Scottish Edge, a “Dragon’s Den” style competition for Scottish start-up businesses, launched its eight round of funding today.
More than £1.3million was shared out in the previous round among 39 winners, including Isle of Skye Candle Company (ISCC), and Aberdeen businesses EuroBiotix and Synchronise IO.
Application forms can be found on the competition’s website – www.scotedge.com – along with examples of successful entries from other entrepreneurs.
Businesses have until March 9 to submit their applications to Scottish Edge, which dishes out funding worth up to £150,000 per winner.
The first seven rounds of Scottish Edge produced 130 winners.
The organisers also say the competition has helped create 479 new jobs, £21.6million of additional turnover, and £18.7milllion of external funding.
Scottish Edge was run by Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise alongside various partners. In 2014, entrepreneur Sir Tom Hunter and Royal Bank of Scotland agreed to extend the success of the fund and lead its delivery, creating a £5million-plus fund along with the Scottish Government.
RBS chipped in £2.5million to the fund, while £700,000 came from the Hunter Foundation, a charity set up in 1998 by businessman Sir Tom Hunter and his wife, Marion, to support educational and entrepreneurial projects.
As well as awarding financial support, Scottish Edge also provides mentoring and advice on other available funding options for start-ups.