Scotland’s games industry received a boost last week as three innovative businesses – Haggis Studios, Glitchers, and Theria Games Ltd – were announced as winners in the highly competitive Scottish EDGE Round 25 awards. The results, unveiled at a ceremony on May 29th, 2025, saw a total of £1.2 million in grant and loan funding distributed to some of Scotland’s most promising early-stage businesses.
Scottish EDGE, the UK’s biggest funding competition for startups, once again highlighted the dynamism and entrepreneurial spirit thriving across various sectors in Scotland, with the games industry making an increasingly strong showing. This round saw 42 businesses from 19 different local authority areas emerge victorious, each securing vital funding to help scale their operations and realise their ambitious plans.
The Scottish EDGE Round 25 Winning Games Businesses Are:
- Haggis Goes Wild Studios, an Edinburgh-based company, impressed the judges with their innovative approach to game development, securing £15,000 in the Wild Card category for pre-trading companies.
- Glitchers, also based in Edinburgh and known for their impactful games, received £75,000 to further their work on ‘A Fitbit for your brain: a mobile game that tracks cognitive performance to detect issues earlier, starting with Alzheimer’s dementia. Following the studio’s groundbreaking work on Sea Hero Quest.
- Theria Games Ltd, from Stonehouse, a mobile gaming hub and resource, was awarded £10,000, for their work across guides, wikis and how-to’s for the leading mobile games titles.
This follows the news that Edinburgh’s Wardog Studios secured £75,000 in round 24 of Scottish EDGE to begin work on the studio’s first original IP project.
Scotland’s Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said:
Scottish EDGE has played a central role in supporting emerging entrepreneurial talent and innovative business ideas for many years and I am proud that the Scottish Government continues to be long standing partner of the awards.
I am also pleased that a growing number of businesses and private investors are supporting the vision behind Scottish EDGE. Scotland’s entrepreneurs and start-up businesses are the lifeblood of our economy and we must do all we can to encourage and foster the incredible talent and innovation in evidence right across the country.
Evelyn McDonald, CEO of Scottish EDGE, echoed this sentiment, commenting:
Reaching our 25th round is a true testament to the resilience, ambition and creativity of Scotland’s entrepreneurial community. With every round, we continue to see businesses not just innovating, but actively contributing to a better future, whether it’s through sustainability, social impact, or cutting-edge technology. We’re incredibly proud to support them on their journeys and excited to see what the future holds for this new group of winners.
The Scottish Games Network extends its warmest congratulations to Haggis Studios, Glitchers, and Theria Games Ltd, and indeed to all the winners of Scottish EDGE Round 25. This recognition and support are invaluable, particularly for creative tech businesses, and underscore the potential for Scottish games companies to make a significant impact both nationally and internationally.
The next round of Scottish EDGE, Round 26, is anticipated to open for applications in July 2025, offering further opportunities for Scotland’s burgeoning games startups.