A fund supporting entrepreneurs setting up businesses in Scotland has awarded £50,000 to a company that has created online software that lets buyers book viewings and renters pay deposits immediately online.

The Scottish EDGE fund has given the money to Edinburgh University alumni Sam Zawadzki and Bilal Khan for their business Property Technology and its Apply.Property software.

They have also been awarded £97,000 of credits to use technology company IBM’s Bluemix development software to provide them with mentorship and technical guidance.

The Apply.Property tool aims to help high street agents compete with established online agents such as Purplebricks by managing inquiries and the whole listing, viewing and buying process online 24/7.

Clients can book and manage viewings online and complete applications through the system.

It is already used by agents including Rettie & Co.

Zawadzki said: “Technology can really serve to liberate estate agents, removing time-consuming admin like responding to viewing inquiries, or organising paper offer forms.

“Apply.Property quite simply empowers agents, freeing them up and giving them more time for important client-facing work.”

Brian Kennie, marketing leader for IBM Scotland, said that thanks to its support, Property Technology Ltd would now “be able to scale up their solution in the market”.