Converge Challenge Winners Eyes on the Prize

Graeme Thomsonblog

Rogelio Arellano, co-founder and CTO of MindMate and Professor Marc Desmulliez, co-founder of MicroSense Technologies Ltd have just been presented with their prizes as joint winners of Converge Challenge 2016 at Heriot-Watt. The joint winners each received a cash prize of £30,000 and combined business support valued at nearly £35,000. Business support will include world class advice and support from RBS, Badenoch & Clark, Mazars, Murgitroyd, Morton Ward, and Morton Fraser. Also, for the first time, MicroSense will automatically be placed in the Scottish EDGE semifinals in early 2017 and both MicroSense and MindMate will pitch on stage in May 2017 to key investors and stakeholders at EIE17, Scotland’s premiere technology investor showcase.

MindMate, led by Susanne Mitschke of the University of Glasgow, is an assistance platform for people with dementia, their caregivers and family members. MicroSense Technologies Ltd is led by Professor Marc Desmulliez of Heriot-Watt University. It provides a sensor system aimed at reducing waste and improving process monitoring in food processing lines for the Food and Drinks industries. Converge Challenge is Scotland’s leading company creation competition and start up development programme for staff, students, and recent graduates of Scottish Universities.

Dr Olga Kozlova, Director of Converge Challenge, said:

“It is a privilege to present these two fantastic companies with their prizes today. This is the first time we have had a joint first place and it is testament to the quality of this year’s finalists. I would like to thank our sponsors for accommodating this decision with many of them agreeing to increase the value of their business support prize. The Converge team have enjoyed working with both MindMate and MicroSense over the last 12 months and we look forward to watching their organisations grow and scale.”

Applications for Converge Challenge 2017 will launch online in February 7th 2017 at: www.convergechallenge.com and can be a product or service, in any industry sector and at any stage.