Sustainability. All business ideas at the event should tackle real sustainability challenges, including: energy & climate, waste & circular economy, food & agriculture, communities & people or digital & data.

You’ll form teams with students from region and work step-by step through developing a business idea before pitching for cash prizes. Across the day, you will: > Meet students from other universities and colleges > Form interdisciplinary teams > Explore real problems faced by people and communities > Generate and test startup ideas > Learn how to pitch with confidence > Present your idea to a judging panel > Potentially win cash prizes for your team

Judges will award 1st place team - £1,500, 2nd place team - £1,000, 3rd place team - £500. The cash prizes will be split between team members and transfered to their bank accounts after the event. The winning team will also travel to Glasgow in March 2026 to participate in the national final.

Yes! We've got you covered. A 'meal deal' style lunch will be provided and pizzas will be ordered for dinner. You just need to bring your laptop and dedicate your time.

Nope. The event is all about coming up with ideas, learning entrepreneurship skills and building startups in one day. You don't need to have an idea already or have begun working on one - just come with enthusiam and energy.

Yes. Arrival is from 9:00am, and the final prize giving will finish by 6:30pm. You must attend all day for a certificate. We know it's a lot of time, but going from concept to pitch takes time. You'll gain lots of practical skills (and possibly cash) by taking part.

No, participation is extra-curricular. Startup Factory focuses on helping students gain practical entrepreneurship skills and developing a business idea and is not formally accredited as part of any academic courses.

Every team will have to pitch their idea, but not every participant has to present. We will provide pitch training at the event, and will encourage 1 or 2 members from each team to deliver the final pitch to judges. You can chose for all team members to present or answer questions, but if you don't wish to present - as long as others in your team pitch, then you don't have to.

No. Spaces for the event are limited and spread across UoA, RGU and NESCol. After registering, spaces decided by the academic partners. You will be notified through a confirmation e-mail if you have been awarded a place.

You will form your teams on the day based on your interests and capabilities and will mix with students from across the region. You can come with your friends, but we encourage you not to join teams with friends to ensure teams are diverse and you get the chance to meet new people. It'll be a bit awkward at the start - we know. Teamwork is always tricky, but we'll do what we can to help you get to know each other and it's only 1 day. Worth it for the learning, and the possibility of prizes.

Your team does. The event will not claim any intellectual property for the ideas developed. You are encouraged to progress it further, but you will need agreement from all team members. If someone doesn't want to contribute to taking the idea further ensure you discuss this and get it in writing that they forfeit any claim on the idea developed.