Two companies formed at the University of Aberdeen have enjoyed success in a national competition for innovative start-up businesses.
Eurobiotix and MIME Technologies were both successful in pitching for funding for their businesses at the Scottish EDGE Awards held in Glasgow earlier this week. The awards allow Scotland’s most promising entrepreneurs to showcase their businesses to an expert panel of judges, with funding and loans of up to £100,000 up for grabs.
Eurobiotix received £40,000 in funding for their business, which aims to create a convenient and affordable treatment for Clostridium difficile infection that will be available on the NHS.
Formed by fourth year medical students James McIlroy and Matthew Bracchi, the company was the first to receive support through the University’s ABVenture Zone – an incubation space for new start up and spin out companies.
Commenting on the company’s success in the EDGE Awards, Eurobiotix CEO and Royal Society of Edinburgh Enterprise Fellow James McIlroy said: “I am absolutely delighted with Monday's result.
“The £40,000 investment will allow us to enter the next phase of technical and commercial development and will bring us one step closer to achieving my vision of saving lives and saving our NHS money.
“I must thank the University and in particular the Medical School for the absolutely outstanding support we have received over the last year. If you are considering studying medicine and have entrepreneurial ambitions then the University of Aberdeen is for you.”
In further success, first aid software company MIME Technologies was awarded £10,000 as part of the Wild Card EDGE awards for businesses which have yet to commence trading – spin out from the University is due in July. The cash will help them develop their wireless platform technology that simplifies the capture, reporting and audit of medical data.
Designed by CEO Dr Alasdair Mort and Centre for Rural Health Director Professor Phillip Wilson, the software aims to help the first person on scene at a medical emergency. Very often this isn't a medical professional. Indeed, it could be a first aider at work, someone volunteering for Red Cross or St John Ambulance, or even personnel working on very remote oil & gas installations. The team have worked closely with the Scottish Ambulance Service, and trialled their technology recently with the support of the British Red Cross. The system aims to assist the first person on the scene in a medical emergency by advising them of the best action to take based on the circumstances at hand.
Dr Mort, who is also a Royal Society of Edinburgh Enterprise Fellow, said: “MIME Technologies is absolutely delighted to be a Scottish Edge Wildcard winner. This will allow us to conduct vital technical development, which helps us to grow our business.”