The University of Dundee continues to lead the way for the future of Scottish business after scooping top prizes at the country’s flagship entrepreneurial awards.
Students and graduates from the University were among the winners at the Converge 2025 awards, the country’s leading entrepreneurial development programme for staff, students and recent graduates of Scottish universities and research institutes.
Graduate Cherie Gilruth was named winner of the KickStart Challenge for her concept, Lap Caddy. The system is designed to allow wheelchair users to carry everyday items on their laps as an alternative to cumbersome, rigid trays that many must contend with just now.
Fellow graduate Nathan Dudley’s New-Found-Hope enterprise received the Create Change Challenge gong. The company’s ground-breaking work focuses on developing therapeutic footwear designed to address toe-walking in children with autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions, potentially improving the quality of life for millions of children worldwide.
Another notable achievement came in the showpiece Converge Challenge award, with MedAscend finishing runner-up.
Developed by School of Medicine students Ahmed Sharaf and Hana Woods, MedAscend is an innovative AI-powered revision tool, designed to help their classmates prepare for important clinical exams. The online platform features a range of lifelike avatars with their own personalities, histories and medical concerns. Students interact with them in simulated clinical consultations, just as they would with real patients, asking questions, gathering information and working towards a diagnosis and treatment plan.
All recipients received extensive backing from the University’s Centre for Entrepreneurship, which champions the next generation of businesspeople from across the University community.
Christopher Smyth, Head of Enterprise and Entrepreneurial Programmes at the Centre, said, “This is another memorable night for the University of Dundee and our entrepreneurs.
"The University has developed a formidable reputation in supporting Scotland’s next generation of business minds, whose vision and determination are integral to a thriving, modern economy both here in Dundee and across the country.
“Working with all of our entrants is a pleasure and it is a thrill for all of us to see them receive this recognition.”
The University of Dundee has established an international reputation for its work in developing entrepreneurial talent from across its community. Last month, The Centre for Entrepreneurship secured the Entrepreneurship Catalyst title at the 2025 UK National Enterprise Educators Awards. In addition, last year the University was crowned the UK’s Outstanding Entrepreneurial University of the Year at the Times Higher Education Awards, and also crowned Innovative & Entrepreneurial University of the Year in the European Triple E Awards.