Edinburgh Napier University

An Edinburgh Napier University graduate who founded a menstrual hygiene start-up has claimed two prestigious prizes, along with tens of thousands of pounds in funding, at the annual Converge Awards.

The ceremony, which celebrates the work of pioneering entrepreneurs who are students, recent graduates, or academics, was held in Edinburgh last night.

Erin Reid from LU Innovations, a company designing period products for women who enjoy outdoor activities or work in remote environments, won the top prize in the Create Change Challenge – one of the four main categories. She was also presented with the Rose Award, a special standalone prize sponsored by The Royal Bank of Scotland designed to boost female entrepreneurship in Scotland.

As a result, Erin’s joint prize package includes £40,000 in equity-free cash, more than £10,000 of in-kind business support and a one-to-one mentoring session with Alison Rose, NatWest Group CEO and author of the Rose Review on female entrepreneurship.

Claudia Cavalluzzo, executive director at Converge, said: “Each of our finalists this year brought their A-game, leaving all of us and our judges in awe of their innovation, passion and utter brilliance.

“Our winners join an enviable set who have gone on to create not only successful companies but, in many cases, life-changing innovations.

“While our awards last night marked the end of the 2022 Converge programme, the work of our winners and wider cohort is very far from over as their journey continues towards commercialisation – helped in no small part, we hope, by the cash prizes they have picked up this evening.

“It is now time for our 2022 cohort to move onto the next level of success – and our team and I will be eagerly following their progress.” 

There were two other ENU nominees at last night’s awards, Robert Goodfellow for PlusPEP and Kat Pohorecka for Mude Underwear.

Cabinet Secretary for Education & Skills, Shirley-Anne Somerville, who attended last night’s ceremony, said: “The Converge Awards are an excellent example of what can be achieved when research, innovation and an entrepreneurial mind-set come together and work toward a common goal.

“From biotech to product innovation, this year's winners have demonstrated outstanding talent and creativity and I congratulate all those that took part in this year’s awards for their efforts.  

“Building on the foundations we already have in place in Scotland – world-class universities, cutting-edge research, and an active investment market – our National Strategy for Economic Transformation will embed a culture in which entrepreneurship is encouraged, supported, and celebrated.

“This approach will ensure that the creativity, ingenuity and determination needed for a start-up nation will create an economy that works for all.”