A University of Glasgow graduate has reached the final stage of the main Converge Challenge award category. The total prize is worth £150,000.

Susanne Mitschke has made the final with the much vaunted MindMate App, an assistance platform for people with dementia, their caregivers and family-members. 

This year the UofG also has a finalist in the KickStart award category

The top six finalists for 2016 are:

Professor Marc Desmulliez, MicroSense Technologies Ltd, Heriot-Watt University
Dr Alexander Enoch, Robotical Ltd, University of Edinburgh
Dr Andrew Herbert, H Guard, University of Edinburgh
Chris Hughes, Estendio, University of Strathclyde
Susanne Mitschke, MindMate, University of Glasgow
Dr Deborah Wake, MyDiabetesMyWay, University of Dundee

As well as the £150,000 prize, the finalists are competing for access to a broad range of expert support and training through partners and sponsors. This year the Converge Challenge first place winner will also be automatically placed in the next Scottish EDGE semifinals and have the opportunity to pitch on stage at EIE17 to present to key investors and stakeholders. Alongside the first and second place prizes for the main Converge Challenge award category there is a £10,000 cash prize for the Design and Creativity Award introduced this year in celebration of Scotland's Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design.

The 2016 Converge Challenge category has been the most competitive year yet and five of the six finalists are Converge Challenge alumni having entered the competition in previous years and reaching various stages in the competition. Representing universities from Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee the shortlist of nominees represents a range of sectors and technologies including: food and drink, engineering, medical devices and healthcare apps and online platforms.

Finalists must now prepare for the final on the 22 September where they will present their business plans in 45 minute pitches to the panel of expert judges made up of industry experts, leading entrepreneurs and investors from across the business community.

The judges for the Converge Challenge category include: 

  • Mervyn Jones, Chairman of Converge Challenge 
  • Gillian MacAulay, Managing Director of the Strathclyde University Incubator Professor David Milne, founder of Wolfson Microelectronics
  • Mary Jane Brouwers, an investment specialist
  • Gordon Stuart, Director of Operations at Informatics Ventures
  • Douglas Anderson an expert in healthcare technology product design

 The winners will be announced that evening at an awards ceremony at the Assembly Rooms, Edinburgh, on 22 September.

KickStart Award.

The University of Glasgow has a finalist in this year’s KickStart Award. SmArtLimb is also entered into the Converge Challenge KickStart Digital Entrepreneur Award. 

Voting is simple. Just go to:

www.convergechallenge.com/en/page/kickstart-digital-entrepreneur-award-en

You can watch SmArtLimb’s 1 minute video pitch. The more votes they get then the better chance they have of winning! The finalist with the most votes wins so please watch and support SmArtLimb. The winner will be announced at the Converge Challenge Awards Ceremony and will receive an Apple ipad so it’s worth the 60 seconds of viewing plus you’ll learn all about each project. Note - this award will not influence the overall judging process of the KickStart Award prizes.

Image of the Converge Challenge 2016 branding‌

 

First published: 9 September 2016

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