Converge Challenge winner announced
Posted: Friday 30 September 2011
A young scientist and budding entrepreneur from the University of Strathclyde has beaten off stiff competition from academics across Scotland to win a £45,000 prize in Heriot-Watt's unique business challenge (part sponsored by Morton Fraser) - and is now preparing to spin-out his company, Bellrock.
Adam Brown, from the Institute for Energy and Environment in the Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering has won Converge Challenge, a competition run by Heriot-Watt University aimed at discovering and supporting Scotland’s next generation of entrepreneurs.
Adam won after continually impressing the panel of judges with his idea and succinct business plan for ‘Lumen Technology’ – an intelligent condition monitoring decision support software. The software will enable utilities companies to monitor the health and anticipated lifespan of their equipment as well as allow them to predict failures and schedule repairs in advance, resulting in improvements to efficiency, operational output and cost.
Adam said of his victory: “I am absolutely delighted to have won Converge Challenge and feel really excited about what the future holds. It was extremely tough and I had never done anything like it before but I now feel more confident about going out there and pitching my idea and hopefully turning it into a successful business."
“The guidance and support I received through each stage has been invaluable and I would fully encourage anyone out there with an idea to enter this competition next year. There is so much advice and information you learn that everyone comes away well equipped and in a stronger position to progress.”
Austin Flynn, Corporate Partner at Morton Fraser, said: "As one of the sponsors of this Challenge it was very interesting to learn more about the short listed business plans, however Adam's concept was particularly exciting. We look forward to working closely with Adam as he develops Lumen Technology and, with the benefit of our intellectual property law experience and success in securing funding for university spin-outs, I'm sure his new venture will be highly successful."
Email Austin if you would like to discuss your business start-up idea.
