We are excited to share how we have built upon the momentum of last year’s preliminary Start-Up Competition, turning it into an even greater success! This initiative has been making significant strides in the entrepreneurial world, showcasing the talent and innovation within our college community.
Over the past few months, the start-up has reached remarkable milestones, including securing initial funding, relaunching its service, and receiving enthusiastic feedback from both users and investors. These achievements underscore the dedication and hard work of our student entrepreneurs, setting a strong foundation for future growth and impact.
The two launch events saw over 80 participants, including students and lecturers, with 23 students signed up so far. Notably, this includes two high school pupils—a first for the program. We have also had the privilege of guestnote speaker support from Suzanne Mulholland, adding significant value to our journey.
Exciting hot-off-the-press news—ScotEdge will once again support the competition, and the winner of the Start-Up will receive a wildcard entry to the ScotEdge final! This incredible opportunity further reinforces the prestige and potential impact of our initiative.
In addition, we recently presented to 50 students, teachers, and local businesses at the Young Enterprise Event at Galashiels Academy. Following this event, we had the opportunity to meet with Mrs Inglis (also from Galashiels Academy), who, in conjunction with Edinburgh College and Napier University, is running a creative thinking class. She hopes to encourage more senior students to sign up or at least participate in the key workshops of Start-Up, demonstrating the growing collaboration between our schools and colleges.
Looking ahead, eight students have been given the opportunity to attend the Scottish Business Network Conference at the Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh next week, hosted by top Scottish entrepreneur Russell Dalgleish. This promises to be an exciting event where students will have the chance to network with potential mentors and investors, as well as gain valuable insights into the opportunities that lie ahead. Additionally, we are set to kick off our first workshop on Tuesday, February 25th, followed by the launch of Enterprise Week on March 3rd. Stay tuned for more details on these events and all the exciting developments to come!
The success of Start-Up reflects the entrepreneurial spirit of our college community and highlights the incredible potential that lies within our students. As we continue to support and celebrate student-led initiatives, we encourage aspiring entrepreneurs to take inspiration from this journey and explore the endless possibilities of innovation and business.
Stay tuned for more updates on Start-Up and other exciting ventures emerging from our college. If you have a groundbreaking idea and the drive to bring it to life, remember—the next success story could be yours!
Lee-Anne Gillie
Entrepreneurial Lead