‘A Practical Guide to Business Start-Up’ – Seminar 2 – ‘Market Research for Beginners/Intellectual Property’

The second seminar and webinar in the ‘Practical Guide’ series, titled ‘Market Research for Beginners/Intellectual Property‘ will be held on Friday 12th April 2013.

In Seminar One, Chris Hudd from STAR Commercial Academy, will describe the process of finding out if an innovative idea or technology has a market and would attract customers, as well has giving practical tips on market engagement.

http://www.starcommercialacademy.com/

Seminar Two features a talk from Russell Thom, Patents Director from European Patent and Trademark Attorneys, Murgitroyd & Company. Russell with speak on different types pf IP, how to use them, costs and more.

http://www.murgitroyd.com/

 

For full details on the seminars and to register for your place/to view the live webinar, please visit :-

https://www.eventbrite.com/myevent?eid=5150415030

Please note that you will only be able to register for this event if you have a valid Scottish University e-mail address.

To keep up to date with the latest Converge Challenge news, find us onFacebook , follow on on Twitter @ConvergeC, or visit the Converge Challenge website.

You can also find last year’s seminar series as well as other videos on theConverge Challenge Youtube channel.

Converge Challenge 2013 – Launch Event

On March 12th 2013, The University of Strathclyde played host to the launch of this year’s Converge Challenge competition. Held annually, Converge Challenge is the largest business competition and entrepreneurial training programme in Scotland with the top prize of £60,000. It provides training, hands-on mentoring, business support and gives out cash prizes up to £35,000. The competition is open to staff and students of all Scottish Universities and Research Institutes, and works with any industry sector, product- or service-based ideas at any stage of development.

The launch event provided quests with opportunities to learn more about the competition as well as exciting developments which will make this year’s competition the most successful competition yet.

Converge Challenge Launch Presentation

The event began with an introduction from the Director of the Converge Challenge and Enterprise Creation Manager at Heriot Watt University, Dr Olga Kozlova, followed by a welcome from Professor Tim Bedford, Associate Deputy Principal for KE and Research Enhancement at the University of Strathclyde.

Prof. Pete Downes, Principal of the University of Dundee followed the introductions with a discussion on entrepreneurship in Scottish Universities. After this came individual presentations from Converge Challenge alumni, beginning with last year’s winners, ArxBio.  Dr Michael Fontaine of ArxBio discussed their winning proposal of a platform technology for the creation of new, efficacious vaccines for bacterial disease in animals, how they formed their business plan, and how the company have progressed one year after the competition.

Converge Challenge alumni from previous years, including Adam Brown of Bellrock Technology  and Eleanore Irvine from BioGelX, each delivered talks on their experiences of the competition along with their unique insights into the process and giving advice to this year’s prospective candidates.

Mervyn Jones

The presentations were followed by closing words from Mervyn Jones, the Chair of the Converge Challenge Steering Committee, before the  networking reception along guests to meet and talk with previous winners, competition partners, prospective applicants and key Converge Staff.

 

To find out more about the Converge Challenge 2013 and how to apply, please visit our website at http://www.hw.ac.uk/industry/collaborate-with-us/converge-challenge.htm.

‘A Practical Guide to Business Start-Up’ Seminar One

Friday 8th March saw the beginning of the Converge Challenge 2013 Seminar Series, ‘A Practical Guide To Business Start-Up’ with it’s first seminar and live webinar titled ‘Meet An Entrepreneur/What Type Of Business Should I Start?’. 

Seminar 1 of the session featured discussions on the practical aspects of setting up your own business as well as first hand accounts from entrepreneurs Dan Arnold (CEO of Epistemy) and Angela Mathis (CEO & Co-Founder of Think Tank Maths).

Dan Arnold, CEO of Epistemy

Heriot Watt PhD graduate and former RSE Fellow Dan Arnold has a strong background with the oil industry as well as industrial experience. Dan detailed his own experience in setting up a company to the attendees, drawing on his specialist knowledge and sharing his ‘do’s and don’t’s’ of going into business.

Angela Mathis gave a unique perspective from her position as CEO of a mathematics innovation company. She discussed her extensive career, as well as her company’s role in results and solutions in the energy, financial services, space and defense sectors.

Seminar 2 featured a talk from Dr Olga Kozlova, Enterprise Creation Manager at Heriot Watt University, and focused on ‘What Type of Business Should I Start?’

Dr Olga Kozlova

As Director of the Converge Challenge and Heriot Watt’s Enterprise Creation Manager, Olga supports spin-out companies and stimulates enterprise activities within the university. Her talk covered different types of businesses that exist, from multinational giants to micro-businesses,  as well as practical tips on how to go about creating one.

The seminar ended with a Q & A session from the audience, as well as from webinar viewers from universities and institutions across Scotland.

The next seminar in the series ‘Market Research for Beginners/Intellectual Property‘ will be held on Friday 12th April 2013.

For more details and to book your place, visit our Eventbrite page here – https://www.eventbrite.com/myevent?eid=5150415030

Or our website – http://www.hw.ac.uk/industry/collaborate-with-us/converge/support-start-up-businesses.htm

Converge Seminar Series 2013 – ‘A Practical Guide to Business Start-Up’ 8th March 2013

The Converge Challenge Seminar Series returns with the latest series of free business seminars and webinars. Each session will include two valuable talks, providing a practical guide to starting up your own company, as well as first-hand accounts from some of the country’s most successful entrepreneurs. The sessions also assist potential Converge Challenge applicants to formulate their business ideas and plans.

The first session will be held on Friday 8^th March 2013. In Seminar 1 ‘Meet An Entrepreneur’, Angela Mathis (CEO and co-founder of Think Tank Maths Ltd) and Dan Arnold (Chief Operating Officer of Epistemy) will discuss the practical aspects of starting your own business. What you need to know, what you need to do, and what you need to learn. They will talk about their own experiences in setting up their companies, and will be happy to take questions at the end of their session.

http://thinktankmaths.com/

http://www.epistemy.com/

In Seminar 2 ‘What Type Of Business Should I Start?’, Dr Olga Kozlova (Enterprise Creation Manager, Heriot-Watt University) will cover practical advice on setting up a business. The talk will cover different types of businesses that exist and will contain some practical tips on how could one go about creating one.

For full details on the seminars and to register for you place/to view the live webinar, please visit –

http://whattypeofbusinesssconverge.eventbrite.com/

Please note that you will only be able to register for this event if you have a valid Scottish University e-mail address.

To keep up to date with the latest Converge Challenge news, find us on Facebook , follow on on Twitter @ConvergeC, or visit the Converge Challenge website.

You can also find last year’s seminar series as well as other videos on the Converge Challenge Youtube channel.

Scotland’s biggest business start-up prize gets £525,000 from SFC

Converge Challenge, the entrepreneurial competition that awards the biggest start-up prize in Scotland, has been awarded £525,000 of additional funding from the Scottish Funding Council over the next three years.

The funding comes just two months after eight Scottish universities pledged to provide £360,000 of financial support to the Challenge, which was set up by Heriot-Watt University.

Converge Challenge gives students and staff from universities and research institutions across Scotland the chance to develop the commercial potential of their inventions through a six-month intensive and tailored programme of mentoring and training.

A panel of judges then assesses entrants’ business plans, invites shortlisted candidates to take part in a “Dragons Den” style pitch – and selects the final winners.

Last year, Dr Michael Fontaine from Moredun Research Institute won Converge Challenge, collecting £25k cash funding and a further £25k of support from the private sector to assist business growth.

Converge Challenge Final 2012

Olga Kozlova, Enterprise Creation Manager at Heriot-Watt University and creator of Converge Challenge, said: “Converge Challenge’s ability to attract £885,000 of additional funding over the course of the past three months is testament to Scotland’s higher education sector’s appetite to encourage the growth of SMEs.

“This funding will help support the continued growth of Converge Challenge and assist more academics with turning their research expertise into successful commercial ventures.”

The challenge attracted a record 50 entries in 2012, from 14 institutions across Scotland.

Mark Batho, chief executive of the Scottish Funding Council, said: “The Funding Council is pleased to continue to support this Challenge, which attracts entries from institutions across the whole of Scotland, to nurture individual entrepreneurial talent.

“This is a great initiative to take innovative ideas out of universities into new businesses, helping to strengthen the economy and demonstrate the important place of universities in creating jobs and growth.”

According to the Higher Education Statistics Authority, university research led to the creation of 184 spin-offs in Scotland in 2010/11, up from 74 in 2008/9.

Former Aquascutum boss Kim Winser to set up womenswear etail business

Former Aquascutum chief executive Kim Winser is to launch a new online womenswear retailer selling direct and through fashion etailer Net-a-Porter.  Kim Winser spoke at last year’s Converge Challenge awards ceremony where we were lucky enough to get her insights on etail (electronic retailing on the internet)

The fashion label, Winser London, will be fronted by model Yasmin Le Bon and launched officially on February 15.

Winser’s online fashion emporium is being launched as traditional high street  retailers struggle to cope with ballooning overheads. She has spent the past  few years working as a consultant for private equity and wealthy overseas  family funds. “What struck me is how many companies weren’t ready for the  digital revolution,” she said.

The site opens today for potential customers to register.http://www.winserlondon.com/?utm_source=invite&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=launch

Winser has secured backing for the venture from a family from the Far East. As well as selling through its own website, Winser London will be available from Net-a-Porter, the online fashion store. Yasmin Le Bon, the supermodel, will be the public face of the range.

Former Aquascutum boss Kim Winser to set up womenswear etail business

Practical Guide to Business Start-up: Spinning Out your Company – Olga Kozlova

Here is the latest video released online for anyone wishing to start up their own business.

Streamed live on the 15th June 2012, and in front of a live audience, Dr Olga Kozlova, Heriot-Watt’s Enterprise Creation Manager, talked about spinning out a company from university research – including her own experiences in doing so.

Our seminars will return in 2013 – click here for more information.

Scottish universities pledge funds to support new research start-ups

Eight universities have pledged £360K over the next three years to Heriot-Watt University’s nationwide programme that supports the creation of research-led SMEs and awards the biggest start-up prize in Scotland.

Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Heriot-Watt, St Andrews, Stirling and Strathclyde universities have all pledged to jointly fund the training and prizes for Converge Challenge, the entrepreneurial business competition, which is led by Heriot-Watt University.

Top three Converge Challenge winning entries in 2012.

Converge Challenge gives students and staff from universities and research institutions across Scotland the chance to develop the commercial potential of their inventions through a six-month series of business mentoring and training events. A panel of judges then assesses entrants’ business plans and selects final winners. This year’s overall winner, Dr Michael Fontaine from Moredun Research Institute, collected £25k cash funding and a further £25k of in-kind support from the private sector.

Converge Challenge attracted a record 50 entries in 2012, from 14 institutions across Scotland. Entries included Dr Michael Fontaine’s vaccine for the animal health market, a ‘smart paint’ that detects structural defects and a new form of plastic that can purify water.

Olga Kozlova, Enterprise Creation Manager at Heriot-Watt University and creator of Converge Challenge, said, “Since starting just three years ago, the rapid growth of Converge Challenge indicates a real appetite among academics for support in turning their research into a successful commercial venture. The backing of other universities will help us meet that demand and further expand the annual Converge Challenge programme.”

According to the Higher Education Statistics Authority, university research led to the creation of 184 spin-offs in Scotland in 2010/11, up from 74 in 2008/9.

 Professor Pete Downes, Convener of Universities Scotland and Principal of the University of Dundee commented, “Supporting the expansion of Converge Challenge will help bring the expertise, products and services that our universities develop to the market, driving economic growth and job creation in Scotland.”

 

Converge Challenge Open Innovation – the winners!

After a busy day of pitching, networking, roundtable discussion and then some more pitching, the winners of the two categories in the Converge Challenge Open Innovation competition were announced last night, with awards handed out by Councillor Frank Ross.

Winner of Best Open Innovation Idea was Ruben Jubeh and Ilija Vukorep of Kassel University, Germany. This is their pitch:

Robotic assistance systems are usually ground based, meaning that any indoor moving robot is limited by obstacles in a room. SQUID is an upside-down assistance robot: suspended in ropes in a room’s corners, it can freely move in any direction.

SQUID is an autonomous, independent device and easy to install. Key features are self-reference in space and spatial recognition as well as a safety system. A modular concept of the SQUID widens it’s suitability and eases the adaption to various applications: monitoring, work support as light source or tools holder, flexible projection, nursery assistance, housekeeping, ordering, or as consumer gadget.

Ruben Jubeh and Ilija Vukorep with Olga Kozlova and Councillor Frank Ross

Taking the title of Best Open Innovation Business was Michael Fontaine of the Moredun Research Institute, with his proposal for ArxBio. The team has generated proof of concept data supporting the technology’s use in sheep, and a second vaccine for pigs has already been tested.  Work has already begun on vaccines for horses and cattle. Michael estimates that the animal health market is worth $5billion (USD) globally. He plans to establish a company to further develop a number of products. Watch a short video about Arxbio here.

Michael Fontaine with Olga Kozlova and Councillor Frank Ross

Each winner will receive a market research report from each of the participating institutions.

The Converge Challenge Open Innovation aims to find the best examples of entrepreneurs successfully adopting Open Innovation principles and techniques to develop their business plans. Project partners nominated their own competition winners to compete in this North West Europe-wide business plan competition.

The Open Innovation Project is ERDF funded through the Interreg IVB NWE programme (www.nweurope.eu) – working with business, academia and communities from Belgium, England, France, Germany, Ireland and Scotland to promote collaborative approaches to innovation.

Congratulations to all our participants! We look forward to more of the same in 2013.

Alba Orbital interviewed on BBC Radio Scotland

We love it when our alumni go on to higher things – literally, in the case of Alba Orbital.

They are to be the first company in Europe to offer space burials, a unique way of departing the Earth after your game is up.

Space burials

 

Alba Orbital entered the 2012 Converge Challenge with this innovative idea which intrigued the judges. Since then, they have gone on to fully incorporate, and develop the company into Europe’s only option for space burial. They are currently looking for opinions on the topic: Alba Orbital Survey.

Following hot on the heels of their inclusion in a recent report in the Scotland on Sunday, today founder Tom Walkinshaw was interviewed on BBC Radio Scotland’s “Good Morning Scotland” about his company, and Converge Challenge itself. Fast forward to 1hr 50mins 12secs for Tom.

Listen Now: Alba Orbital on BBC Radio Scotland