️eil.ac/SuSA2024/F

University entrepreneurs tackle global challenges in startup… Startups focused on carbon capture, breastmilk donation and machine learning took centre stage at this year’s Startup Summer Accelerator Showcase, where 13 student-founded companies pitched their transformative ideas to a panel of industry experts.

We are thrilled to be shortlisted for Outstanding Entrepreneurial University for The University of Edinburgh by 2024!

Our entrepreneurial ecosystem enabled 123 new staff and student companies and secured £108 million of investment in associated companies, thanks to our energetic enterprise and investment teams as well as the Data-Driven Hubs and world-class Edinburgh BioQuarter.

You might have noticed we've updated our website.

Our refreshed website is part of a bigger project taking place across the University of Edinburgh. This new content management system has been designed to maintain an excellent experience for visitors to our websites and for colleagues who manage the content with new features and functionality.

The biggest difference for you, is the menu can now be found along the top of the site instead of running down the left-hand side.

Take a look now: eil.ac/Students

Round up of current funding opportunities for startups 💸

Santander X UK Awards 2024 – Applications due by 16th July
A competition for innovative early-stage university businesses and entrepreneurs or incorporated UK businesses looking to scale. An opportunity to win up to £25,000 in equity-free funding and compete against the best early-stage business across Europe and Latin America in the Santander X Global Award. https://www.santanderx.com/en/sites/santander-x-uk-awards.html

Ignite – Applications due by 19th July
A competition for social entrepreneurs emerging from UK universities to come and pitch their social enterprise for the opportunity to win a share of £50,000 Impact Accelerator Fund. https://ignitecomp.co.uk/more-info/

Startup First Steps by Techscaler – Applications due by 24th July
13-week accelerator course for current and future tech startup founders and those looking to develop tech startup ideas to launch.
*Please, keep in mind that founders interested in joining the programme must first become a Techscaler member*
https://www.techscaler.co.uk/education/startup-first-steps?utm_campaign=Startup%20First%20Steps%20Autumn%202024&utm_source=partner_accelerateher&utm_medium=referral&mc_cid=38d33f8388&mc_eid=d343ebc353

Social Shifters Global Innovation Challenge – Applications due by 31st July
A competition for young aspiring entrepreneurs aged 18-30 years old with an idea, project or business solution that contributes to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. An opportunity to win one of multiple grant awards of up to $10,000 USD to fund work that improves lives, helps communities, and protects the planet.
https://www.socialshifters.co/global-innovation-challenge/

The Pitch 2024 – Applications due by 7th August
A competition for UK-based businesses trading for less than four years. An opportunity to work with a pitching coach, connect with and pitch live to seed in front of 35,000 people.
https://thepitch.uk/

The Pitch: Pitching your business for startup success The Pitch is the UK’s biggest startup competition, providing advice, mentoring and investor introductions to ambitious businesses across the UK.

Check out the Grant Funding opportunity hosted by Conception X, the UK’s leading cross-university deeptech venture programme, for an interactive workshop that will help you understand how to make successful grant applications and assess whether grants are the right source of funding for you.

This event is open to researchers, students and academic staff based in the East Midlands, North East, North West, Scotland and the South West.

The Grant Funding Opportunity Workshop What are grants? What are the pros and cons of grants? What to watch out for?

Yesterday we celebrated our Inspire Launch Grow Awards, the Oscars of entrepreneurship at The University of Edinburgh and it was the biggest yet!

The winners from the Inspire, Launch and Grow categories each received £10,000 for their startups. The new Emerging Female Entrepreneur also took £10,000 home. The Moving Mountains Awards winners won £1,000 each for their startups too.

The winners:
⭐Inspire - Emerging Innovation Award winner: SeaSat
🌱Launch - Impact Award winner: Vet Sustain
🚀 Grow - Growth Innovation Award winner: RoadGauge

💥Emerging Female Entrepreneur winner: Kamila Malysz

🖌️Moving Mountains - Creative Enterprise of the Year winner: James Grossman
🤝Moving Mountains - Best Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Initiative winner: ATTA Breastmilk Community

Congratulations to all winners and finalists. All finalists received £500 and further support.

It was fantastic to see so many people from the University and entrepreneurial ecosystem at out 9th ILG, in our beautiful new Edinburgh University Students' Association venue at the Pleasance!

Read the full story: eil.ac/ILGwin