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Home » News » Boosting the economy » Unlocking Ambition

Unlocking Ambition

2 November 2017

FM Startup Summit

FM makes commitment to support entrepreneurs.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced a new £4 million scheme this week to support up to 40 budding entrepreneurs each year – the Unlocking Ambition Challenge.

She made the announcement while addressing the Start-up Summit, at the Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh. This is an annual event to help new businesses in Scotland to grow and thrive, so an ideal audience to hear about new support for the entrepreneurs of the future.

FM @NicolaSturgeon meeting with future entrepreneurs at #SUS17 as she launches Unlocking Ambition Challenge https://t.co/iVgikTzAZ6 pic.twitter.com/kIUyJNa9Y1

— First Minister (@ScotGovFM) November 1, 2017

Open for entry early in the New Year, the programme will recruit candidates from anywhere in the world – on the basis that they relocate or establish their business in Scotland.

The successful cohort will be mentored and funded as they develop their ideas, receiving an initial 12 months of funding and bespoke support by partner organisations from the public and private sectors.

The mentors under the programme include some well-known names from Scottish business:

  • James Watt, co-founder of BrewDog
  • Leah Hutcheon, founder of online scheduling business Appointedd
  • Cally Russell, founder of multi-retailer shopping app Mallzee
  • Chris van der Kuyl, co-founder of videogame developer 4J Studios
  • Amy Livingstone, co-founder of baby products company Cheeky Chompers

FM @NicolaSturgeon announces £4m Unlocking Ambition entrepreneurship challenge at #SUS17 https://t.co/iVgikTzAZ6 pic.twitter.com/9z1NW2pPA0

— First Minister (@ScotGovFM) November 1, 2017

Nicola Sturgeon said:

We want to ensure the most talented entrepreneurs, from Scotland and elsewhere, have the best opportunities to develop their ideas here, bring them to market and create the successful new companies we need for our economy to continue to grow.

“The Unlocking Ambition Challenge is a fresh and innovative approach to how we can make this a reality. By tapping into the experience of Scotland’s most successful business people, as well as the great companies and institutions based here, we can unlock the potential of the next generation of entrepreneurs.”

The Unlocking Ambition Challenge will be delivered as part of Scotland CAN DO, the programme to support Scotland becoming a world-leading entrepreneurial nation.

Watch video as FM @NicolaSturgeon launches £4m scheme to support entrepreneurs of the future at the Startup Summit #SUS17 in Edinburgh pic.twitter.com/JdXsGdt6Qd

— Scottish Government (@scotgov) November 1, 2017

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