🙉 Got my first real Songbox, bought it at the five and dime + Fintech confidence, cyber security news, Scottish EVs, SPACE
This week, we hear about space news, opportunities for those building in cyber security and biotech, news from Munro, more cofounder profiles, and we're finding it hard to belieeve, we're in heaven (promise, no more Bryan Adams quotes).
But first - we've been down that road before... (okay one more).
Here's your Campfire for 24th of July 2023.
💼 This issue of Campfire is caffeinated by Shepherd & Wedderburn, the legal firm that's there for you every step of the way. Read how Shepwedd has helped founders like John Gordon from Incentive Games below.
🙊 Conversations matter
By Robert Gelb
Last week, the Scotsman published an article I wrote about the state of spinouts and the perception that universities saddle the spinout with so much dead equity that it adds unnecessary complication (and difficulty) to fundraising.
It prompted quite a bit of spirited discussion and debate, from all sides of the issue. That's one reason we started Campfire - to raise issues and views publicly that are often widely shared in private, and doing so in a way that (hopefully) invites response.
We need more of this kind of discussion and debate in Scotland to break down some of the cliquey barriers that exist.
Often people don't feel comfortable sharing critical opinions publicly. Founders worry it will affect their ability to win grants or raise investment. Investors worry it might hurt their relationship with founders or public sector orgs. Those with power in public sector organisations (including universities) worry they will be at risk of further funding, management changes, or labeled as anti-entrepreneur.
Getting people together and declaring Chatham House Rules doesn't work when there's a lack of inherent trust in one another to want to improve the status quo. Instead, there's a fear of judgement and recrimination and each is left to their own echo chamber.
But if we can figure out ways to break through the cliques and feel a willingness to be heard by the other side, then we can work towards mutual, and the entire ecosystem's, benefit. An article is itself imperfect because to illustrate a point of view it runs the risk of alienating those you wish to engage, and I'd welcome an improvement. Any ideas? We should all want to give it a try.
Acknowledging that there's nuance and complexity in any issue is the first step in developing, debating, and incubating new ideas.
If you have a view or an opinion that you'd like to share that might spur conversation: get in touch - that's why we started Campfire. If you're not comfortable penning it yourself, we can still find a way to express it that respects the nuance and invites a conversation.
Want to write about an aspect of being a founder? Get in touch and suggest a topic!
🤝 Cofounder Curious
Listings this week include:
Competitive, creative scientist turned CEO
Terrible scientist, once a lab-based biologist now turned venture builder in the bio & tech world
Non-technical generalist and go-to-market (GTM) expert with 10y of experience working in and selling to corporates, growing scaleups and helping hundreds of pre-seed and seed-stage founders
20 years of experience in market research and a BA in Graphic Design
Tech startup entrepreneur with a background in physics
Plus more interested in community, edtech, and biotech.
Want to connect with any of them? Be sure to fill out your profile and join our Scottish-based Cofounder Curious list.
🌊 Updates
✨ Scotland's space industry generated £3.1bn in turnover in 2022. Scottish aerospace generated £1.1bn during the same period. DGT
⛳ Edinburgh-based Shot Scope (golf performance wearables) raised an undisclosed amount from PE firm Growthdeck to power expansion into the US. TS
🐬 According to a new poll from advisory firm FRP, 40% of Scottish Fintechs are uncertain about surviving until 2024. That compared with the Midlands (58%) and North East England (56%). TS
🔐 Building in cybersecurity? ScotlandIS and Scottish Enterprise is funding 6 cyber firms to travel and exhibit at the International Cyber Expo in London in September. To be eligible, you must have a cybersecurity product, be registered in Scotland, and be actively seeking investment. Deadline is August 14. More info here. FS SS
🚙 Glasgow-based 4x4 EV startup Munro vehicles is planning a £1.5m crowdfund after follow-on investment from Elbow Beach Capital. UKTN
🎮 FanDuel has launched a STEM returners programme to get more women into the gaming tech industry. SS DGT
🦠 Building in biotech and looking for a community? Scotland’s Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBioIC)'s membership is now above 150 companies with over half based in Scotland. FS
🇨🇦 Baby you're all that I want: Singer Bryan Adams has joined Glasgow-based Songbox (private sharing of audio files and playlists - like Docsend for demos) as a cofounder. BBC
🥃 Next stop: carbon negative whisky?? Chivas Brothers (makers of the Glenlivet) has decided to open source its heat recovery tech that helps reduce carbon emissions. TS
📣 Asks & Offers
👭 Interested in connecting with possible co-founders? Fill in your listing on Cofounder Curious today! Connect with others for possible cofounder matching here.
🙋 Interested in being a COO/CEO? A successful startup (12-15 people) are looking for someone to lead it into its next phase. Seeking a founder mentality who is willing to experiment and explore new avenues while being in charge of the company's operations. A great opportunity for the right person who can have a genuine impact on the company in an exciting industry (Earth Science Tech). Reply to this email for more info.
✍️ Want to write something for Campfire? Have an opinion you'd like to share? get in touch!
🎓 Useful finds
💻 Looking for a no-code app builder like Bubble, Glide, Adamo? Momen is relatively new on the scene and their templates are apparently excellent to get MVPs of marketplaces, social networks, AI apps, SaaS off the ground quickly.
🔎 TextQL has released Ana, the (apparently) privacy-first AI data assistant. Finally, an end to SQL queries?! (a girl can dream).
💰 Shipshape.vc is a search engine for founders to find appropriate investors in their space for better investor outreach.
🦸 Absolute Superheroes
"John Morrison and Joe Fitzgibbon are absolute superheroes within the Scottish ecosystem. They're always there to help my company and other startups. From free mentoring in the early days, quality advice, even the occasional office space to use in Edinburgh and London, they are genuinely there to help out while still being cost-effective." - John Gordon, CEO & Co-founder, Incentive Games
Shepherd & Wedderburn's innovative and personable approach helps companies from first incorporation onwards (including through to an exit – if that’s the goal). Their global reach means they can scale and grow with you, like they have with clients like Epic Games, FanDuel, Parsleybox, and TVSquared.
👉 To learn more, send an email to starttoscale@shepwedd.co.uk & set up a chat.
📅 Events
💻 25/07, 17:30 🗺️ Edinburgh: ProductTank Pub Night: Deep dives into product design, development, management & marketing. MORE INFO
🐊 25/07, 18:00 🗺️ Dundee: Dundee Data Meetup: a vibrant community-driven event that brings together data enthusiasts, professionals, and curious learners to explore the captivating world of data and its applications. MORE INFO
🏄♀️ 26/07, 12:00 🗺️ Glasgow: AccelerateHER + Techscaler Meetup: Glasgow and West (women & non-binary): Whether you’re working on a fledgling idea for a startup or already in the thick of scaling your tech enterprise, having a community of folks to connect with, share knowledge with, and generally find support amongst is invaluable. MORE INFO
🤝 26/07, 19:00 🗺️ Edinburgh: Entrepreneurs Social Club (ESC): The social club for founders and aspiring entrepreneurs - skip the talks, presentations and lectures - and go straight to networking! MORE INFO
🧗♀️ 27/07, 10:00 🗺️ Online: Inspired confidence! (Scottish Women in Business): Panel discussion featuring chat about their journeys, and how they have inspired confidence in themselves and others. MORE INFO
🔌 27/07, 16:00 🗺️ Aberdeen: Unplugged Aberdeenshire: Open to everyone, CodeBase Unplugged is a networking event for professionals working in, or interested in, tech startups. MORE INFO
🎲 27/07, 17:00 🗺️ Stirling: The Social: CodeBase Games: Calling all game lovers to play, have some fun and catch up with the community. Join us for food and beverages both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. MORE INFO
🧑🎨 27/07, 18:30 🗺️ Edinburgh: Creative Edinburgh Summer Party!: As freelancers, we often miss out on office parties, so here is an opportunity to mingle and make meaningful connections with new friends in the industry. MORE INFO
🤝 28/07, 08:30 🗺️ Stirling: Let's Network at CodeBase Ltd [Stirling]: This Networking Series will be hosted by some fantastic Chamber Member Venues across the Forth Valley, with exciting new locations in Stirling, Clackmannanshire, and Falkirk every month! MORE INFO
💻 01/08, 17:30 🗺️ Edinburgh: Edinburgh Tech Meetup: The original Edinburgh Tech Meetup is back and booming. We have some interesting speakers, talks and games lined up with lots of time for networking. MORE INFO
☕ 02/08, 08:30 🗺️ Multiple: Unfiltered Series: An informal catch-up with the digital tech community. Open to everyone. STIRLING ABERDEEN EDINBURGH GLASGOW DUNDEE INVERNESS
🚶 04/08, 12:30 🗺️ Edinburgh: Netwalking Event: Join this Mindful Netwalking experience: Meet other Founders, enjoying the healthy way to network, inspired by a gentle walk. MORE INFO
🎉 10/08, 16:00 🗺️ Aberdeen: Techscaler Summer Sessions: North East: Celebrate the activity which has taken place across the region since the launch of Techscaler, to meet with other members and share success stories, and to enjoy some food, drink and music with the community. MORE INFO
Deadlines
🎯 02/08 🧗♂️ Scottish EDGE: 4 categories:
Scottish EDGE: early-stage companies/social enterprises across all sectors - £100k, 30% grant, 70% loan
Young EDGE: all directors are under the age of 30 - £15k grant
Wildcard EDGE: pre-trading companies, sole-traders and partnerships - £15k grant
Social Enterprise EDGE: Social Enterprises who clearly demonstrate how their business enriches communities and makes a contribution to society - up to £75k, 70% grant, 30% loan
🎯 Open 💡 Applications are open for the RBS Accelerator programme MORE INFO
🎯 14/08 🔒 Funded places to International Cyber Expo in September (travel and exhibiting space). MORE INFO
🎯 22/08 🏗️ CivTech 9 Challenge call deadline for companies to submit proposals for a share of £7.8 million of contract opportunities for teams and businesses able to solve problems for government backed agencies and organisations in Scotland.
🎯 01/09 🤓 Applications are now open for the Scottish Cyber Awards. MORE INFO
🎯 01/10 ♻️ TechX Accelerator: Cleantech at a tech readiness level of 2-6, up to £100k in grant or SAFE note, 15 week programme with 3 weeks expected in Aberdeen. Looking for "diverse, innovative start-ups that will pave the way in clean energy." MORE INFO
🇬🇧 Upcoming Innovate UK deadlines:
Unlocking Potential Begin (£5k grants for business ideas) Submissions close 6 September
Unlocking Potential Build (£50k grants for business ideas) Submissions close 6 September
Ofgem Round 3: Call for Ideas Submissions close 21 August
India – UK Collaborative R&D for industrial sustainability Applications close 6 August
UK-Israel Eureka Bilateral Collaborative R&D: Round 2 Applications close 13 September
Innovate UK Smart grants: June 2023 Applications close 27 September 2023
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