The University of Aberdeen has successfully completed its inaugural flagship student entrepreneurship programme, the Take Off Accelerator 2025, marking another milestone in its commitment to nurturing the next generation of innovators and changemakers.
Running over eight weeks from May 20, the University-funded accelerator brought together a diverse group of student and graduate entrepreneurs from across disciplines to develop, test, and refine their startup ideas with the support of experienced mentors, guest speakers and industry experts.
A total of 13 participants took part in weekly, mostly in-person workshops covering topics ranging from customer discovery and branding to pricing strategies and storytelling. Founders were given access to a wide range of resources including pitching templates and industry frameworks. They were also matched with enterprise catalysts for one-on-one coaching and heard directly from founders and ecosystem leaders who shared lessons from their own entrepreneurial journeys.
The programme culminated in a high-energy Pitch Showcase on 8 July where participants presented their ventures to an audience of university staff, alumni, business leaders and a panel of expert judges. Prizes were awarded across several categories with a total of £5,500 distributed to support the continued development of the startups.
Dr Ann Lewendon, the University’s Commercialisation Manager, said: "Watching the growth of our participants over these eight weeks has been incredible. From diffident early-stage founders to confident storytellers with validated solutions - this year’s cohort has truly set the bar."
Dr Heather May Morgan, Dean Enterprise and Innovation, added: "The Take Off Accelerator is not only building businesses - it’s building entrepreneurial capacity within our student community. The future looks bright, and we’re excited for what comes next."
The University extends its gratitude to the wide network of partners across Aberdeen’s entrepreneurial ecosystem who generously contributed their time, insight and encouragement.
The next cohort of the Take Off Accelerator will launch in 2026.
Ideas developed during the Take Off Accelerator included one from Aatish Dasmahapatra who won the £2,000 first prize for Carbonyze, a compact carbon reuse system that turns CO₂ emissions from small businesses into usable methanol. Designed for SMEs like breweries and labs, it helps reduce emissions while creating clean, circular value on-site. The prototype aims to make carbon capture practical, affordable and accessible for overlooked sectors.
Bradley Morrison won second prize and £1,000 for Serene, a handheld silicone device and mobile app pairing that work together to provide a therapy inspired session. The multisensory device produces stimuli, like vibrations and scent, with the users attention being guided to them by a voiceover from the app, making a scientific and clinically evidenced grounding technique portable.
Dr Soham Mitra won 3rd prize and £500 for CAnswer. Each year, 1.5 million people are diagnosed with skin cancer, with cases rising 9% annually. CAnswer is a portable, AI-powered biopsy kit enabling painless, on-the-spot diagnosis outside hospitals. It reduces delays, boosts early detection and improves outcomes - making skin cancer diagnosis faster, more accessible and less resource-intensive for global healthcare systems.