A TOTAL of £852,000 has been awarded to 26 "exceptional" Scottish start-ups by the ScotEdge fund at a special event where firms had to show their ability to grow, and boost the Scottish economy.

 

The awards, the final of five rounds, took place at the headquarters of Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) in Edinburgh, and businesses had to pitch to the panel of judges in front of a 300-strong audience, followed by a Q&A session.

The ScotEdge fund is backed by entrepreneur Sir Tom Hunter, the Scottish Government, and RBS, with the majority of its funding coming from the private sector.

The funding awards are half-grant and half-loan, and securing the highest amount at £100,000 each, were live shellfish transport system Lobster Pod, and West Coast Fisheries & Butcher, a food manufacturer specialising in venison.

Young Edge winners received £75,000, and the next-highest award, at £52,000, went to Smoother Spirits, which produces Uisge Source, bottled spring waters to complement malt whisky.

Six firms won £50,000 each, including Pulsetta Foods, which makes gluten-free bakery products from pulses, Hectares Food, which manufactures sweet-potato crisps, and gin-maker Dunnet Bay Distillers.

Also securing the sum were the Celtic Sea Spice Company, whose Mara Seaweed brand produces artisan seaweed seasonings, Sunamp Limited, which makes innovative, high-efficiency heat energy storage systems, and The Kiltwalk, which organises charity walking events.

Trans World Soccer, which offers the chance to live like a professional footballer, received £45,000.

Securing £40,000 was snap40, which has created a medical monitoring wristband, while Safetray Products, which developed G-Hold, a tool for safely holding iPads and tablets, won itself £31,000.

Data visualization software specialist nooQ secured £32,000, while £30,000 went to Beauty Kitchen UK, which develops, makes and sells environmentally friendly beauty products.

Luxury chocolate-maker Chocolati won £27,000, and Swipii, a tablet-based digital loyalty programme for SMEs, received £20,000.

Businesses had to impress judges including representatives from RBS and Enterprise Scotland, Bill Morrow of Angel's Den and Kevin Dorren of Diet Chef as well as Sir Hunter.

He said: "We were delighted with the quality of applications and the winners have demonstrated their edge and ambition to grow a business in Scotland."