Bell Street Ventures

There is a wide variety of external funding opportunities and competitions open to Abertay students and graduates. The main ones are:

Converge Challenge

Over the last 9 years, Converge has supported some of the best entrepreneurial talent to emerge from Scotland’s Universities and Research Institutes.

From start-ups to spin-outs, Converge winners are represented across a wide range of industries including the life sciences, technology, engineering, renewables, the creative industries and med tech. Some of their ground-breaking innovations include next generation ultrasound sensors, educational robots, wearable medical devices, trailblazing cancer treatments and robotic, grain monitoring probes. There are four, distinct competition categories including:

Converge Challenge: For more established ideas with high commercial potential and scalability

Creative Challenge: For innovative, new projects operating in the creative sector

Impact Challenge: For mission-led businesses looking to deliver a positive social or environmental impact

KickStart Challenge: For early stage, innovative ideas

Find out what competitions are open for entries and more information here.

Santander Universities Entrepreneurship Awards

Each April, Abertay University nominates an entry from among our student and recent graduates (up to 2 years post-graduation) to win up to £25,000 worth of equity-free seed funding, support from business experts, exclusive access to an acceleration programme and a fully-funded intern from Santander. Speak to BSV for more information on this.

Scottish EDGE

Scottish EDGE is a competition aimed at identifying and supporting Scotland’s up-and-coming, innovative, high-growth potential entrepreneurial talent. 

Funding rounds usually open twice a year, and BSV can support you to develop your application and be inspired by their winners.

Competition categories include: Young EDGE, for people aged 18-30 and Wild Card EDGE for pre-trading businesses.

Get further details here.

We can help you develop your business and get you started on your (ad)venture.

We really love the Business Model Canvas (BMC) at Bell Street Ventures and think it’s a great tool to start to put down on paper what’s currently circling around your head. This can help to get buy in from others as well as to take feedback from your peers and advisers.

You can download a copy The Business Model Canvas or pick up a big A1 print from Bell Street Ventures. We think the best way to use the BMC is to grab a stack of post its and sharpies and get throwing your ideas down. They can always be taken off or moved around later.

For some more information on the BMC and how to use it, watch the Strategyzer YouTube playlist here. 

To help get you started, have a go at answering these simple questions:

• Who is your customer?

• What problem or challenge are you solving for them?

• What is the value you’re giving?

• How are you going to find and keep your customers?

• What makes you different?

• How are you going to make money?

• What are your costs?

When you think you’re ready to create your first attempt of creating a pitch deck (a presentation about your business idea) get some guidance here and have a go.

Don’t worry, it’s just your first draft and you’ll be given advice and feedback on it.

We’ve been able to establish Bell Street Ventures thanks to the generosity of the late Bill Sword, and the Santander Universities network.

Bill Sword set up his first business right on the door step of Bell Street Venture’s’ current home in Old College back in 1949. Find out more about Bill’s life and legacy. 

Abertay are proud to be part of the Santander Universities network, working together to promote opportunities and support student entrepreneurship.  Being part of this network gives Abertay students access to additional resources which they can use to build their skills and make their business more successful.