A safety product for high-intensity athletes, AI-based support for farmers, and a mental
health app are among the ideas which have been recognised during Edinburgh
Napier University’s annual pitching competition for entrepreneurs.
Shanley McLean and her creation, Getta Grip Shin Shield, claimed the £2,000 top prize at the AppinEntrepreneurship Awards, which celebrate the innovative spirit and
entrepreneurial talents in the University community.
The Awards are hosted by Bright Red Triangle, Edinburgh Napier University’s enterprise hub, and aim to provide support and mentorship to those taking part
– as well as their emerging businesses.
A Law student at ENU, Shanley’s innovation is designed to enhance rope-climbing speed
and performance for CrossFit athletes.
Reacting to the win, Shanley said:
“The entire experience was an incredible and transformative opportunity.
“I initially entered with a 'why not' attitude, and to my surprise emerged as one of the
finalists.
“I'm immensely thankful to the exceptional team at Bright Red Triangle for their mentorship sessions, which ensured I was thoroughly prepared for my pitch, and to the judges and fellow competitors for their kind words and support.
“The atmosphere throughout the competition was incredibly positive and encouraging. Winning
feels surreal, but beyond the investment I've gained invaluable networking opportunities and feedback.
“I extend my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who made this journey possible for me. This award will help my business to partner with a huge competition and enable us to get some stock to sell there.
“I am looking forward to making my dream a reality and I could not have done it without such a fantastic group of people and the Appin Award.”
One to Watch Awards
In recognitionof the strong competition, two additional entrepreneurs were awarded the ‘One to Watch’ prizes, each receiving £500 to support their ventures.
- Alasdair Scott-Watson - Farmwise Analytics: Alasdair, a Business Management with Entrepreneurship student, impressed with his AI-driven agricultural consultancy aimed at supporting small farms. Farmwise Analytics offers innovative solutions to help small-scale farmers optimise their operations.
- Michael Ife - MindWell: Michael, a Mental Health Nursing student, presented MindWell, a mental health companion app designed to provide crucial support for
students, professionals, and individuals. The app aims to make mental health resources more accessible and personalised.
“Knowledgeand confidence”
As with previous years, the Appin Awards aim to offer empower the next generation of
Edinburgh Napier University’s entrepreneurs, providing them the best
opportunities to kick start their businesses.
The event featured an enterprise chat with ENU alumni Damien O’Looney and Bing Li, who shared their entrepreneurial journeys and offered valuable insights to the
finalists.
Damien O’Looney said:
“Edinburgh Napier played a big role in bringing Bing and me together, providing us with the knowledge and confidence to start our business.
“We hope oursupport through the Appin Alumni Award can empower new entrepreneurs with the resources they need to launch their ventures.”
Nick Fannin, Head of Enterprise at Edinburgh Napier, said:
“Edinburgh Napier University takes pride in fostering a vibrant community of entrepreneurs.
“The Appin Entrepreneurship Award, supported by our esteemed alumni Damien and Bing, exemplifies our commitment to nurturing student and graduate innovation.
“We are grateful for their generosity and look forward to seeing how these talented entrepreneurs will grow their businesses.”