Startups focused on carbon capture, breastmilk donation and machine learning took centre stage at this year’s Startup Summer Accelerator Showcase, where 13 student-founded companies pitched their transformative ideas to a panel of industry experts. Edinburgh Earth Initiative is one of the sponsors of the 2024 Startup Summer Accelerator.

Startup summer accelerator cohort

Startup summer accelerator cohort - Maverick photography

After three months of intensive training, the startup founders pitched to a judging panel that included Michiel Smith from Apollo Informal Investments, Laura Garcia-Caberol of Touchlab, and Ross Colquhoun from Scottish Enterprise.

Eloise Bevan, founder of the carbon capture company DuaBon, and Tracy Ahumuza, founder of ATTA Breastmilk Community, took home the top honours—each securing a £2,000 grand prize.

DuaBon, led by Chemical Engineering PhD student and Earth Fellow alumni Eloise, is pushing the boundaries of environmental technology with its innovative biochar technology, offering an affordable solution to carbon capture. Eloise’s vision earned her the Entrepreneurial Spirit Award, which provides an additional £500 for embodying entrepreneurial spirit throughout the accelerator.

Eloise said:

“I am so grateful for the opportunity to take part in the Accelerator. The passion for student enterprise at Edinburgh Innovations shines through, and the support provided is unmatched. The access to patent attorneys, accountants, designers, investors, and mentors has been invaluable, and I recommend any fellow PhD innovators reading this to visit the Enterprise Hub!

“Beyond direct help, the friendships formed within the cohort taught me the value of community, especially in the world of entrepreneurship that can be isolating at times. Words can’t describe how grateful I am for this experience and the recognition we have received.”

Joint winner of the overall prize was Entrepreneurship and Innovation MSc student, Tracy Ahumuza, of the Edinburgh Business School. Tracy’s company, ATTA Breastmilk Community, is changing lives by providing vital training, resources, and support to mothers and infants in need across Uganda. ATTA has already supported over 500 vulnerable babies across Uganda with more than 800 litres of breast milk.

The runner-up prize of £1,000 was awarded to Oleguer Simon Camps for his start-up, Brokyl, which specialises in simplifying the deployment of machine learning models for businesses. Oleg, who completed his MSc in Operations Research and Data Science in the School of Mathematics in 2023, is actively working on his product that makes deploying ML models possible with just three clicks.

This year’s cohort was selected for their alignment with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, as Edinburgh Innovations partnered with the Edinburgh Earth Initiative to deliver a programme dedicated to fostering sustainability and impact.

Teodora Handrea, Student Enterprise Manager at Edinburgh Innovations, said:

“As we celebrate our sixth year of the Startup Summer Accelerator, we’re thrilled to focus on sustainability and climate solutions. This year, we’ve carefully selected a cohort of exceptional start-ups that are poised to make a significant impact in these areas.

“Our goal is to provide these start-ups with the resources, mentorship, and support they need to develop successful businesses, whether that is by bootstrapping, finding beachhead markets, or investment. We’re committed to helping them achieve their full potential and contribute to a more sustainable future.”

Startup Summer Accelerator

If you are working on your business idea and want to take it to the next level, then the Startup Summer Accelerator is just for you.

Described by previous participants as “the best programme in Edinburgh to accelerate your business from idea to reality”. This 12-week intensive learning and leadership online programme empowers students and recent alumni to become startup leaders.

The greatest innovations of the next decade will be climate related and for this reason, Edinburgh Earth Initiative sponsors the accelerator (alongside Mastercard Foundation and Santander Universities in 2024), bringing a climate and sustainability focus to the programme. The accelerator is primarily for businesses with a climate focus or with an idea that will help to advance any of the United Nation’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. We’re looking for students who have an innovative business concept and can prove that there is a market need for their product or service.

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