Ambitious entrepreneurs in Aberdeen and Tayside are invited to get ‘pitch perfect and investor ready’ at two workshops organised by leading entrepreneurial support organisation Elevator.
Elevator, which works across Grampian and Tayside to help facilitate the start-up and growth of new and existing businesses, will provide tips and guidance on how to apply for the Scottish EDGE Fund.
Both workshops will take place on Wednesday, August 17 – at the Dalhousie Building, at the University of Dundee from 10am-noon, and in Aberdeen at The Hub, Bridge of Don, from 4-6pm.
Scottish EDGE is a competition aimed at identifying and supporting Scotland’s up-and-coming innovative high-growth potential entrepreneurial talent, and it is offering businesses the chance to pitch for up to £150,000 in funding, with a total prize fund of £1.3 million available.
To date, 205 businesses have received the Scottish EDGE award, generating 641 Scottish jobs, producing an additional £31.8million in turnover, and receiving £28.36million in external investment as a result of the fund’s support. The last round saw great success for Elevator and two of its Accelerator Founders – Aberdeen-based Deep Water Oil Tools and Meigle-based Dry Ice Scotland - who won funding of £40K and £100K respectively. Meanwhile, Business Gateway Aberdeen’s client Rotomotor secured £150,000.
The focus of Elevator’s pitch workshops will be on how to stand out in a competitive pitch, what to say and what not to say, as well as getting your message across in a concise manner.
Elevator Project Manager and Accelerator Co-ordinator Simon Fraser said the workshops are aimed at anyone who has their own business, no matter how large or small, and looking to access the Scottish EDGE funding.
“Pitching a business idea is never easy, it can be a pretty daunting affair, particularly if it is a Dragon’s Den-style scenario. When judges are faced with around 100 people, all of whom are selling their idea, how do you stand out as an individual. The workshops are designed to help start-ups and growing businesses to progress their pitch to Scottish EDGE by showing them how best to showcase their products, what to say and, perhaps more importantly, what not to say,” he said.
“The team at Elevator keeps up to date with many of the funding opportunities available, such as the Scottish EDGE fund, which provides a fantastic opportunity to so many start-ups and small businesses. We still have places available at both the Aberdeen and Dundee events and would encourage those interested to sign up soon.”
Ed Nimmons of Dry Ice Scotland, described the Scottish EDGE funding as ‘transformational’ and said it would be used to build the company’s revolutionary new equipment, which is aimed at the oil and gas and petrochemical industries.
"We applied for Scottish EDGE funding to enable the development of our new product, which can save the industry hundreds of thousands of pounds in maintenance costs and reduce the carbon footprint of our customers. Finding suitable funding streams when developing new products in a niche sector can be difficult, so Scottish EDGE is an invaluable resource for companies like us. Elevator was an incredible help to the business, from helping us engage with the oil and gas market, to taking an active role in developing our business pitch. I do not believe we would have succeeded in the Scottish Edge competition without them.”
Applications to Scottish EDGE round nine will be accepted through the competition website until September 7. Applications will then be assessed by a number of independent, expert panels before being shortlisted to participate in a Scottish EDGE semi-final or the final of the subsidiary competition categories, the Higgs EDGE, Wild Card EDGE or Young EDGE. Prizes of up to £150,000 will be awarded at a full day pitching event in mid-December.