✈️ Foras cohort announced, Nucleus acquisition, the search for Amelia Earhart
Plus lots of great events and new Innovate deadlines.
Here's your Campfire for the 19th of February, 2024.
💼 Thinking about EMI schemes or share incentives? On 12 March, Shepherd and Wedderburn and Deloitte are hosting a breakfast panel discussion titled "Share Incentives: What I wish I had known!" Find out more and register here.
🌊 Updates
🛫 A 14-person cohort of Scottish tech entrepreneurs has been selected to travel to Austin, Texas next month for the South By Southwest (SXSW) technology conference as part of the Foras excursion initiative. They include: 1nhaler, Alitu, Black Goblin, Drimify, FC Labs, Forumm, Gibson Robotics, Ionburst, Konpanion, Lenz Labs, Nursery Story, Raven Controls, Reath, and Siccar DGT
🔎 The Hunter Foundation has opened applications for the next cohort of the Scale Up Scotland initiative targeting businesses with over £1m in revenue who have the growth potential to reach £20-30m. Paid programme, applications close Feb 29. TS DGT
💰 Edinburgh-based Nucleus Financial Platforms (an adviser platform group with over £80 billion of assets under administration from 250,000 customers) announced the acquisition of Third Financial for an undisclosed amount. DGT
📉 88 company insolvencies registered in Scotland as of January 2024, which is 19% lower than the number in January 2023, according to The Insolvency Service. SFN
🚀 Twelve startups including Airspection and Apleum will receive up to £100,000 each after joining the Aberdeen-based TechX programme by the north east’s Net Zero Technology Centre Full list 👉 FS IN
📑 👉Take this survey. The annual EIE investor showcase in Edinburgh will canvass views of Scotland-based tech startups and founders to dispel investor concerns about the market north of the Border. FS
🛰️ Bathgate-based Clarus Networks will provide satellite connectivity to help a deep-water search vessel attempt to solve one of the greatest mysteries in aviation to find the ‘lost plane’ of early aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart (we all really know she’s in the Delta quadrant though). FS SBN
👩⚖️ Aberdeen-based Elevator (a social enterprise supporting entrepreneurship), has launched a new programme to help women in Scotland turn their business aspirations into reality funded by the Scottish Government through their Pathways Fund. DGT
🌱 Glasgow-based agritech startup Solasta Bio is moving closer to market following successful field trials of its green bioinsecticides. DGT
🎯 Building in Climate? The Net Zero Technology Centre (NZTC) has announced the launch of its horizon scanning service, tailored to give industry, supply chain, and investors with bespoke insights into net zero technologies and projects, industry trends, global investments, and policy shifts. DGT
✨ Barclays Eagle Labs and Edinburgh-based AccelerateHER are starting a new accelerator programme that will welcome a 100 companies aimed at empowering female entrepreneurs in the technology sector with funding from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). SFN DGT
🚨 The new rules increasing the income requirements for angel investors in the UK have now come in, prompting criticism, especially for how it may affect investors based in the north of the UK, as well as female investors and underrepresented groups. A ‘high net worth individual’ will now need an annual income of £170,000 in the last financial year – a jump from the previous income of £100,000 – or net assets of at least £430,000. The changes came in at the 31 of January. PN
🎗️ Two Scottish entrepreneurs, Jessica Watson and Isla Telfer, have found GLORIAH, a menopause-focused personal care brand selling products to manage the first signs of the menopause, after watching their friend go through the life-changing transition at 25. IN
📣 Asks & Offers
🍳 Fancy breakfast? We’re planning to pilot a monthly founders breakfast in Edinburgh to meet and get to know one another over… breakfast. Interested in joining? get in touch!
👭 Interested in connecting with possible co-founders? Fill in your listing on Cofounder Curious today! Connect with others for possible cofounder matching here.
✍️ Want to write something for Campfire? Have an opinion you'd like to share? get in touch!
Share incentive schemes are a popular and effective way for UK emerging growth companies to recruit, incentivise and reward the key individuals that they need to grow their businesses. However, if not implemented and managed correctly, the existence of share incentive arrangements can significantly increase the complexities involved in delivering an eventual “exit”.
Join Shepherd & Wedderburn and Deloitte for a breakfast panel discussion that centres on the team's experience of dealing with share incentives in corporate transactions.
Key discussion topics:
Practical issues that arise as part of a due diligence or transaction process that could have been avoided by implementing relatively straightforward processes and checks at an early stage in the incentive lifecycle
How to ensure EMI plans deliver their intended benefit
The importance of the right approach to documentation and tax valuation for share acquisitions
A “client’s-eye-view” of managing a recent transaction involving a number of employee option holders, with David Jolliffe, CFO of Novosound
Panel:
David Jolliffe, CFO, Novosound
Arran Simpson, Reward Partner, Deloitte
Stephen Trombala, Corporate Partner, Shepherd and Wedderburn
Rodger Cairns, Employee Share Scheme Partner, Shepherd and Wedderburn
📅 Events
♻️ 20/02, 09:00 🗺️ Edinburgh: How Can You Make Your Freelance Practice More Sustainable? [Edinburgh]: Join us and our expert facilitator Mary Michel from Ostrero at CodeBase for a friendly, practical discussion. MORE INFO
🤝 20/02, 09:30 🗺️ Online: Online Coworking Session - Week 5: Join us for an accountability session and let's get things done in 2024! MORE INFO
⚤ 20/02, 12:00 🗺️ Online: Closing the Gender Pay Divide: Strategies for Success: This online session is for employers who want to understand the root causes of the gender pay gap and how they can relate to their business. MORE INFO
🛠️ 20/02, 13:30 🗺️ Galashiels: Demystifying Tech [Galashiels]: Session 2 of our Intro to Tech Series - brought to you by South of Scotland Enterprise, SRUC, Borders College & Techscaler. MORE INFO
👩🏻💼 20/02, 17:30 🗺️ Dundee: Female Founder Meet Up - Elevator, Techscaler and AccelerateHER [Dundee]: You are personally invited to an exclusive evening for female and non-binary founders to network, learn and share your business experiences. MORE INFO
👩🏼💻 20/02, 17:30 🗺️ Edinburgh: Digital Skills 4 Girls: AI Adventures [Edinburgh]: In this session is led by Karam Helmi, we'll be learning about and using AI. MORE INFO
👩🏼💻 20/02, 17:30 🗺️ Stirling: Digital Skills 4 Girls [Stirling]: Digital Skills 4 Girls is a monthly workshop for girls and non-binary people who want to learn new digital skills or develop existing skills. The recommended age for attendance is 10-15. MORE INFO
🔌 21/02, 11:30 🗺️ Eyemouth: Unplugged @ Hometown Hub [Eyemouth]: Open to everyone, CodeBase Unplugged is a networking event for professionals working in, or interested in, tech startups. MORE INFO
⚕️ 21/02, 16:00 🗺️ Edinburgh: Edinburgh Medtech Forums: Join us at the Edinburgh Medtech Forums on February 21, 2024 for an exciting in-person gathering of medtech enthusiasts! MORE INFO
🚀 21/02, 16:00 🗺️ Glasgow: From startups to standouts: In two insightful panel discussions, you'll connect with and learn from successful founders, early-stage entrepreneurs, funders, investors, and partners who are shaping the future of Scotland’s startup landscape. MORE INFO
📅 21/02, 18:30 🗺️ Striling: Techmeetup Stirling February 21st: We meet in Codebase Stirling every month on the third Wednesday from 18:30. TM Stirling is about meeting other people involved in tech, learning something and chatting. MORE INFO
📈 22/02, 08:30 🗺️ Edinburgh: Scaling your business: what you need to know?: Join Burges Salmon and YCF for a half day seminar which explores the key things to consider when scaling your business. MORE INFO
💼 22/02, 12:00 🗺️ Online: Selling your business masterclass: Do you have a business succession plan in place? Have you considered selling your business to an Employee Ownership Trust? MORE INFO
🎬 22/02, 12:00 🗺️ Glasgow: Future Ready Digital Programme: Join this five week programme and gain the insights and tools to help your business harness the full potential of emerging technologies. MORE INFO
🎯 22/02, 14:00 🗺️ Online: Startup Next Steps Explainer Webinar [Online]: Join us for this informal online explainer event where we'll unpack what our upcoming course is and if it's right for you! MORE INFO
💡 22/02, 17:30 🗺️ Edinburgh: ProductTank Edinburgh February Social: Join ProductTank Edinburgh for an exciting evening of networking and camaraderie at our first casual pub meetup of 2024! MORE INFO
💬 22/02, 18:00 🗺️ Dundee: Dundee Founders Social: Join our first Founders social of the year on 22nd February. Try some great cheeses from Dundee's Cheesery and network with other founders. MORE INFO
💡 22/02, 18:00 🗺️ Glasgow: CES Unveiled: Inside stories from 'the most powerful tech event in the world' (Startup Grind): This February once the dust has settled we're going beyond the hype and bringing you exclusive inside stories from those that were there. MORE INFO
🏆 22/02, 19:00 🗺️ Stirling: Stirling Business Awards 2024: Techscaler is proud to sponsor the Stirling Business Awards 2024. MORE INFO
🔗 26/02, 17:00 🗺️ Edinburgh: Monthly Scottish Blockchain Meetup: Welcome to the Monthly Scottish Blockchain Meetup at the Bayes Centre in Edinburgh. The event takes place at the ground floor in G.03. MORE INFO
🍃 27/02, 08:30 🗺️ Edinburgh: Edinburgh GreenTech Meetup: An opportunity for those working in or interested in sustainability, greentech, or climate work to come together and learn from each other. MORE INFO
⚡ 27/02, 09:00 🗺️ Edinburgh: Edinburgh Professionals Networking: We wanted to bring together our local network, here in Edinburgh, as a way of introducing them to each other. MORE INFO
🤝 27/02, 09:30 🗺️ Online: Online Coworking Session - Week 6: Join us for an accountability session and let's get things done in 2024! MORE INFO
✍ 27/02, 12:00 🗺️ Edinburgh: Getting Ready to Scale: Join us for a workshop, with Prof. Stelios Kavadias, Cambridge Judge Bus. School, discussing key areas of success on the growth journey. MORE INFO
⚤ 27/02, 12:00 🗺️ Online: Closing the Gender Pay Gap: Steps You Can Take: Identify inequalities in your business and learn practical steps from experienced practitioners that can help you tackle the issue. MORE INFO
⚡ 27/02, 13:00 🗺️ Aberdeen: Energy Transition Tech Bridge Programme - Information Event [Aberdeen]: Unlocking Digital Innovation to Support the Transition to Green Energy at ONE Tech Hub, Aberdeen. MORE INFO
🔎 27/02, 17:15 🗺️ Edinburgh: Barclays Eagle Labs and CodeBase monthly Quiz - Edinburgh (February): Join us for this month's pub quiz - bringing together the CodeBase and Edinburgh community for a bit of fun! MORE INFO
👥 27/02, 18:00 🗺️ Dundee: Dundee Data Meetup: Join us every last Tuesday of the month. MORE INFO
📌 27/02, 18:00 🗺️ Edinburgh: Startup Founders Meetup - February 2024: Each month, we'll have a combination of tactical fireside chats with experienced entrepreneurs and plenty of opportunities to network with other founders, potential cofounders, and investors. MORE INFO
💼 28/02, 09:00 🗺️ Belshill: 2-Day Employee Ownership Learning Journey to Renfrewshire and Lanarkshire.: Attend this free learning journey to employee-owned companies in Renfrewshire and Lanarkshire to learn about their successes and challenges. MORE INFO
🌿 28/02, 09:30 🗺️ Glasgow: CAN DO Innovation Green Heat Feasibility Call Showcase: Join us as we showcase 16 projects supported by our Green Heat Feasibility Call that can help tackle heat decarbonisation in Scotland. MORE INFO
💡 28/02, 10:00 🗺️ Edinburgh: AI Readiness – Your Key to Success: Learn how to drive business success using AI and data. Available to Scottish SMEs from all sectors. The third of a four-part series. MORE INFO
🖧 28/02, 12:00 🗺️ Edinburgh: Speed Networking for Startups [Edinburgh]: Join us for facilitated networking with people from the local startup community. MORE INFO
🎢 28/02, 16:30 🗺️ Inverness: Bridging Communities - Inverness: Get ready to connect, collaborate, and build relationships at "Bridging Communities" on February 28th. MORE INFO
🎯 28/02, 17:30 🗺️ Edinburgh: Acquired by Meta, Building Teams in Silicon Valley & Back for Startup #2: Tell-all fireside chat with Varun Nair (Ex-Meta, Co-Founder & CTO of That Works) MORE INFO
🥂 28/02, 18:30 🗺️ Edinburgh: Entrepreneurs Social Club (ESC) - February 2024: Welcome to our monthly Entrepreneurs Social Club (ESC) gathering! Skip the talks, presentations and lectures - in favour of going straight to the bar, where real connections are made! MORE INFO
🗻 29/02, 08:30 🗺️ Edinburgh: ITSX Summit 2024 – Service Desk Conference Scotland: Scotland’s in-person Service Desk and IT Support Conference with keynotes, workshops and exhibitions. MORE INFO
🦘 29/02, 13:00 🗺️ Kilmarnock: LEAP! Celebrating Scotland's Giant Leap into the Space Sector: LEAP! Celebrating Scotland's giant leap into the Space Sector. MORE INFO
💬 29/02, 17:00 🗺️ Striling: The Social at CodeBase Stirling: Open to everyone, this is an in-person celebration to connect and catch up with the CodeBase and Central Scotland community. MORE INFO
🎤 29/02, 17:30 🗺️ Edinburgh: Pitch It To Me [Edinburgh]: Casual evening of pitching to peers within Tech startups - practice your pitching and receive valuable feedback in a welcoming environment. MORE INFO
💼 12/03, 08:30 🗺️ Edinburgh: Share Incentives: What I Wish I Had Known! Join Shepherd and Wedderburn and Deloitte for a breakfast panel discussion that centres on the team's experience of dealing with share incentives in corporate transactions. MORE INFO
🎯 Deadlines
📐 The Royal Academy of Engineering’s Enterprise Fellowships: A twelve-month accelerator programme designed to support talented university graduates to transform breakthrough engineering innovations into disruptive engineering and tech spinouts. Grants of up to £75k. Applications close 26 February 2024.
🇬🇧 Upcoming Innovate UK deadlines:
UK and South Korea data driven urban innovation Bi-Lateral Applications close 21 February 2024
Creative Catalyst 2024 Applications close 6 March
Eureka collaborative R&D: Eurostars 3 Call 6 Applications close 14 March
Unlocking nature positive private investment Applications close 10 April
UK-Switzerland CR&D Round 2 Applications close 1 May
UK - Germany Bilateral: Collaborative R&D Round 3 Applications close 3 June
Are we missing your event or deadline? 👉 Submit it here!
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That’s all for this week - have a great one!
Team 🔥 Campfire