Entrepreneurial talent takes flight at RGU Accelerator finale

Some of the region’s most promising entrepreneurial talent stepped into the spotlight last week, as Robert Gordon University (RGU) celebrated the achievements of its latest cohort of participants in the 2026 Impact North Startup Accelerator.

Now in its eighth year, RGU’s flagship entrepreneurship programme reached its grand finale in front of a packed audience of more than 200 attendees. Founders took centre stage to deliver high-energy, Dragons’ Den-style pitches, competing for a share of £25,000 in funding. 

Impact North brought together aspiring entrepreneurs from across Aberdeen and the north of Scotland, with participants joining from Shetland, Orkney and the Western Isles for the first time. Following a fierce display of innovation, creativity and determination, eight awards were presented to the entrepreneurs who most impressed the judging panel and live audience.

Aisha Kasim, Startup Manager, said: “The RGU Startup Accelerator programme has been really exciting this year because, for the first time, we are working with islands-based startups alongside the Aberdeen startups in a tandem cohort set-up. Seeing the cross-pollination of ideas - seeing the collaboration with the place-based aspect as well as the innovative aspect - has been really exciting.”

Dr Jeanette Forbes OBE shared her advice for anyone thinking about taking their first steps into entrepreneurship:

“You have to be committed – that’s really important. The other important thing is the planning element. I was always told, when I started PCL Group, that failing to plan is planning to fail. So, make sure that you have a really good business plan - that is the best piece of advice I can give people heading into entrepreneurship.”

Arsalan Ijaz Anwer, techpreneur and RGU honorary graduate, explained how important the RGU Startup Accelerator is in terms of developing globally competitive founders.
 
He said: “Because RGU hosts a very geographically diverse population of students and faculty, programmes like the RGU Startup Accelerator play a significant role in helping entrepreneurs and founders understand the nuances of being able to operate across different economies in different parts of the world.”

Colin Hunter, Chair of the RGU Board of Governors, said: “The presentations were absolutely superb and I enjoyed them all. I was struck by the diverse range of projects – it was phenomenal. I’ve also been impressed by the creativity, resilience, ambition, enthusiasm and impact. We’re very proud, at RGU, of the entrepreneurship and innovation drive that’s part of our DNA. The Startup Accelerator is a great example of what RGU contributes to the local economy and to real-world impact.”

The Showcase celebrated the theme of Heroes: Closer Than You Think, highlighting the individuals, mentors, academics, ecosystem partners and supporters who help entrepreneurs turn ideas into reality. The theme also recognised the courage and determination shown by the 2026 Impact North cohort throughout their entrepreneurial journeys, particularly the programme’s first-ever island participants.

The evening began with welcome addresses from Dr Jeanette Forbes OBE and Paul Cheek before participants delivered their pitches to the audience and judging panel. Guests also heard from Accelerator alumnus Guy Phillips, founder of Highland Heritage Woodworks, who reflected on his entrepreneurial journey since completing the programme.

Members of the RGU community later took part in a Spotlight on Innovation panel discussion exploring the commercialisation of deep technology, before the evening concluded with the presentation of awards and closing remarks from Dr Colin Hunter.

The event was also livestreamed, enabling supporters, friends, family members and members of the wider business community to join the celebrations remotely.

The 2026 RGU Startup Accelerator was funded by the Scottish Funding Council's Knowledge Exchange and Innovation Fund, and this year’s prizes were supported by the SRM Foundation for Innovation, Barclay Eagle Labs, and Felix Chung for Sustainability.

Full list of awards and winners:

• Supporter Award – Judith Stephen, Transformational Coach
• Extra Mile Award – Gregor Robb, Elevare
• Best Showcase Stand Award – Equity Lighthouse
• Felix Chung Sustainability Award – Mara Kinetics
• Creative and Culture Award – Space for Sound
• Innovation Award – Chargytech
• Impact Award – R&B Digital Services
• Best Pitch – Roamstead
• Audience Choice Award – ChargyTech

The Aberdeen cohort:

• The Tactical Data Company - Tim Clarke and Surya Ramesh. Analyses organisational networks using privacy-first data to reveal hidden connections and improve performance, inclusion, and retention.
• Murray McNeish Energy Optimisation Solutions - Murray McNeish. Provides affordable energy audits for hospitality businesses to reduce consumption, cut costs, and improve sustainability.
• Oceanfly VR - Julie Youngson and Mark Williams. VR training platform preparing drone operators for hazardous offshore environments through immersive, realistic simulations.
• Roamstead - Sarah Wyatt. Portable rooftop greenhouse system enabling users to grow food sustainably while on the move.
• ELEVARE - Gregor Robb. Produces all-natural, customised protein drinks tailored to individual nutrition and fitness needs.
• Space for Sound - Jo-Anne Tait, Connor Brown, Rory Sinclair, Bekkah Davidson. Community initiative creating opportunities to connect and learn through music and audio experiences.
• ChargyTech - Nathan Ikani. Clip-on battery pack for PS5 controllers enabling simultaneous play and charging without cables or interruptions.
• AnchorPath - Katelyn PowerDigital platform supporting care-experienced young people through improved communication, guidance, and transition into independence.
• Equity Lighthouse - Leila Neshat-Mokadem and Clare Depasquale. Provides training and research to promote inclusion, equity, and reduced inequalities in education and health.
• R&B Digital Services - Adrian Rendon-Nava and Angel Barroyeta-Nunez. Delivers digital twin solutions helping manufacturers optimise operations through data-driven engineering insights.
• Mara Kinetics - Hossein Zanganeh. Develops marine energy systems using flow-induced vibrations for scalable, efficient ocean power generation.
• ProjChain - Rita-Michel Greiss. Digital platform enhancing transparency and trust in net-zero project delivery and management.
• Deecite AI - Daniel McPherson and Michael Piercey. AI platform that generates full-stack software from user ideas, enabling rapid application development.