RGU Startup Accelerator Expands Impact to Island Entrepreneurs in 2026 Launch

Marking its eighth year, the RGU Startup Accelerator programme offers staff, students, alumni and for the first time, entrepreneurs across Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles, as part of the Islands Growth Deal, the opportunity to transform early-stage ideas into impactful ventures.

The programme consistently draws strong interest, attracting over 150 applications last year, with half of the cohort being female-led founders, who showcased bold, innovative business ideas with the power to fuel growth, generate revenue and create high-value jobs.

Alumni of the programme have already delivered over £17 million in economic impact. They include Everybody Counts, an EdTEch platform for maths education supplied to 68,500 children across 10 countries, including Thailand, Cambodia and the USA, Inglaze Ltd, an innovative secondary glazing designers and fitters who recently won the 2025 Scottish EDGE Regional award and Archilink Surveys, who have just opened their second office in Manchester.

Aisha Kasim, Startup Manager and RGU Accelerator Lead, said: “We’re delighted to be entering the eighth year of the programme and even more thrilled to be extending its reach. Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles have long been home to remarkable creativity and resilience. Through our recently launched Islands Entrepreneurship Network, funded by the Islands Growth Deal, we’re creating fresh opportunities to harness that potential.

“Our goal is to make sure that innovative ideas, no matter where they come from, which course they’re born out of or the sector they belong to, have the support they need to grow into successful endeavours that strengthen local communities, drive Scotland’s wider economy and help develop and commercialise research projects into real-world impact.”

Successful applicants will receive five months of flexible entrepreneurial training, delivered by the award-winning Entrepreneurship and Innovation Group (EIG) at RGU. Participants will also gain access to equity-free seed funding of £3,000, city centre co-working space and the opportunity to collaborate with the Island’s cohort. This year’s programme is funded by RGU’s Knowledge Exchange and Innovation Fund, through the Scottish Funding Council. 

The programme culminates in the highly anticipated Startup Showcase, where selected participants pitch their startup ideas to a live audience of business leaders and potential investors. Cash prizes are also awarded to those who make the strongest impression on the night.

Professor Steve Olivier, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, said: “Year after year, this programme highlights the remarkable creativity and ingenuity across our RGU community, and it has become an eagerly anticipated part of our calendar.

“Participants gain a truly unique experience, leading to outstanding successes. Expanding the Accelerator to include Island-based entrepreneurs through the TalEnted programme, as part of the Islands Growth Deal, is a significant milestone and reflects the University’s commitment to transforming people and communities throughout Scotland.”

Higher and Further Education Minister Graeme Dey said: “There should be no barrier to innovation and unleashing ideas which can help grow Scotland’s economy, so I’m delighted to see a further round of this accelerator scheme. This flagship programme has already delivered a £17 million economic boost and it’s particularly heartening there has been previous strong participation from women founders, which I hope is replicated again.

“The Scottish Government is committed to fostering and supporting entrepreneurial talent through strategic investment, capitalising on Scotland’s reputation as a start-up nation. The economic opportunities presented by this are enormous. Our universities and colleges are the engines of innovation. They are known the world over as the home of some of the greatest ideas and inventions ever made and can present real solutions to the challenges we face."

The launch coincides with Scotland’s inaugural National Innovation Week, underscoring RGU’s pivotal role in driving entrepreneurial growth, creativity and economic impact across the nation. This landmark week shines a spotlight on Scotland’s proud tradition of innovation and its global leadership in shaping the transformative technologies and industries of the future.

Those seeking to transform their business idea into a viable venture are invited to apply to the 2026 Accelerator, Impact North, via the RGU website. Applications will close at 09:00 on Monday 3 November 2025.