About this programme
Scottish EDGE is Scotland's national early-stage business competition, run twice a year by Scottish EDGE C.I.C. (a private-sector community interest company) with backing from the Hunter Foundation, Royal Bank of Scotland, the Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise. It was originally run by Scottish Enterprise itself for four rounds before being spun out to the private-sector-led CIC in autumn 2014, and has since supported hundreds of early-stage Scottish businesses.
The main award ("Scottish EDGE") offers funding of up to £100,000 to companies of any sector, structured as a mix of grant and loan rather than a pure grant. It sits alongside a set of special award categories — Young EDGE, Wild Card EDGE, Social Enterprise EDGE, Accelerator EDGE, Circular Economy EDGE, Future EDGE, Scaling Innovation EDGE, Pathways EDGE and STV Growth EDGE — each with its own funding ceiling and eligibility slant, but every applicant goes through the same main competition entry point.
The programme's stated purpose is to "discover, invest in and nurture" high-growth, innovative Scottish businesses. Since its 2013 launch the competition reports over £32.7m awarded across 788 supported businesses (6,588 applications received), with all-time figures citing 4,868 FTE jobs and hundreds of millions of pounds in additional turnover and follow-on investment attributed to past winners.
Because Scottish EDGE issues loans as part of most award structures, CapEasy treats this as an information listing for capeasy.co rather than a service we broker or file on a client's behalf.
How it works
Two competition rounds run each year. The current round (Round 28) is funding up to £200,000 across the full award set, with the main Scottish EDGE award capped at £100,000 per winner.
Main Scottish EDGE awards are issued on a mixed grant/loan basis (the published split for the flagship award is not stated on the overview page; special awards each publish their own split, e.g. Accelerator EDGE is 30% loan / 70% grant, Circular Economy EDGE is 70% loan / 30% grant).
Every applicant enters through the same main competition; special award eligibility (sector, turnover, founder gender, business type) is layered on top and assessed from the same application.
Applications are assessed by an independent panel of assessors against six criteria: value proposition, team, impact, customer focus, business growth, and utilisation of funding. Shortlisted applicants proceed toward a live pitching final.
Who can apply
The business must be headquartered in Scotland, with key business leaders resident in Scotland (a minimum of 50%), and incorporated at Companies House (or registered with OSCR if a charity/social enterprise).
The business must have been trading for less than 5 years, with eligibility measured from the trading date rather than the incorporation date.
Current annual turnover must not exceed £1m, and/or the business must not have received external investment of £500,000 or more.
For limited companies, a minimum of 50% of ownership must sit with directors who work actively in the business day-to-day. Sole traders are restricted to the Young EDGE or Wild Card EDGE categories and cannot enter the main loan-bearing award.
The business must be able to show potential to achieve new/increased cumulative sales of £200,000 over the next three years, and the capacity to create sustainable Scottish jobs within that period.
Key leaders who have already won a main Scottish EDGE (loan + grant) award with any business are not eligible to win again; past Young EDGE or Wild Card winners may reapply to other categories.
Businesses in administration or liquidation are disqualified, as are applicants with directors who have fraud convictions or a director disqualification history. Non-UK passport holders must supply visa documentation and expiry dates.
How to apply
- Complete the Scottish EDGE online application form before the round deadline (Round 28 closes 2pm, 2 September).
- Produce and submit a 3-minute video presentation of the business as part of the same application.
- Applications are reviewed by an independent panel of assessors against the six published assessment criteria.
- Shortlisted applicants are taken forward toward the live pitching final, where the panel makes award decisions.
Documents you’ll typically need
- Completed Scottish EDGE online application form
- 3-minute video presentation of the business
- Company incorporation details (Companies House number, or OSCR registration for charities/social enterprises)
- Visa documentation and expiry dates (non-UK passport holders only)
Frequently asked
Who is behind Scottish EDGE?
Scottish EDGE is run by Scottish Edge C.I.C., a private-sector community interest company, with funding backers including the Hunter Foundation, Royal Bank of Scotland, the Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise. It was spun out from Scottish Enterprise into the private-sector CIC in autumn 2014.
How much can a Scottish EDGE main award be worth?
Up to £100,000 for the main Scottish EDGE award, issued as a mix of grant and loan rather than a pure grant. Special award categories carry their own, separate ceilings — up to £200,000 for Accelerator EDGE, for example.
Is the main Scottish EDGE award a grant or a loan?
Both — it is structured as a combined grant and loan. The specific split for the flagship main award is not published on the official overview page; several special award categories do publish their split, ranging from 30% loan / 70% grant to 70% loan / 30% grant depending on the category.
Can a sole trader apply for the main Scottish EDGE award?
No. Sole traders are restricted to the Young EDGE or Wild Card EDGE categories, because the main award's loan component requires the business structure those categories don't carry.
What turnover or funding limits apply?
Current annual turnover must be under £1m, and/or the business must not have already raised £500,000 or more in external investment. The business must also have been trading for less than 5 years.
Does the business have to be based in Scotland?
Yes. The business must be headquartered in Scotland and at least 50% of its key business leaders must be Scotland-resident.
Can a founder who already won a Scottish EDGE award apply again?
Not for the main loan-and-grant award — key leaders who have already won it with any business are excluded from winning it again. Past Young EDGE or Wild Card winners may still reapply to other categories.
What does the application involve?
An online application form plus a 3-minute video presentation of the business. Applications are then scored by an independent assessor panel against six criteria — value proposition, team, impact, customer focus, business growth, and utilisation of funding — before shortlisted applicants go forward to a live pitching final.
Reviewed 2026-08-16. Programmes change — confirm current eligibility, amounts and deadlines on the official page before you apply. CapEasy is a private consultancy and is not affiliated with any government authority.