💰 All about the fundraises: PropEco, Willo, SOLASTA, ILC, Exergy3, HonuWorx

Plus latest application figures from EDGE

Here's your Campfire for the 16th of September, 2024.

🥒 This week, I’m sponsoring Campfire directly for a patently self-serving reason: my new board game, HotShot Pickleball launches on Kickstarter tomorrow, September 17th at 1500. If you like fast-paced board games, puns, or pickles, be sure to check out the video below. Get notified about the Kickstarter here, or join our virtual launch party.

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🌊 Updates

🌱 Glasgow-based climate-tech company PropEco raised £275,000 in seed funding from Symvan Capital and the University of Strathclyde to accelerate the development of its AI-powered property platform helping property professionals, lenders, and insurers assess long-term property value and risks related to climate change and wellbeing. PropEco DGT

🎥 Glasgow-based video interview platform Willo raised £1.8 million, with £1.5 million coming from Mimecast founder Peter Bauer. The platform, used by organisations like the NHS and Samsung, simplifies hiring by allowing companies to vet candidates without scheduling calls or meetings, and is poised for international growth. BC UKTN DGT IN TS

🌿 Glasgow-based agri-biotech company SOLASTA Bio raised over £10 million in a Series A funding round to advance its development of nature-inspired bioinsecticides. The round was led by Forbion, with support from FMC Ventures, Corteva, and other investors, bringing the company's total funding to £14.5 million. DGT SC UKTN

🧬 Glasgow-based biotech company ILC Therapeutics raised £2.5 million, led by Eos, Scottish Enterprise, Medical Incubator Japan and Los Angeles-based lawyer and investor Robert Kopple, to support the pre-clinical development of its lead products, Alfacyte™ and Dermacyte™. IN ACS

🌡 University of Edinburgh spin-out Exergy3 raised £1 million in pre-seed funding to commercialize its ultra-high temperature thermal energy storage system. The round was led by Zero Carbon Capital and aims to support the development of the company’s green energy solution, which stores heat at up to 1,300°C 🔥. IN

🤿 Aberdeen-based underwater robotics company HonuWorx has raised a ‘seven-figure investment’ to enhance its autonomous, all-electric submarines aimed at reducing costs and emissions in offshore repair and inspection. The funding, provided by TRICAPITAL Angels, Scottish Enterprise, and UKI2S, will support the company's efforts to transform operations in the energy and security sectors. SFN

🚀 Scottish EDGE application data has come through: 256 applications for Round 24, marking a 20% overall increase. Key statistics include an increase on all categories except Young EDGE. Decrease of male applicants (down 6%), increase of female applicants (up 5%), and a strong representation from the tech sector, which made up 38% of the total applications.

📣 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.

📢 Una Watch is hiring! Una Watch, an innovative start-up focused on creating a unique, modular, repairable, and upgradeable GPS running watch, is hiring a Digital Marketing Manager. As they prepare for their Kickstarter launch in early 2025, they’re looking for someone to lead their digital marketing efforts. Interested candidates should send their CV and cover letter to admin@unawatch.com. For more details, click 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!

I’ve been designing board games for a while, but this is the first one I’ve decided to launch and share publicly. It’s been a really interesting experience coming from a background in tech to launching a physical product. The timelines and margins are quite different, and the whole process has been a hugely exciting time full of learning. Watching people get joy out of something you created is a pretty satisfying dopamine hit. I’m jazzed to finally see what we’ve been developing for a year get shared with the wider world.

We’re pretty confident in reaching our crowdfunding goal to finance the first run of production, but now we want to see if we can hit that goal within the first day. If you want to help us get there, please share our Kickstarter or video with anyone you know who either a) plays pickleball or b) loves board games.

If you want to watch me likely make a fool of myself live tomorrow Tuesday 17th at 1500 (how many pickles will I eat?), register for our live-streamed virtual launch party here.

Quotes from playtesters and reviewers:

“Super fun. I can see bringing this down to the pub and having a laugh.” - Playtester

“I have no clue what Pickleball is, but it didn’t matter. Had a great time. Corni Shaun is my favourite.” - Playtester

"Both the artwork and humour are as adorable as they are quirky." - Game Time with Ty

"The balance between strategy and luck makes each point exciting, even if you get a bad hand." - Tabletop Children

"A very clever game that really does feel like you're playing a game of pickleball." - Lucy Plays Games

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📅 Events

♻️ 16/09, 12:00 🗺️ Online: Clean Energy Transition Partnership 2024 Research & Innovation Funding Call: Join this webinar and learn about the 2024 CETP funding call, with funding across ten areas that support the energy transition. MORE INFO

👥 16/09, 18:00 🗺️ Edinburgh: Startup Founders Meetup - September 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

🚀 17/09, 12:00 🗺️ Aberdeen: AccelerateHER + Techscaler Meetup: Aberdeen: This Meetup will be a space for women and non-binary founders, of all industries, to come together, hear inspiring stories from fellow founders, and connect for ongoing peer-support. The mission of AccelerateHER is to accelerate growth for UK female founders to scale companies, access investment and be visible to inspire others. MORE INFO

🤝 17/09, 12:00 🗺️ Dunfermline: Dunfermline Founders Meetup: Join us for our Dunfermline Founders meetup! Open to all entrepreneurs, founders, and everyone involved with tech startups in Dunfermline and further across Fife. Come along and meet other founders and members of the CodeBase team. MORE INFO

🍃 17/09, 13:00 🗺️ Online: How to Assess your Product’s (or Service) Carbon Impact: Interested in the net zero credentials for your product or service? Join our free webinar and learn how to quantity the carbon benefits. MORE INFO

♻️ 17/09, 13:30 🗺️ Glasgow: Corporate Connections Sustainability Showcase: Barclays Eagle Labs are helping corporates to find faster solutions to some of the challenges they're facing by harnessing the innovation and agility of startups. In this showcase you will hear from founders, demonstrating sustainable solutions to aid potential challenges across your organisation. The event will include a networking arcade featuring exhibitions and prototypes with the innovators showcasing across the stages. MORE INFO

⚡ 18/09, 12:00 🗺️ Online: Scottish Enterprise Clean Heat Strategic Workforce Development Fund: Are you looking to diversify into the Clean Heat Market, join this Webinar learn about the Clean Heat Strategic Workforce Development Fund. MORE INFO

🔌 18/09, 16:00 🗺️ Montrose: Unplugged Montrose: Open to everyone, CodeBase Unplugged is a networking and information session for those involved with or interested in tech startups. It will be a great opportunity to meet others in the local tech and business community and hear about the support for buildling tech startups offered by CodeBase through the Scottish Government's Techscaler programme. We hope to see you there! MORE INFO

➰ 18/09, 17:30 🗺️ Edinburgh: Prewired: Prewired is here to help enthusiastic young coders of any ability to take their ideas and make it into a software reality. MORE INFO

🍺 18/09, 19:00 🗺️ Aberdeen: Aberdeen - 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

⛺ 19/09, 09:00 🗺️ Aberdeen: Ideation Bootcamp Programme | Aberdeen: ​Join us for an intensive 3-day bootcamp designed to empower BAME entrepreneurs with the skills and knowledge to launch successful startups. Whether you have an existing idea or are seeking inspiration, this event will help you refine your concept and develop a solid foundation for your business. MORE INFO

💼 19/09, 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

🗝️ 19/09, 17:30 🗺️ Edinburgh: Product Therapy Night: Sharing Stories & Solving Challenges: Need a space to vent, share, and learn? Welcome to our first Product Therapy Night—a casual, open forum where product people come together to discuss the highs, lows, and everything in between. Whether you're struggling with stakeholder alignment, juggling too many priorities, or celebrating a recent win, this is your safe space. MORE INFO

📌 19/09, 17:30 🗺️ Glasgow: The Pitch: Glasgow Regional Final 2024: The Pitch is one of the UK's biggest startup competitions, giving startups the support to grow and the platform to raise investment. MORE INFO

🍽️ 19/09, 18:00 🗺️ Edinburgh: Turing Fest Founders Dinners: Where founders & execs of product startups relax together and connect with peers over food and drinks. MORE INFO

🌃 19/09, 18:00 🗺️ Glasgow: FuckUp Nights Glasgow Vol.2: Join us for FuckUp Nights Glasgow Vol. 2, where inspiring speakers will share their stories of professional failures and the valuable lessons they’ve learned. It’s an evening of honesty, growth, and surprises that you won’t want to miss! MORE INFO

🍹 19/09, 18:00 🗺️ Dundee: Dundee & Tayside Founders Mixer: Join us for our Dundee & Tayside founders mixer! Open to everyone involved with tech startups in the region. Come along and try a selection of amazing cheeses from The Cheesery and meet other founders and members of the CodeBase team. MORE INFO

🌐 20/09, 09:30 🗺️ Edinburgh: Internationalisation: Attracting international investors and customers: YCF's annual conference will be exploring the topic of growing young companies by accessing international markets and investors. MORE INFO

🚀 21/09, 10:00 🗺️ Edinburgh: Makers gonna make: If you have a side project or app idea you want to work on but struggle with time or motivation, this monthly event might be for you. It's a space for indie makers to build, hack, and tinker together, with the chance to present your work to a supportive community that values honest feedback and accountability. The goal is to create something from nothing and share it with the world. MORE INFO

📝 23/09, 16:30 🗺️ Online: Access to Finance: Join our free webinar and hear from a panel of experts as they explain the funding available to you and your business. MORE INFO

🦅 24/09, 10:00 🗺️ Aberdeen: Eagle Has landed - Barclays Eagle labs September Drop in Clinic: Drop in and let’s have an open discussion about your business goals and ambition and learn more about how your ecosystem manager here at Eagle Labs can support you and your business here at One Tech Hub. MORE INFO

🌎 24/09, 12:00 🗺️ Edinburgh: Edinburgh International Connectivity and Expansion Roundtable Discussion: Join us for an exclusive roundtable discussion featuring CEOs, entrepreneurs, and academics passionate about international expansion. MORE INFO

🏦 25/09, 08:30 🗺️ Edinburgh: Fintech Summit 2024 – Financial Technology Conference: The conference will reflect on the evolution of financial technology against this backdrop of volatility; considering the key trends, challenges and market disruptions, and discussing the opportunity for Fintech to help customers manage the cost of living crisis and help the country to build back better. MORE INFO

🩺 25/09, 11:00 🗺️ Dundee: Barclays Eagle labs at MSIP September Drop-in Clinic 2024: Drop in, Relax and let’s have an open discussion about your business goals and ambition and learn more about how your ecosystem manager here at Barclays Eagle Labs can support you and your business here at MSIP. MORE INFO

🌐 25/09, 12:00 🗺️ Glasgow: Glasgow International Connectivity and Expansion Roundtable Discussion: Join us for an exclusive roundtable discussion featuring CEOs, scale-up entrepreneurs, and academic experts passionate about international expansion. This event will delve into the strategies and challenges of building international connectivity and achieving successful global expansion led by Open University and TIN Ventures in the lead up to the launch of their Business Export Exchange Programme. MORE INFO

💡 25/09, 15:30 🗺️ Kirkcaldy: Lightbulb Sessions: Fife Creative Tech Workshop and Meetup: The Lightbulb Sessions are monthly workshops looking at a different aspects of data driven theatre: From exploring what data driven tech is and how you could/should use it, to IP and contracts, from finding and commissioning technologists, to designing inclusivity and accessibility into new tech, to thinking about security and ecologically responsible tech. MORE INFO

➰ 25/09, 17:30 🗺️ Edinburgh: Prewired: Prewired is here to help enthusiastic young coders of any ability to take their ideas and make it into a software reality. MORE INFO

💰 25/09, 18:00 🗺️ Glasgow: Funding your Startup: From Bootstrapping to Seeking Investment: A panel of entrepreneurs and investors to share their experiences with different funding routes. Is it the great debate? Bootstrapping vs Seeking Investment? Discover which path might be right for you. Then, it's your time to shine during the community open mic session – share your wins, seek advice, and connect with your fellow founders! MORE INFO

🤝 25/09, 18:00 🗺️ Edinburgh: Entrepreneurs Social Club (ESC) - September 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

🏆 25/09, 18:30 🗺️ Edinburgh: Scottish Financial Technology Awards 2024: The awards is an evening to celebrate the development of the Scottish Financial Technology ecosystem, with a series of awards categories designed to recognise outstanding individual and organisational achievements within the sector. MORE INFO

🥐 26/09, 09:00 🗺️ Edinburgh: Barclays Eagle Labs: Networking Breakfast: Get your business cards ready, and start your day with the Barclays Eagle Labs Professional Breakfast! With coffee and a breakfast roll included, this is the best way to start your business day. MORE INFO

🤝 26/09, 09:00 🗺️ Edinburgh: Edinburgh Professionals Networking - Thurs 26th Sep: This month's meetup activity is still being designed, but make sure to bring plenty of business cards as the activity will get you meeting lots of different people! MORE INFO

🌐 26/09, 10:00 🗺️ Aberdeen: Aberdeen Horizon Europe Ecosystem Session: The session will focus on ecosystem development in Aberdeen, bringing together stakeholders from the region who are interested in taking part in Horizon Europe project partnerships. Funding Call Calendar here. MORE INFO

🎯 26/09, 17:15 🗺️ Edinburgh: Barclays Eagle Labs and CodeBase monthly Quiz - Edinburgh (September): Dave, from Barclays Eagle Labs, and Sarah, from CodeBase, will be hosting a pub quiz each month from the CodeBase, Edinburgh, event space. The winning team will receive a trophy that they can display proudly in their office/on their desk for the month, until someone else tries to win it at the next quiz! MORE INFO

☀️ 27/09, 08:30 🗺️ Dundee: Breakfast Networking at the Flour Mill: Open to everyone, join us in Dundee's Flour Mill to connect with members of the local tech and business community and those who use the Flour Mill. Come along for coffee, breakfast and networking! MORE INFO

💻 27/09, 09:30 🗺️ Online: Online Coworking Session - Week 2: This event is designed to foster accountability and provide a sense of community as participants work together towards their goals. Whether you're a freelancer, entrepreneur, or remote worker, this virtual coworking session offers a platform to share ideas, seek advice, and celebrate achievements. MORE INFO

🤝 27/09, 10:30 🗺️ Dundee: Coworking at the Flour Mill: Join us at the Flour Mill Dundee for a day of free coworking in their space. This is a great opportunity to connect with the local tech and business community, use the excellent facilities available and get an extra dose of Friday motivation. MORE INFO

🤝 01/10, 17:30 🗺️ Edinburgh: Tech Meetup Edinburgh - October 2024: ​​​​The Tech Meetup is a monthly excuse for the tech community around Scotland to network, learn and share new ideas! Come along to enjoy informative presentations from your peers, listen to exciting projects in the community and make some new connections. MORE INFO

☕ Series: Unfiltered: An in-person and informal catch-up with the Scottish Codebase community! Come join us for a coffee!
⛾ 02/09, 08:30 🗺️ Stirling , MORE INFO
⛾ 02/09, 08:30 🗺️ Inverness , MORE INFO
⛾ 02/09, 08:30 🗺️ Edinburgh , MORE INFO
⛾ 02/09, 08:30 🗺️ Glasgow , MORE INFO
⛾ 02/09, 08:30 🗺️ Aberdeen , MORE INFO

⛺ 02/10, 09:00 🗺️ Glasgow: Ideation Bootcamp Programme | Glasgow: ​Join us for an intensive 3-day bootcamp designed to empower BAME entrepreneurs with the skills and knowledge to launch successful startups. MORE INFO

♻️ 02/10, 16:00 🗺️ Online: Scottish Enterprise Clean Heat Strategic Workforce Development Fund: Are you looking to diversify into the Clean Heat Market, join this Webinar learn about the Clean Heat Strategic Workforce Development Fund. MORE INFO

➰ 02/10, 17:30 🗺️ Edinburgh: Prewired: Prewired is here to help enthusiastic young coders of any ability to take their ideas and make it into a software reality. MORE INFO

🎯 Deadlines

📣 Foras has teamed up with Britain's Got Startups to represent Scotland and connect local start-ups and scale-ups with a broad network of investors. Scottish businesses have the chance to showcase their ventures to a range of investors by applying to the Scotland-wide pitching competition, with the deadline on October 1st. Find out more here.

DBT Creative, Media and Sports Economy Roadshow: Driving Success in the USA and Canada - at Queen Elizabeth House, 1 Sibbald Walk, Edinburgh EH8 8FT on Tuesday, 24 September 2024 3:15pm

🇬🇧 Upcoming Innovate UK deadlines:

• Innovate UK Smart grants: July 2024 Applications close 23 October

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That’s all for this week - have a great one!

Team 🔥 Campfire