🐆 Wilson's Foundry launch, Utopi & LendingCrowd in Fast 50, Panther M*lk is headed to Europe
Here's your Campfire for the 11th of November, 2024.
💼 Shepherd and Wedderburn is hosting Patents 101: Getting your IP Investor-Ready.
Covering questions investors are likely to ask about your IP, understanding how to know where you stand with IP created by employees, consultants, and third parties, and the process of enforcing and defending patent claims. More info below.
Tuesday 19 November 2024, from 1730, Edinburgh. Register here.
🌊 Updates
📈 Glasgow-based Panther M*lk, a plant-based alcoholic drink brand, is expanding into European markets in 2025. TS SFN SBN
🌟 Creative entrepreneurs in Glasgow: New creative studio Wilson’s Foundry is opening. Run by the Glasgow City Innovation District at the University of Strathclyde, it offers a “studio-based residency to support innovative and sustainable business ideas”. FS
🚀 Edinburgh University’s Venture Builder Incubator (VBI) 5.0 has launched, now supporting 34 entrepreneurs—up from last year’s 22. VBI helps postgraduates and researchers develop tech-driven solutions for global challenges. This year, it features a new health and social care cohort, and continues its oncology focus with support from Cancer Research UK’s Cancer Research Horizons. DGT
🏅 Two Scottish firms, Glasgow-based Utopi Ltd, and Edinburgh-based LendingCrowd, have secured places in Deloitte’s 2024 UK Technology Fast 50, recognising them as two of the fastest-growing tech companies in the UK. Utopi, an ESG platform for multi-tenant real estate, placed 18th overall and 3rd in CleanTech, with a growth rate of 2,156% over three years. LendingCrowd, a FinTech lending platform, ranked 25th with 1,253% growth. DGT
🌍 Building in Climate tech? Interesting perspective on how because it often involves introducing big changes to hard markets, typical Lean Startup methodologies usually don’t work for climate tech companies. Read more about alternatives here. FM
📣 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.
🔎 Ansearch is looking for beta testers for their new open-source "feature as a service" aimed at making app development faster and easier to maintain. They’re starting with full-text search for RAG and a unified API for CRMs. More information here.
🥃 Are you a problem-solver driven by curiosity and a passion for your work? Do you thrive on deep, meaningful conversations and value fostering long-lasting relationships? Do you love whisky? If so, we invite you to become a founding member of Dram & Discourse. Learn more here
🦅 Barclays Eagle Labs launched their new Eagle Labs Academy, funded by the UK Government. The Academy provides access to free learning content and entrepreneurship training from different sources. Aiming for those starting their journey to those wanting to scale. Aside from the content, Eagle Labs has partnerships and access opportunities with the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology, and their Demo Directory. Find out more here.
👭 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!
Patents 101: Getting your IP Investor-Ready
Shepherd and Wedderburn's Edinburgh Office
Tuesday 19 November 2024 | 5.30pm - 9.00pm
Your start-up company’s intellectual property is key to investment and, ultimately, a successful exit. So, what steps can you take to protect that all-important intellectual property and get it ‘investor-ready’? Join Shepherd and Wedderburn’s IP specialists along with Reddie and Grose’s patent attorney experts for an insightful session answering that question and more.
This session will cover:
The questions that investors are likely to ask about your IP, and how to answer them.
Who owns what? Knowing where you stand with intellectual property created by employees, consultants and third parties.
Enforcing and defending patent claims (and the cost of doing so).
Please join us from 5.30pm onwards for some drinks and networking, with the main discussion starting at 6.00pm. There will then be further networking opportunities after the main discussion has concluded.
📅 Events
👨🏻💻 11/11, 09:00 🗺️ Dundee: Continuous Improvement Business Breakfast Workshop: Interested in understanding the basics of business improvement through team-building and practical exercises? Join our event to learn more. MORE INFO
🍻 11/11, 18:00 🗺️ Edinburgh: Startup Founders Meetup - November 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
🚀 11/11, 18:30 🗺️ Inverness: Inverness Tech Meetup: Whether you're a seasoned professional or tech curious, whether you've attended meetings before or not, and whether you're looking to make new contacts, learn from others, or share your expertise, please book a ticket as places are limited. MORE INFO
✏️ 12/11, 09:30 🗺️ Glasgow: SMAS engaging in Lean workshop: Join this breakfast workshop & learn about what's needed to make sustainable improvement through engagement, lean and supporting behaviours. MORE INFO
📝 12/11, 12:00 🗺️ Inverness: Highland Island Co-operatives Learning Journey: Join this free event and learn more about co-operatives and hear directly from businesses already using this model. MORE INFO
⚡ 12/11, 12:00 🗺️ Inverness: AccelerateHER + Techscaler Meetup: Inverness: Whether you’re working on a fledgling idea for a startup or already in the thick of scaling your business – technology can offer useful solutions to businesses of all shapes and sizes. As a founder, whether in tech or any other sector, you’ll also know that having a community of people to connect with, share knowledge with, and generally find support amongst is invaluable. MORE INFO
🌍 12/11, 17:00 🗺️ Online: Founders Live Prime Time 2024: Europe: Europe’s 5 top-voted founders compete to appear in the Prime Time Global Finals! MORE INFO
☁️ 12/11, 17:30 🗺️ Edinburgh: Cloud Native and Kubernetes Edinburgh: November's meetup is graciously sponsored by none other than the fantastic folks at Grafana Labs! We'll do the usual with doors opening at 6pm for food and drink, and then kick off with the first talk at 6:30pm sharp. MORE INFO
📅 12/11, 18:30 🗺️ Glasgow: November Meetup - Demystifying Auth: Our talks are geared towards introducing members of our community, to facilitate networking, mentorship, learning and collaboration. People with all levels of technical expertise are welcome. MORE INFO
💪 13/11, 09:30 🗺️ Edinburgh: Supply Chain Readiness for Digital Health Innovators: If you are a Digital Health SME, start-up or entrepreneur looking to sell directly to healthcare providers or thinking about working with a large corporate partner, this event will help you to understand your customers’ needs. MORE INFO
💎 13/11, 17:30 🗺️ Edinburgh: Tech Meets Tradition: AI and the Art of the Jewellery Sector: At this event, you can expect to hear from panellists for and against welcoming AI into their day-to-day jeweller practise. MORE INFO
💻 14/11, 08:30 🗺️ Perth: Perth Tech Mornings: Open to everyone, join us in the Famous Grouse Ideas Centre in Perth Creative Exchange to connect with members of the local tech community. Come for a coffee, networking and build connections. MORE INFO
🤖 14/11, 10:30 🗺️ Hawick: AcceleratE - AI for Business Efficiency, Productivity and Creativity: Sign up now for this AI masterclass designed to help you achieve efficiencies, improve productivity and leverage creativity in your business. MORE INFO
💡 14/11, 10:30 🗺️ Perth: Perth Coworking Day: Join us at the Famous Grouse Ideas Centre in Perth Creative Exchange for a day of free coworking. This is a great opportunity to connect with the regional tech and business community, use the excellent facilities available and get an extra dose of Friday motivation. MORE INFO
👉 14/11, 12:00 🗺️ Glasgow: Tech it up a notch: Scaling Scottish innovation: Discussing the challenges and opportunities for tech startups in Scotland and how to support and grow the Scottish tech industry. MORE INFO
🎯 14/11, 12:00 🗺️ Online: Selling Your Business Masterclass: Do you have a business succession plan? Join our free webinar to learn about selling your business to an employee ownership trust. MORE INFO
🍻 14/11, 18:00 🗺️ Lauder: Tech MeetUp - South of Scotland: This event aims to bring together everyone who is interested in tech, those who want to learn more, and want to meet like-minded people. MORE INFO
💡 15/11, 09:30 🗺️ Edinburgh: Good Ideas: Camp: Good Ideas: Camp offers a more detailed dive into Design Thinking Methodology to help turn your good idea into a social business. MORE INFO
✌️ 16/11, 10:00 🗺️ Edinburgh: Makers gonna make - Episode 3: Our monthly event puts emphasis on building, hacking and tinkering with other like-minded makers, followed by an opportunity to present what you did in a community where we help each other, we value honest feedback and help hold each other accountable. MORE INFO
🚀 19/11, 12:00 🗺️ Stirling: AccelerateHer + Techscaler Meetup: Stirling: For women and non-binary folk in the startup world community is even more vital - providing a network to turn to as you hit each milestone, and when you want to give back to the next wave of inspiring women and non-binary entrepreneurs. MORE INFO
💻 19/11, 12:30 🗺️ Online: Meet the Founder: Chris Noble, Lynchpin.ai: Hear directly from Chris Noble as he talks about his journey from founder to Facebook, and back to founder! MORE INFO
🚩✨ 19/11, 17:30 🗺️ Edinburgh: Patents 101: Getting your IP Investor-Ready: Your start-up company’s intellectual property is key to investment and, ultimately, a successful exit. So, what steps can you take to protect that all-important intellectual property and get it ‘investor-ready’? Join Shepherd and Wedderburn’s IP specialists along with Reddie and Grose’s patent attorney experts for an insightful session answering that question and more. MORE INFO
🌎 19/11, 18:30 🗺️ Online: Selling Online series - Understanding your ecommerce customers - online: Learn about selling online as a great way to start, diversify or grow a retail business – and anyone can do it! MORE INFO
💼 20/11, 10:00 🗺️ Dundee: Lawrie Office Hours: Managing and Protecting Your IP: Meet with a Director and Patent Attorney from Lawrie for direct, personalised advice on IP. MORE INFO
📍 20/11, 10:30 🗺️ Inverness: Inverness Pitch Club: A supportive and welcoming environment which gives you the opportunity to practise your pitching skills and gain confidence in talking about your business. We’re here to help from the ground up! MORE INFO
🎯 20/11, 12:00 🗺️ Online: Startup Next Steps Winter '25 Explainer Webinar: 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
🌐 20/11, 17:00 🗺️ Online: Founders Live Prime Time 2024: Global Finals: The five Prime Time regional winners compete for $10,000 in cash and prizes! MORE INFO
🎪 21/11, 09:00 🗺️ Edinburgh: DIGIT Expo 2024: DIGIT Expo is Scotland’s largest gathering of technology personnel; 2023’s event attracted over 1500 delegates. Join to experience a keynote theatre and 3 seminar rooms with talks on Cyber Security, Data, AI, ML, Analytics, Cloud Services, Networks, Connectivity and much more. MORE INFO
💼 21/11, 09:30 🗺️ Edinburgh: eCommerce and Digital Trade Symposium: Join our symposium, where we’ll highlight opportunities and identify steps that organisations can take to improve in the eCommerce channel. MORE INFO
💼 21/11, 10:00 🗺️ Online: CodeBase Online Office Hours: Ian Martin: Your chance to meet with some of CodeBase's senior leaders for a one-one-one chat! MORE INFO
🚀 21/11, 12:00 🗺️ Hawick: Leveraging Artificial Intelligence and Data for Business - Hawick workshops: Join SOSE, alongside Data Understood, and learn how artificial intelligence and data can transform your business over 4 workshops in Hawick. MORE INFO
👔 21/11, 12:00 🗺️ Online: The Employee Ownership Transition: A Deep Dive: Do you want to learn more about the employee ownership trust process? Attend our deep dive interactive workshop to find out more. MORE INFO
👌 21/11, 17:30 🗺️ Edinburgh: Pitch It To Me: One Minute Special: A casual evening of pitching to your peers, with the opportunity to receive feedback from an expert judging panel. MORE INFO
🎢 21/11, 17:30 🗺️ Glasgow: Bridging Communities: The Melting Pot in partnership with Glasgow City Innovation District (GCID), the University of Strathclyde’s Social Innovation Cluster and some of the city's most engaged community builders, are offering a chance to gather, connect and lean into the innovative potential of your local communities. MORE INFO
🍺 21/11, 18:00 🗺️ Glasgow: Glasgow- Small99's People, Planet, Pint™: Sustainability Meetup: Pop down to your local People Planet Pint meetup to find more about what's going on locally with sustainability and how you can get involved. MORE INFO
🥂 21/11, 18:00 🗺️ Dumfries: Tech MeetUp - South of Scotland: This event aims to bring together everyone who is interested in tech, those who want to learn more, and want to meet like-minded people. MORE INFO
📝 21/11, 18:00 🗺️ Dundee: How Not to Get Hacked with Declan Doyle: Join us in the Abertay cyberQuarter or online via Zoom for a hybrid discussion with Declan Doyle of the Cyber and Fraud Centre about the importance of cybersecurity for startups and how to make it a primary concern from the very beginning of your business. MORE INFO
🍺 21/11, 18:30 🗺️ Edinburgh: Edinburgh - Small99's People, Planet, Pint™: Sustainability Meetup: Pop down to your local People Planet Pint meetup to find more about what's going on locally with sustainability and how you can get involved. MORE INFO
🚀 22/11, 09:00 🗺️ Dumfries: Leveraging Artificial Intelligence & Data for Business - Dumfries workshops: Join SOSE, alongside Data Understood, & learn how artificial intelligence and data can transform your business over 4 workshops in Dumfries. MORE INFO
💻 22/11, 09:30 🗺️ Online: Online Coworking Session - Week 6: Join our virtual coworking session and experience a productive and collaborative work environment from the comfort of your own space! In this online gathering, participants will have the opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals, discuss and decide on a specific task or project to accomplish during the day. MORE INFO
🌟 26/11, 10:00 🗺️ Glasgow: Build an EVP to Improve Talent Attraction and Retention: Join this event in Glasgow and learn more about the importance of employer brand and value propositions. MORE INFO
🩺 26/11, 11:00 🗺️ Dundee: Barclays Eagle labs at MSIP November Drop-in Clinic 2024: Drop in and let’s have a chat about your business goals and ambitions here at Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc. MORE INFO
📝 26/11, 17:30 🗺️ Edinburgh: Scottish Notion Meetup: Enjoy excellent chat, with speakers and case studies to develop your Notion knowledge. With free soft drinks and food, this is the perfect post-work hangout. MORE INFO
🥂 26/11, 17:30 🗺️ Edinburgh: Cheers to Change: Navigating the Menopause with Smart Choices: Celebrate World Menopause Day by joining this empowered and inclusive discussion on menopause and HRT, alcohol and wellness. MORE INFO
🥼 26/11, 17:30 🗺️ Edinburgh: Barclays Health Elevate Scotland: Your chance to showcase your business innovations and discover how to navigate commercialisation in life sciences. MORE INFO
🎯 26/11, 18:30 🗺️ Online: Selling Online series - Learning from ecommerce competitors - online event: Learn about selling online as a great way to start, diversify or grow a retail business – and anyone can do it! MORE INFO
🍁 27/11, 11:00 🗺️ Glasgow: Startup First Steps Autumn '24 | Week 10 | Showcase: Join us for an impactful day of connection and reflection as we mark the end of the Autumn ‘24 cohort of Techscaler Startup First Steps. MORE INFO
🥂 27/11, 18:00 🗺️ Edinburgh: Entrepreneurs Social Club (ESC) - Edinburgh Startup Meetup: The social club for founders and aspiring entrepreneurs - skip the talks, presentations and lectures - and go straight to networking! MORE INFO
🌍 28/11, 09:45 🗺️ Edinburgh: Scottish EDGE Round 24 Live Final: Round 24 of the UK's BIGGEST small business funding competition will take place on 28th November at RBS Conference Centre with the latest batch of finalists pitching for up to £100,000 in funding. This year's event promises to be one of the most exciting yet, with a brand-new format designed to enhance your experience. For the first time, the usual two-day schedule will be condensed into a dynamic, single-day event, all while expanding the offering for attendees. MORE INFO
💼 28/11, 10:00 🗺️ 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
🩺 28/11, 10:00 🗺️ Aberdeen: Eagle Has landed at One Tech November Drop in Clinic: Drop in and let’s have a chat about your business goals and ambitions here at One Tech Hub. MORE INFO
👥 28/11, 17:00 🗺️ Stirling: The Social: Game Night with Ping Creates!: Join us for this month’s exciting social event, where we’re bringing the community together in a relaxed, fun atmosphere! This time, we're teaming up with Ping Creates! to celebrate their rebrand in style—featuring awesome video games that will light up the Stirling hub. MORE INFO
✍🏼 28/11, 17:30 🗺️ Edinburgh: Barclays Eagle Labs and CodeBase monthly Quiz - Edinburgh (November): Join us for this month's pub quiz - bringing together the CodeBase and Edinburgh community for a bit of fun! MORE INFO
💼 28/11, 17:30 🗺️ Galashiels: Business & Community Networking (Galashiels): Join us at a town near you for one of our informal networking sessions, open to all! Find out all about SOSE and what we can do for you. MORE INFO
🥂 28/11, 18:00 🗺️ Glasgow: Tech, Toasts, & Ten Years: Startup Grind Scotland Christmas Party!: Join us to celebrate the season and raise a toast to another fantastic year with the Startup Grind Scotland community. This year, we’re also marking a major milestone: 10 years of Startup Grind supporting and shaping Scotland’s startup landscape. So much has transformed since 2014 - let’s celebrate just how far we’ve come together! MORE INFO
🎯 Deadlines
📣 Royal Academy of Engineering – Shott ScaleUp Accelerator Now Open:
Are you a senior business leader looking to scale up your engineering or tech SME? Apply now for 12 months of 1-2-1 coaching and leadership training with a grant up to £10k. Apply Here by 19 November
🚀 Nominations for the ScotlandIS 2025 Digital Technology Awards are open: Celebrating innovation and talent in Scotland's digital economy and marking its 15th year, the awards include 10 categories. Nominate here by 9 January 2025.
🇬🇧 Upcoming Innovate UK deadlines:
Eureka Globalstars Japan Round 3 Applications close 4 December
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That’s all for this week - have a great one!
Team 🔥 Campfire