The CDT edition of Startup Fast-Track

A fast-paced innovation challenge for PhD STEM students from the University of Edinburgh and/or Heriot-Watt University, with limited spaces for Edinburgh Business School PhD students.

Startup Fast-Track - banner

Curious whether your research, technical skills or problem-solving mindset could translate into a startup? Startup Fast-Track is designed to help you explore whether those skills can create impact outside of academic in just a few days. 

Over two days, you’ll work with other ambitious PhD students to tackle-world challenges in Data & AI, Health and Climate. You’ll be guided through how to identify the transferable skills developed during your PhD, assess real market needs, shape early-stage ideas into viable venture concepts and be guided by mentors and industry experts. You’ll then have one month to refine, validate and test your ideas before pitching it to a panel of judges for a change to win a share of £500. 

You don’t need a business idea to apply, just curiosity about where your research skills could take you beyond academia.

This event is partnership with CDT-D2AIR and CDT-RAS2 but is open to any STEM PhD students from the University of Edinburgh and/or Heriot Watt. We have eight spaces available for PhD students from the University of Edinburgh Business School.

Postponed 

Due to unforeseen circumstances this event is postponed to another date. Details to be confirmed. 

 

The application includes a few short questions to help us understand your background and motivation. Please answer thoughtfully and in full. 

Location: Bayes Centre, 47 Potterrow 

Dates: 

  • The first part of this event runs Thursday 26th  – Friday 27th March
  • Followed by the pitch-off on Friday 24th April 

Why take part? 

  • Gain a fast, practical introduction to entrepreneurship
  • Test whether building a company could be a future career path for you
  • Expand your network beyond your discipline and institution
  • Build confidence in applying your research skills to real-world challenges
  • Chance to win a share of £500 

What you’ll do:

  • Turn your research skills into real world impact: learn how to analyse your research, technical expertise and problem-solving skills through an innovation lens.
  • Form a multidisciplinary team with fellow PhD researchers and select one of the themed challenges (Data & AI, Health or Climate).
  • Explore a real-world problem, identify unmet needs and design an innovative and research-driven solution.
  • Take part in interactive workshops covering problem validation, ide testing and communicating complex ideas clearly and convincingly.
  • Get feedback from experienced founders and mentors from the startup ecosystem.
  • Pitch your idea to a panel of judges for the chance to win a share of £500 

Thursday 26th March 

  • 1pm-1.30pm - registration
  • 1.30pm-2pm – workshop - welcome and programme overview
  • 2.00pm-2.30pm – activity - team formation
  • 2.30pm-3pm – workshop - problem space/finding a place to start
  • 3pm-4.30pm – group work – problem deep dive
  • 4.30pm – 5pm – workshop – testing your ideas
  • 5pm-6pm – group work – develop a concept
  • 6pm-7pm – pizza dinner 

 

Friday 27th March 

  • 9am-9.30am – registration
  • 9.30am-9.50am – workshop – welcome and objectives
  • 9.50am-12noon – group work – problem, solution and customer focus
  • 12noon-12.30pm – lunch
  • 12.30pm-2.30pm – activity – mentor meetings
  • 2.30pm-3.30pm – group work – pitching and next steps
  • 3.30pm-4.15pm – workshop – pitching and next steps
  • 4.15pm-5pm – group work – assign roles, responsibilities and set-up team meetings
  • 5pm-6pm – drinks reception and one month of innovating 

 

Friday 24th April 

  • 1pm-1.30pm – registration
  • 1.30pm-2pm – welcome
  • 2pm-2.40pm – climate pitches
  • 2.40pm-2.50pm – break
  • 2.50pm-3.30pm – AI & Data pitches
  • 2.30pm-3.40pm – break
  • 3.40pm-4.20pm – health pitches
  • 4.20pm-4.40pm – facilitated networking
  • 4.40pm-4.55pm – winners’ announcement
  • 4.55pm-6pm – open networking 

What to bring 

We’ll provide create materials (flip charts, markets, etc). Please bring:

  • Laptop
  • Phone
  • Chargers
  • Water bottle 

You’re also welcome to bring anything that helps you think, build or collaborate effectively. Food will be provided, but feel free to bring snacks. 

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