University innovator secures entrepreneurial prize at Scotland's Converge awards

At an event held in Edinburgh on 3 October and attended by Kate Forbes, Deputy First Minister of Scotland, Converge presented 12 prizes to Scottish universities across its four award categories of Converge, Create Change, KickStart, and Net Zero, with a total prize fund of over £300,000. 

New-Found-Hope, founded by University of Dundee graduate Nathan Dudley, secured the Entrepreneurial Spirit prize. Its groundbreaking work focuses on developing therapeutic footwear designed to address toe-walking in children with autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions, potentially improving the quality of life for millions of children worldwide. 

Toe-walking affects 5-10% of the world's children and 41% of those with neurodevelopmental conditions. It can lead to long-term medical problems, injuries, muscular atrophy, and an increased risk of bullying. New-Found-Hope's comfortable footwear device promotes a healthy heel-to-toe gait motion, decreasing these risks and building confidence in children. 

The company impressed judges with its clear passion, dedication, and strong advisory network, earning a £5,000 cash prize to help progress the business. 

"Myself and the team are very pleased to accept this Entrepreneurial Spirit Award," said Nathan.

"It has been a long road to get to this point, but our hope never died - and is now beginning to inspire others. It is truly heart-warming to see how much people resonate with our mission; to empower children of all abilities to spring forward with New-Found-Hope in their soles.

"We feel honoured, not only to receive the award and grant funding but also several mentions in Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes's speech at the event, who talked about the large impact New-Found-Hope can have on children locally and globally. 

"As a team, we give all the Glory to God for this award and all the support we have received to date, and we hope our story can inspire younger generations to adventure forward fearlessly, knowing in their hearts that New-Found-Hope has dawned." 

Adam Kosterka, executive director of Converge, commented on this year's cohort, “The calibre of innovation emerging from Scotland's universities continues to be world-class and New-Found-Hope is a shining example of how academic brilliance can lead to groundbreaking solutions with global potential. Companies like New-Found-Hope are not just creating products; they're shaping a more sustainable and inclusive future for Scotland and beyond. 

“At Converge, we’re privileged to support innovative university founders by providing them with the business acumen and networks that complement their technical expertise. Together with Scotland's universities, we're helping to create an environment where transformative ideas can evolve into successful businesses, contributing to our nation's reputation as a leader of technological advancement and entrepreneurial spirit.” 

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said, “Translating world-class research from our universities into new innovative technologies and businesses is key to delivering on Scotland’s National Innovation Strategy to drive economic growth. 

“Converge plays a vital role in providing a supportive environment for innovators and entrepreneurs to showcase their ideas and connect with investors, mentors and industry leaders. 

“I congratulate this year’s winners, who are addressing global challenges and bringing positive change across the country.” 

Funded by the Scottish Funding Council and a network of eight corporate partners, Converge works in partnership with 18 of Scotland's universities. Since its launch in 2011, the programme has trained over 670 aspiring founders and supported the creation of over 420 companies that enjoy an above-average three-year survival rate of over 80% (as of 1 June 2024). 

Open to students, recent graduates, and staff, Converge supports new businesses through intensive business training, networking, 1-2-1 support, generous equity free cash prizes and expert, professional advice from its roster of industry partners.