An entrepreneur from the School of Informatics has won first prize at the University of Edinburgh's Startup Summer Accelerator Showcase. Winners Diego Gallegos and Amirreza Sarencheh of Tokenive. CREDIT Edinburgh Innovations and Maverick Photography. Tokenive, founded by Informatics alumnus and postdoctoral researcher Amirreza Sarencheh alongside co-founder Diego Gallegos, was awarded £6,000 after being named the winner of the programme's 5-minute pitch competition.The award was presented at the Startup Summer Accelerator Showcase, where founders pitched their ventures to a panel of investors, industry experts and members of Scotland's entrepreneurial ecosystem.From Informatics research to startup successAmirreza completed his PhD in Computer Science at the University of Edinburgh in 2025, specialising in cryptography, blockchain technologies and digital identity systems. He is now a postdoctoral researcher in the School of Informatics.His research focuses on developing secure and privacy-preserving digital systems, with work spanning cryptographic protocols, decentralised identity and financial technology.Alongside his academic work, Amirreza co-founded Tokenive, a startup focused on helping organisations verify information more securely while protecting user privacy. Tokenive takes first place Tokenive replaces document-based verification with instant cryptographic proof, allowing institutions to verify the authenticity of information without relying on manual checks or extensive document sharing.The technology is designed to help organisations reduce fraud risk, improve efficiency and protect sensitive personal data. The company is developing solutions at the intersection of cryptography, digital identity and artificial intelligence, applying Informatics research to real-world challenges faced by businesses and institutions. Startup Summer Accelerator Run by Edinburgh Innovations, the Startup Summer Accelerator is a three-month programme that helps students, graduates and staff develop business ideas through funding, mentoring and practical training.Participants receive support from founders, investors and industry specialists, culminating in a showcase event where they present their ventures to potential investors and partners.The 2026 cohort included founders from across the University working on innovations in areas including healthcare, AI, financial technology, transport, sport and education. Informatics representation in the 2026 cohort The School of Informatics was represented by more than one venture in this year's cohort.Alongside Tokenive, Informatics postgraduate student Avantika Ghosh took part with Dobby Layer, a startup focused on improving fairness and efficiency in blockchain transactions. Read more Read the full Edinburgh Innovations story about the Startup Summer Accelerator Showcase and this year's winners This article was published on Monday 31 August 2026
