EDGE17 is OPEN...still
Ok, so we've actually been open for a while now, since 16th December in fact, but if you missed the (quiet) launch late last year, don't worry, there's still over a month to submit your application to Scottish EDGE Round 17.
The online application form can be accessed at scottishedge.com and businesses will have until 2.00pm on Wednesday 10th February 2021 to start and submit a new application. We recommend giving yourself at least a week to do the application comfortably.
As with every round of EDGE, we have some updates to report:
Coming to a TV screen near you: Thanks to our STV Growth EDGE Award partner, STV, you'll soon see our shiny new TV Ad play during the Ad break of your favourite show!
You can see a 6-second teaser of the Ad above ahead of its official debut on 19th Jan! We hope this new (for EDGE) form of outreach will enable us to reach even more exciting businesses across the length and breadth of Scotland.50/50 grant/loan split: Last round we announced a move to a 50% grant / 50% loan split (from 70/30) in recognition of the recent challenges many businesses have faced, and thanks to our friends and key funders at Scottish Government, we're delighted to say that the 50/50 split will continue in this round for Scottish EDGE category and Special Award winners. All Young EDGE and Wild Card EDGE awards will remain as grant only awards.
Revised assessment criteria and application questions: In recognition of a growing focus on business for good, a new Impact assessment criteria and associated application questions have been introduced to assess and measure the purpose-led intentions of the EDGE applicants. We have also introduced a section focusing on your business' Value Proposition, and this revamped section incorporates the previous Innovation and Risk Awareness sections and allows for a more rounded exploration of your business offering.
Assessment Panels and Live Pitching – For those who participated in or followed our journey last year, you'll know that in response to the challenging circumstances around social gatherings, we have had to make several amendments to how we will deliver the Scottish EDGE competition.
Our 1st Stage Assessments will be undertaken virtually by independent assessment panels supported by the wider Scottish EDGE team. For those businesses who progress to the live pitching stage, our Scottish EDGE Semi-Finals, Wild Card EDGE Final, Young EDGE Final and Social Enterprise EDGE Final will all be delivered virtually via Zoom and an independent assessment panel will be in place.
At this stage, it is too early to determine in exactly what format the Live Final will take place. If possible and if completely safe to do so, we will deliver an in-person live pitching event in a closed environment and broadcast to a live online audience. If meeting in-person is not permissible, the entire event will take place virtually.
With a £1m prize pot once again on offer and individual awards of up to £100,000 (or up to £150,000 for the Higgs EDGE Award), we look forward to engaging with you in Round 17 as we look to support another batch of exciting early-stage businesses in Scotland.
It’s good to (still) be back!