
The milestone figure, reached in 2020/21, is a first for the University and is higher than any institution in the Russell Group of 24 leading UK universities has ever recorded.
The businesses, successfully launched despite most students being absent from the campus during the Covid-19 pandemic, include 44 per cent founded by women and 19 per cent social enterprises set up for the benefit of society.
Current or recent undergraduate students are behind 43 per cent of the startups and the remaining 57 per cent were founded by postgraduates. Their businesses include AI-based virtual-reality software for tennis players and coaches, a health-research app that tracks people’s mood, a robotic system to sort waste for recycling, and a grip-assist glove to help people live independently.
Professor Peter Mathieson, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Edinburgh, said: “Reaching this impressive milestone of 102 student startups in a year of lockdown and restrictions truly demonstrates the entrepreneurial spirit of our students.
“I know peer support is a big feature among these company founders, which is doubly impressive in these difficult times. I wish all our entrepreneurs every success with their enterprises, many of which are aiming to tackle important societal needs.”
Since the University launched Reynolds Medical Ltd, its first spinout company, in 1967 staff and student entrepreneurs have founded more than 800 companies. The rate of student startups has grown consistently in recent years and has more than doubled since 2017/18.
Lorna Baird, Student Enterprise Manager at Edinburgh Innovations, said: “The rising number of young people turning their creative ideas into new products and services gives us all grounds for hope for the future.”
The 100 milestone was marked at a Covid-safe celebration at the University’s Student Enterprise Hub, where Collin Powers, founder of startup company Ellyra, demonstrated his virtual reality tennis training software.

Edinburgh Innovations, the University’s commercialisation service, offers entrepreneurial staff and students free support for their business ideas, including one-to-one business advice, access to mentoring networks, accelerator programmes and a busy calendar of enterprise events and competitions. You can find out more on the Edinburgh Innovations website.
Photography: Maverick Photo Agency