A pilot initiative to recognise the efforts of early-stage companies outwith the central belt has seen 20 businesses share £400,000.

Targeted at four areas – Aberdeen, Perth & Kinross, Dundee and Angus, and the Highlands and Islands – it is the latest development in the long-standing relationship between the Scottish Government and pitching organiser Scottish Edge.

It was delivered in collaboration with local partners Opportunity North East, Elevator, GrowBiz and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

Four firms received £50,000, with eight securing £15,000 and another eight receiving £10,000.

As well as financial support, all recipients will benefit from becoming Edge Alumni, granting them access to the organisation’s network of contacts and business acumen.

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said: “The partnership between the Scottish Government and Scottish Edge has long driven our ambition to become a world-leading start-up nation.”

She said the new pilot round of funding would help fledgling businesses outwith the central belt develop.

Evelyn McDonald, CEO of Scottish Edge said: “The impact of this initiative will continue to be felt as these entrepreneurs drive growth, create jobs, and inspire the next generation of innovators across Scotland.”

List of recipients

Aberdeen

• Brigid Bio – £10,000 – Brigid Bio is a biotech company developing novel, first-in-class drugs to improve outcomes in patients at high risk of serious, drug-resistant fungal infections
• Sherriff & Hope – £10,000 – Scottish-made Miso, Shoyu and Hot sauce direct to consumer, to restaurants and wholesale.
• Ovis – £15,000 – Ovis produce sustainable wool pellets designed to be used by gardeners to improve water retention in soil as an alternative to plastic granules
• Windstorm Holdings Ltd – £15,000 – Windstorm is developing an enhanced wind turbine system which will reduce the space required for wind farms by up to 99%
• InGlaze Ltd – £50,000 – Manufacture of internal acrylic magnetic secondary glazing with thermally efficient seal made from recycled plastic. Customised project solutions for reducing energy loss

Perth and Kinross

• Enriched Being – £10,000 – Nutrient-rich microgreens year-round through innovative indoor farming and producing cold-pressed microgreens into nutrient-packed shots
• Little Birdie Foods Ltd – £10,000 – Multi award-winning Coffee Roaster, with a selection of premium products, including freshly roasted coffee, fine teas and luxury hot chocolate
• Bookr – SaS – £15,000 – Bookr is a software as a service scheduling platform for the healthcare education industry
• Nowhere Sauna – £15,000 – Nowhere Sauna is a wood-fired sauna based by the mill pond at Comrie Croft, Perthshire. Communal and private hire sessions are available
• Selaura Ltd – £50,000 – Selaura focuses on women’s health. Their first product is a food supplement formulation supporting all 48 symptoms of perimenopause and menopause

Dundee and Angus

• AgriAudit – £10,000 -AgriAudit is a mobile app & web platform designed to streamline & simplify farm audits through removing duplication, saving farmers time and reducing anxiety
• Konglomerate Games – £10,000 – Video games company specialising in creating games to help people, taking the best parts of games and applying them to non-game scenarios
• Murdoch Wood Ltd – £15,000 – Providing professional tree services to domestic and commercial customers using modern, high end equipment to make work as safe and efficient as possible
• The Green Company – £15,000 – The Green Co. is at the forefront of a burgeoning industry, condensed cleaning solutions, eco-friendly cleaning supplies, delivered directly door to door
• MedAscend – £50,000 – A training platform allowing medical students to improve their communication skills, ability to diagnose and create tailored treatment plans through virtual consultations with AI patients

Highlands and Islands

• Thistle and Cloth – £10,000 – More than just a brand; it’s a celebration of tradition, innovation, and the timeless beauty of Scotland. 
• Highland Domes – £10,000 – We design and manufacture geodesic structures from greenhouses to PassivDoms.
• Crofter’s Kitchen – £15,000 – A 5-star-rated, outdoor farm-to-fork and dock-to-dish eatery in the North West Scottish Highlands offering affordable, fresh, locally sourced dishes.
• Haar Sauna – £15,000 – The original outdoor sauna company in Scotland. We connect nature, community, and wellbeing through the power of deep heat.
• Rescue Winch Ltd – £50,000 – Rescue Winch, using the brand Lodestone Leashes, is a paddlesport safety equipment company, developing innovatively engineered products.