# Converge

> Converge is Scotland’s university entrepreneurship programme, operated by Heriot-Watt University. It helps staff, students and recent graduates develop research and innovative ideas into businesses through training, professional advice, peer networks and competitive equity-free awards. Its 2026 awards distributed a prize fund exceeding £410,000 across cash and business support.

- **Founded:** 2011
- **Headquarters:** Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- **Founders:** Dr Olga Kozlova (Founder)
- **Products:** Converge Challenge, KickStart Challenge, Create Change Challenge, Net Zero Challenge, Space Challenge
- **Notable:** Supported the creation of more than 500 companies by October 2026., 2026 awards recognised 20 innovators from 12 institutions with a prize fund exceeding £410,000., 2025 cohort included 125 academic entrepreneurs from all 19 Scottish universities.

## Products & services

- **Converge Challenge** — Flagship pathway for IP-based ventures with validation, customer engagement and a route to market; 2026 advertised prize fund £85,000 plus support.
- **KickStart Challenge** — Idea testing and business-case development for early-stage startups and spinouts; 2026 advertised prize fund £40,000.
- **Create Change Challenge** — Support for creative, cultural and social-impact businesses; 2026 advertised prize fund £50,000.
- **Net Zero Challenge** — Business development for energy-transition innovations; 2026 advertised prize fund £60,000.
- **Space Challenge** — New early-stage programme with Space Scotland; ten projects joined the inaugural 2026 cohort.
- **Hydrogen Challenge** — Ten KickStart places reserved for academics developing commercially promising hydrogen projects.
- **Performing & Production Arts Challenge** — Entrepreneurial support for performers, producers and technicians; 2026 winner received £10,000 cash.
- **Impact Challenge with The Ventures Lab** — Mission-led early-stage projects receive training and mentoring and compete for a £10,000 cash and in-kind support fund.
- **Business workshops and enterprise advice** — Free live and on-demand workshops, plus confidential enterprise consultations, covering customers, funding, IP and routes to market.
- **Microfinance in Action** — Scottish Government-backed early-stage initiative awarded £125,000 of equity-free funding to 70 university and college innovators in March 2026.

## Achievements

- Supported the creation of more than 500 companies by October 2026.
- 2026 awards recognised 20 innovators from 12 institutions with a prize fund exceeding £410,000.
- 2025 cohort included 125 academic entrepreneurs from all 19 Scottish universities.
- Website reports an 86% average three-year business survival rate; this is a programme-reported measure, not a causal evaluation.
- March 2026 Microfinance in Action awarded £125,000 to 70 innovators.

## Latest updates

- **2026-10** — Scensai won the flagship challenge; the 2026 awards shared more than £410,000 in cash and business support. Converge 2.0 is planned for 2027 with broader support and more tailored pathways for advanced ventures.
- **2026-09** — 34 finalists selected from a 123-participant cohort, representing 15 of 18 participating universities.
- **2026-07** — Ten projects joined the inaugural Space Challenge with Space Scotland.
- **2026-03** — Microfinance in Action awarded £125,000 to 70 university and college innovators.

## Links

- Website: https://www.convergechallenge.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/convergechallenge
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/ConvergeC
- Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/convergec.bsky.social
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/convergechallenge/
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/ConvergeC

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/converge
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-07