🚚 Podfather and Neuranics raise, new Climate Tech accelerator in Glasgow, Meetup & Event fund
Here's your Campfire for the 14th of April, 2025.
💼 This issue of Campfire is sponsored by Geovation Scotland. If you’re building in land, property, and location technologies, make sure you read more about Geovation Scotland’s Accelerator launch below.
🌊 Updates
📈 Edinburgh-based logistics software firm Podfather (enterprise fleet operations platform) raised £3.4m from Maven Capital Partners as part of the Investment Fund for Scotland. The funding will “help Podfather scale its cloud-based platform used across industries like construction, food & drink, and healthcare.” SBN UKTN DGT
💰 Glasgow University spinout Neuranics raised $8M to scale its magnetic sensing technology for use in XR, wearables, and digital health. The funding, led by Blackfinch Ventures with support from Archangels, Par Equity, and university funds, will “boost global growth and accelerate innovation across its core TMR tech.” DGT
🚀 Edinburgh-based IT professional Sharon Ward has launched My Trolley Mate, a clip-on phone holder designed to make supermarket shopping easier by keeping phones accessible for lists, apps, and budgeting. Inspired by a frustrating Covid-era shopping trip. SS IN
🎯 A new Glasgow-based climate tech accelerator, Powering the Future, is launching to support 30 Scottish startups with tailored guidance and investment opportunities. Run by Sustainable Ventures and Barclays Eagle Labs Ecosystem Partnership Programme (funded by the UK Government). There are three strands of support available: Idea, Idea-to-Venture, and Venture stage. More info here. IN SFN
🤝 Want to run meetups and events in Glasgow? Glasgow City Council has re-opened two Tech Ecosystem Subsidies, one for events (up to £10k) and meetups (up to £1k). More info here.
🔬Building in DeepTech? The Shott ScaleUp Accelerator from the Royal Academy of Engineering is now open. The Shott Scale Up Accelerator is “a programme empowering senior leaders with the insights and leadership skills needed to scale successfully”. Apply by 20th May.
📣 Asks & Offers
🚨Start to Scale by Shepherd and Wedderburn is offering eligible subscribers of Campfire exclusive access to their ‘Start to Scale Hub’ which helps companies create template legal agreements in minutes for free. To learn more and request access click here.
👔 Firstport is hiring a Growth Advisor (part-time, 2-year contract) and an Investment Associate (full-time, permanent) to support social entrepreneurs scaling their impact. Both roles are home-based with access to the Edinburgh office. Deadlines and more information: Growth Advisor – 28th March, Investment Associate – 9th April.
💻 Looking for an early-stage fractional CTO? Carlos Fontana is an Edinburgh-based experienced tech leader with over a decade of success guiding teams and defining architecture. He is the kind of technical leader who thrives where vision meets execution. He specialises in defining architecture from the ground up, building systems that are both scalable and secure, and organising technical priorities that set teams up for long-term success. If you’re looking for technical leadership support, connect and reach out to Carlos—let’s build something that matters.
👭 Interested in connecting with possible co-founders? Fill in your listing on Cofounder Curious today! Connect with others for possible cofounder matching here.
👷Are you hiring? Send us a blurb and we’ll include it in the next newsletter!
✍️ Want to write something for Campfire? Have an opinion you'd like to share? get in touch!
📍“A place to work, funding, connections, it's all there.”
by Robert Gelb, written in partnership with Geovation Scotland
Geovation Scotland is a collaboration between Registers of Scotland and Ordnance Survey, that exists to encourage land, property, and location innovation in Scotland. Its accelerator programme supports and empowers early-stage founders to bring new location data and property services to market.
I connected with two members of the most recent cohort, Nick Sutton from EmergencyLocate and Polly Wong from WFHere to learn about their experiences with the accelerator and how they think it’s helped their business.
If you think the Geovation Scotland accelerator programme could help your company, apply for the upcoming accelerator (applications close April 25th)!
Why Geovation Scotland?
Polly’s platform connects remote workers with underused local spaces, so location is key to what they do, “A big part of what we’re building relies on geolocation data, and being part of the programme gave us access to both the data itself and Geovation’s wider network. It also connected us with a cohort of founders who were going through similar challenges—we’ve been able to support one another throughout the journey.”
Location was a similar motivator for Nick to initially seek out Geovation Scotland for his platform which helps emergency, search, and rescue organisations pinpoint exactly where help is needed. However, there was an added element, “As a solo “everything” and doing everything myself, it's really easy to get locked into what it is that you're trying to achieve. I didn’t know what support was available.”
The fact that the programme includes funding as well is also important, “The funding allowed us to bring on our first software engineer, which has been a huge help to our technical co-founder and accelerated our product development,” Polly adds.
What are the best aspects?
Community is a key component of the accelerator, and for both founders, it was true of their experience.
“Definitely the sense of community and peer support, which has made a real difference,” Polly says, “On top of that, the mentoring and coaching sessions have been game-changing—not just for shaping the business, but for us as founders, too. It’s helped us with validation and making clearer decisions about our direction.”
For Nick, the added-value of the wider community has been massive, “I have been introduced to some absolute rock star mentors and have had guidance from places that just would not have been possible without the support and facilitation of the accelerator. I was really surprised about the background and the quality of the mentors that are involved in the accelerator. Some of those mentors have even chosen to continue working with me after the accelerator ends, which is a huge complement.”
Nick also highlights the importance of the in-person days, “There are something like 20 or so throughout the course of the accelerator, and it's really good to get together with the rest of the cohort and previous cohort companies and see how the other cohorts are solving the same problems that we come up against. Even though our businesses might be at different stages of development, there's an aspect where you might be able to exchange some advice and learn from each other."
Where would you be if you hadn’t taken part?
Both founders were quick to point out the gap in progress they felt the accelerator helped them bridge.
“Without the accelerator, we definitely wouldn’t have progressed as quickly or as confidently as we have. The validation piece was key for us. It gave us structure, accountability, and access to resources we wouldn’t have had otherwise,” Polly says.
Nick is even more blunt, “I would definitely be banging my head off the desk of my office repeatedly.” For him, the accelerator has helped him cement his direction, “I now have a really clear understanding of all the things I wasn't doing before or was kind of averagely doing or even doing badly. I have a really clear understanding and a clear pathway of how I'm going to get this business to where I want it to be, and feel like now I've got the tools and resources to make that happen.”
Who would benefit most from the accelerator?
For Nick, who wasn’t aware of all the support that was available, the accelerator has been a game-changer, and is something he’d encourage others like him to explore, “I would say stop or pause what you're doing and ask for some help, even if you don't take the help, just having a really good understanding of what is available to you. A place to work, money, connections, it's all there.”
Likewise for Polly, it’s an opportunity to focus your energy and make meaningful progress, “The programme is ideal for early-stage founders who’ve already started building and have some initial validation, but now need support to get to the next level. If your business relies on geolocation or spatial data, it’s especially relevant. It’s also perfect for founders who are looking for a supportive environment—one where you’ll get out what you put in. If you can dedicate the time and headspace, it can really move your business forward.”
Nick agrees, “There's so much of it there for you to benefit from if you're if you're that person that's got an idea where you're developing the business but if you're doing it on your own and you're struggling, then think about the accelerator. It's absolutely been the best decision that I've made for this business so far.”
Applications are open now and close April 25, 2024. To check out former cohort members, head here. Follow Geovation Scotland on LinkedIn, and find the application here.
📅 Events
🚶 17/04, 09:00 🗺️ Edinburgh: NetWalking in the Park (April 2025): Join this Mindful Netwalking experience: Meet other Founders, enjoying the healthy way to network, inspired by a gentle walk. MORE INFO
🎥 17/04, 17:30 🗺️ Edinburgh: Founders Live Edinburgh: The ultimate entrepreneurial experience and global pitch competition returns to Edinburgh! MORE INFO
💼 21/04, 11:00 🗺️ Online: Online Office Hours with Henderson Loggie: Meet with the Corporate Finance Team of Henderson Loggie, a leading independent accountancy and business advisory firm based in Scotland. MORE INFO
🦾 21/04, 11:00 🗺️ Online: The AI-Powered Business: How Businesses Can 10x Their Productivity Webinar: The Best AI Tools to Automate Your Workflow and Free Up Time. MORE INFO
🌎 22/04, 10:00 🗺️ Online: Scale Your Service Business With Tech- Hybrid Event - Dumfries and Online: Do you run a service-based business, and are looking for inspiration on how you can grow and scale efficiently through technology? MORE INFO
🎯 22/04, 13:00 🗺️ Online: The IP Power Hour: IP Essentials for Founders: Join us for a value-packed webinar with Lawrie, where we'll dive into the world of IP! MORE INFO
⛓️ 22/04, 17:00 🗺️ Edinburgh: Blockchain Scotland Meetup: Welcome to the Monthly Blockchain Scotland Meetup at the Bayes Centre in Edinburgh. The event takes place at the ground floor in G.03. MORE INFO
🎯 22/04, 17:30 🗺️ Edinburgh: Edinburgh Can B: All welcome to join, if you are interested in helping create positive change for people and planet in Edinburgh. MORE INFO
🤝 22/04, 18:00 🗺️ Edinburgh: Startup Founders Meetup - April 2025: Tactical fireside chats with experienced entrepreneurs and speed networking with other founders, potential cofounders, and investors! MORE INFO
🍽️ 23/04, 12:00 🗺️ Aberdeen: LUNCH & LEARN EVENT - LEARN HOW TO FRANCHISE YOUR BUSINESS: Discover the ins and outs of franchising your business - let's turn your business into a successful franchise. MORE INFO
☕ 23/04, 17:30 🗺️ Edinburgh: ProductTank Community Flash Talks - Share your story!: This month, we’re mixing things up with a night of community flash talks—short, informal talks from fellow product people about the messy, unpredictable, and very human side of product work. Not only do we want to hear success stories, we want to hear stories about things that didn't go right and learn how to bounce back (while having a little laugh). MORE INFO
📍 23/04, 19:15 🗺️ Edinburgh: Introduction to Improvisation skills at Work with Julia Knight: This session is for people who are interested in people, team, leadership and organizational development and who wants to be share their interest with others. MORE INFO
💻 24/04, 10:00 🗺️ Glasgow: Co-Work Club Glasgow: Tired of the home office grind but not ready for the daily commute? Say goodbye to crowded coffee shops and the endless search for a quiet Zoom spot. MORE INFO
🌍 24/04, 17:00 🗺️ Aberdeen: Latitude 57° Meets Latitude 59°: A Startup Crossroad for Aberdeen & allinn: Whether you're an early-stage founder, investor, or part of the Aberdeen startup ecosystem, this is your chance to connect, learn, and grow with one of Europe’s leading startup nations. MORE INFO
💬 24/04, 17:30 🗺️ Edinburgh: TestTalks: Edinburgh: Join us at TestTalks: Edinburgh for a evening of engaging discussions and insights on all things testing! MORE INFO
🍻 24/04, 18:30 🗺️ Edinburgh: Rust and Friends (evening pub). MORE INFO
🤝 25/04, 09:00 🗺️ Edinburgh: Founder Friday Coworking: Join us for a day of networking and inspiration! this is your chance to connect with fellow founders, share ideas, and maybe even spark your next big project. MORE INFO
💡 25/04, 09:30 🗺️ Edinburgh: Good Ideas: Camp: Are you passionate about creating change? Whether you're an early-stage innovator or have an idea that you’re unsure how to move forward, Good Ideas: Camp is for you. MORE INFO
🥐 25/04, 10:00 🗺️ Aberdeen: Aberdeen - Small99's People, Planet, Pastry: Meet others interested in sustainability in your community, share local stories and ideas, and accelerate local climate action. MORE INFO
🍻 24/04, 13:00 🗺️ Edinburgh: Rust and Friends (evening pub) MORE INFO
🎤 25/04, 15:00 🗺️ Online: Practicing your Pitch: Storytelling: Our Practicing Your Pitch season is focused on supporting startup founders as they get ready to present their ideas. Through a series of interactive online sessions, we'll be looking at different aspects of pitching and how a good pitch can change the journey of your startup. MORE INFO
👨🏻💻 26/04, 09:30 🗺️ Edinburgh: Vibe coding for everyone: Intense, specialist lead, 3 hour long, hands on workshop focusing on teaching you the latest AI tools and how to interact with them to get them to do what you want. MORE INFO
🔎 29/04, 10:00 🗺️ Glasgow: From Risk to Resilience: The Critical Role of Testing & QA in Startups: Join us for a hands-on session showing how smart testing can reduce risk, protect reputation, and boost quality — without slowing you down. MORE INFO
🌐 29/04, 10:00 🗺️ Edinburgh: Co-Work Club Edinburgh: Tired of the home office grind but not ready for the daily commute? Say goodbye to crowded coffee shops and the endless search for a quiet Zoom spot. MORE INFO
🩺 29/04, 10:00 🗺️ Aberdeen: Barclays Eagle Labs at One Tech Hub Drop in Clinic Apr 2025: Drop in and let’s have a chat about your business goals and ambitions here at One Tech Hub. MORE INFO
🚀 30/04, 12:00 🗺️ Online: Boost Sales & Streamline Operations Webinar: AI can enhance your Shopify store by automating tasks, personalising customer experiences, and optimizing sales strategies. MORE INFO
🥂 30/04, 18:00 🗺️ Edinburgh: Entrepreneurs Social Club (ESC) - April 2025: Skip the talks, presentations and lectures - in favour of going straight to the bar, where real connections are made! MORE INFO
🎯 30/04, 18:30 🗺️ Edinburgh: MLOps Meetup Apr 2025: 🍺 Beer and 🍕 Pizzas this evening come from our Sponsor, Skyscanner. MORE INFO
💡 01/05, 08:30 🗺️ Edinburgh: Financial Services Technology Summit 2025 – Edinburgh: The conference will host 300+ attendees, 20+ speakers and 15+ exhibitors. The Summit will explore the transformative impact of technology on the modern FS enterprise and examine advancements in Cloud, AI, Blockchain and Payments, to the regulatory impact of Customer Duty, SDR, DORA & NIS2. MORE INFO
💼 01/05, 12:00 🗺️ Online: Online Office Hours with Lawrie: Managing and Protecting Your IP: Meet with a Director and Patent Attorney from Lawrie for direct, personalised advice on IP! MORE INFO
👨🏻💻 01/05, 12:00 🗺️ Galashiels: Borders Tech Connect Launch MeetUp: A new community of students, businesses, and technologists working together to build digital skills and tools for the Scottish Borders. MORE INFO
💻 06/05, 17:30 🗺️ Galashiels: South of Scotland Low Carbon Workforce Event: Join South of Scotland Enterprise, Borders College and HeatSource for this low carbon workforce networking event. MORE INFO
🗽 06/05, 12:00 🗺️ Edinburgh: US Expansion Lunch feat. Wilson Sonsini - Approval Only: The topic of discussion? US Expansion hosted by Daniel Glazer, who leads the US Expansion group and London office at Silicon Valley-headquartered Wilson Sonsini. MORE INFO
🌟 06/05, 13:00 🗺️ Edinburgh: Unlocking Success: Women, Tech & Investment: This exclusive event brings together female founders, investors, and tech leaders to tackle the challenges and opportunities women face in the industry. With interviews, panels, and roundtables, we’ll dive into everything from resilience in entrepreneurship to cracking the investor code, building power networks, and securing funding beyond the usual channels. MORE INFO
🤝 06/05, 17:30 🗺️ Edinburgh: Tech Meetup Edinburgh - May 2025: The Tech Meetup is a monthly excuse for the tech community around Scotland to network, learn and share new ideas! Enjoy informative tech presentations from your peers, hear about exciting community projects and create new connections. MORE INFO
📌 28/05, 08:30 🗺️ Glasgow: Building a winning team: How can your tech company recruit and retain the right people?: Join Shepherd and Wedderburn’s legal experts as they answer that question and more, before considering industry success stories with guest panellist, Anne-Sofie Lagander. MORE INFO
🚀 26/05, 18:00 🗺️ Glasgow: Kicking off Glasgow Tech Week: From Scotland to the World. Scotland’s tech ecosystem is thriving, and the world is watching. Join us for a fun summer evening with Startup Grind Glasgow full of inspiring conversations, valuable connections, and insights on taking your startup from Scotland to the world. RSVP here
📍 29/05, 17:00–22:30 🗺️ Glasgow: TecTonic Night Summit at Barras Art & Design: An immersive evening of curiosity, connectivity, and community. Join 400+ founders, creatives, tech professionals, and ecosystem builders for exhibitions, innovation showcases, mentorship sessions, and more as part of Glasgow Tech Week. MORE INFO & 50% DISCOUNT
🎯 Deadlines
Royal Academy of Engineering – Shott ScaleUp Accelerator Now Open
Are you looking to take your DeepTech business to the next level? Apply now to join the Shott Scale Up Accelerator, a programme empowering senior leaders with the insights and leadership skills needed to scale successfully. Apply by 20th May.
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That’s all for this week - have a great one!
Team 🔥 Campfire