Launch Point

Are you looking for funding to launch your business? Launch Point gives University of Edinburgh students and recent alumni (up to two years post-graduation) the chance to win up to £1,000 to help bring their startup idea to life. 

We're looking for ambitious students and recent graduates from the University of Edinburgh with early-stage ideas that fit int the University's core missions. These three core missions are:

• Data, Digital & AI
• Future Health & Care
• Climate & Environment 

Submit either a 5-minute video or a short-written application and you could secure funding to take your idea to the next level.

The deadline for applications is 14th November at 12noon (midday). Late submissions will not be accepted. 

This competition is designed for early-stage businesses planning to launch within the next 12 months. At this stage, applicants should be focused on developing their product or service and actively engaging in customer discovery. 

To win, your entry should demonstrate:

• A clear problem and your solution
• A compelling value proposition
• A plan for long-term financial sustainability
• A capable team
• Positive impact on people and the planet
• How the funding will be used to advance the business 

Who can apply?

• Open to all University of Edinburgh students and alumni (two years post-graduation)
• If you’ve previously won one of our competitions you cannot win again with the same idea. However, you may apply with a different idea, provided you have not received funding from one of these competitions in the current academic year.

Can I apply if I am on a visa?

This depends on the conditions of your visa. While you're welcome to apply to this competition and use funding to test your ideas, starting a business may be restricted under certain visa types. We recommend reviewing your visa conditions and speaking with the Student Immigration Service for tailored advice. 

For the purposes of this competition, we are particularly seeking individuals who do not have visa restrictions related to business activity, or who expect to transition to a visa without such restrictions within the next 12 months.  

Use of Funds:

To accept the funds, you must agree to spend the entire amount within 12 months of receiving it and submit a breakdown of how the money was used. The funding is strictly for business purposes and cannot be used as a living stipend.

Winners will also be required to attend at least three meetings with an Edinburgh Innovations business advisor within the 12 months following the competition.

Deadline: Friday 14th November 2025 at 12noon.  

The Business Ideas Competition was a great opportunity for us to kick-start and validate our startup concept. We at ROBOCEAN: Ecosystem Engineering cannot wait to use our prize money to develop our prototype and save our seagrass."

Niall McGrath - Robocean co-founder 

Winner's Announcement 

Join us to discover the winners of the competition at the Innovator Networking session. 

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