Nearly 30 prospective businesses have been chosen to join a new start-up “accelerator” set up by a north-east university and funded by the Wood Foundation.
Robert Gordon University’s new venture is the first funded programme of its kind in the region designed to help entrepreneurs execute business models, deliver valuable products or services and create local jobs.
The chosen 28 teams cover a range of industries including healthcare, digital media, education technology, energy, food, fashion and textiles, financial technology and retail, with business applications for physical products, software, sustainable manufacturing, autonomous vehicles and mobile apps.
Over 160 teams entered the application process and from that 103 teams entered the main competition phase of the accelerator programme and were judged by 40 judges including 30 international industry experts.
The 28 successful teams will receive training, mentorship and development including up to £10,000 of funding each.
John Harper, Principal and Vice Chancellor of RGU, said: “The new start-up accelerator is just one of the many ways in which RGU is offering students a way to develop their careers while still in university.
“By opening access for staff and alumni from both RGU and NESCol, the university is building an open and inclusive innovation ecosystem that will have long lasting impact on the wider regional economy.”
Gordon McConnell, vice-principal of commercial and regional innovation, said: “The teams have been chosen through a rigorous judging process.
“Now the real hard work begins as the teams go into an intensive mentor-led accelerator process designed to help them develop their value proposition and lead to the establishment of operational companies.”
The start-up teams will also be supported by the Aberdeen Innovation Mentors (AIM), a newly announced volunteer group which has already gained over a dozen members and is projected to grow to over 50 in the New Year.
