🎮 Fintechs for FRIL call, Venture Builder Incubator programme expands, US MarketBooster cohort, Investment increase
Here's your Campfire for the 3rd of November, 2025.
💼 Johnston Carmichael are a leading accountancy and business advisory firm, with offices throughout Scotland, in Newcastle and London. A partner owned firm for over 85 years, they have grown to offer core and specialist services to business of all sizes.
With specialist sector teams, they are fast becoming one of the most trusted advisers for entrepreneurs, founders and businesses that are successfully scaling.
Talk to the team today to discuss what growth stage your business is at.
🌊 Updates
🏦 Five Scottish fintech startups have each received £50,000 grants from the Financial Regulation Innovation Lab (FRIL) in Glasgow, following its latest Innovation Call to “develop and test solutions to improve regulatory resilience and drive industry innovation”. They are Profylr (regulatory compliance software), Ionburst (cloud security platform), HAELO (global regulatory horizon scanning), Continuity2 (operational resilience software), and Lupovis (cyber security threat intelligence). DGT
💻 Six Scottish tech firms including Glitchers, Halodrive, Fanbase, ESG360, EPass, and Neuranics have been selected by Scottish Enterprise for the next phase of its US MarketBooster programme. The cohort will spend time in the bay area “gaining market insight, mentorship, and connections to support international growth”. DGT
💲”Venture capital investment” in Scotland increased from £36.2 to £116.1 million in Q3 2025 according to KPMG’s Venture Pulse report. The quarter saw 23 deals completed with software accounting for 30% of all investments. DGT
💡 The University of Edinburgh has expanded its flagship Venture Builder Incubator programme and is opening access to founders from ten Scottish universities. DGT
🎮 The Scottish Games Network has announced More Than Games: Creative Industries Innovation Summit, taking place in Glasgow on November 26, exploring how games technology and “playful thinking” can drive innovation across film, TV, theatre, museums, and more. More information 👉 SBN DN
📣 Asks & Offers
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📅 Events
💸 04/11, 12:00, 🗺️ Glasgow: All About Investing, Lending & Finance: Lunch & Learn A practical session at Barclays Eagle Labs demystifying investment, funding, and financial conversations for founders. MORE INFO
👩💼 04/11, 09:30 🗺️ Glasgow: Female Founder Co-Working Club: A full-day coworking session at Eagle Labs Glasgow for women founders to connect, focus, and stay motivated. MORE INFO
☕️ Unfiltered Series: Open to everyone, join CodeBase to connect with members of the local tech community. Come for a coffee, networking, & build connections!
☕ 04/11, 09:00 🗺️ Inverness: MORE INFO
☕ 04/11, 09:00 🗺️ Stirling: MORE INFO
☕ 04/11, 09:00 🗺️ Dumfries: MORE INFO
☕ 04/11, 09:00 🗺️ Glasgow: MORE INFO
☕ 05/11, 08:30 🗺️ Aberdeen: MORE INFO
☕ 05/11, 08:30 🗺️ Edinburgh: MORE INFO
☕ 06/11, 09:00 🗺️ Dundee: MORE INFO
🍺 06/11, 19:00 🗺️ Glasgow: People, Planet, Pint™ Sustainability Meetup: A relaxed evening for locals to connect, chat sustainability, and share ideas over a pint. MORE INFO
💻 06/11, 18:00 🗺️ Glasgow: Tech Meetup Glasgow: Open to everyone, this informal gathering at The Social Hub welcomes all levels of tech experience for an evening of networking, learning, and community connection. MORE INFO
🧱 10/11, 17:00 🗺️ Edinburgh: Blockchain Scotland Meetup: Monthly gathering at the Bayes Centre bringing together entrepreneurs, developers, and industry leaders to discuss blockchain innovation in Scotland. MORE INFO
💻 11/11, 18:00 🗺️ Dundee: DundeeScript Meetup Monthly meetup for developers in and around Dundee to connect, share ideas, and talk all things JavaScript and TypeScript.MORE INFO
🔌 11/13, 18:00, 🗺️ Glasgow: Founders Unplugged: Burnout, Boundaries and Balance. This event brings together founders, investors, and leaders for an honest, practical discussion on how to stay focused, build resilience, and lead sustainably. MORE INFO
🛠️ 16/11, 10:00 🗺️ Dundee: Makers Gonna Make × State of the Map Europe Edition A full-day build sprint at the Flour Mill where developers, designers, and creators come together to focus, build, and ship projects alongside State of the Map Europe attendees. MORE INFO
💼 18/11, 09:30 🗺️ Edinburgh: Small Business Workshop: Sustainability Join this high impact workshop where you’ll discover ways in which you can run a more resilient, sustainable, and profitable business. MORE INFO
💼 18/11, 08:30, 🗺️ Edinburgh: Business Networking Event: E-commerce Customer Retention & Loyalty, bringing together startup founders, entrepreneurs, and professionals to connect and discuss marketing and advertising. MORE INFO
🍺 20/11, 19:15 🗺️ Edinburgh: People, Planet, Pint™ Sustainability Meetup: A relaxed evening for locals to connect, chat sustainability, and share ideas over a pint. MORE INFO
🌍 20/11, 17:30 🗺️ Edinburgh: TravelTech Meetup (Evening Session) Hosted at CreateFuture, this relaxed networking night features a panel discussion, drinks, and conversations on the future of travel and tech. MORE INFO
💻 20/11, 09:00 🗺️ Online: Scale Your Service Business With Tech: A CodeBase workshop for service-based founders on using technology to grow and scale efficiently. MORE INFO
🖥️ 20/11, 09:00 🗺️ Perth: Perth Tech Mornings: Networking with the local tech and business community. MORE INFO
💡 20/11, 17:00, 🗺️ Edinburgh: Startup Huddle: Edinburgh connect with local entrepreneurs to network, exchange ideas, and share expertise at Bright Red Triangle’s Canalside Office. MORE INFO
💼 25/11, 17:00, 🗺️ Glasgow: Business Networking Event: E-commerce Customer Retention & Loyalty join startup founders and entrepreneurs in Merchant City for an informal evening of networking and discussion. MORE INFO
🧭 26/11, 10:00 🗺️ Online: Techscaler x ScotlandIS Webinar: Learn how early-stage Techscaler members can access ScotlandIS support, free for the first year. MORE INFO
🛡️ 26/11, 18:00, 🗺️ Edinburgh: Network One: Cybersecurity Startups & Professionals Meetup a relaxed evening at Cold Town House for cybersecurity pros, ethical hackers, and startup founders to connect and share insights. MORE INFO
☕ 11/26, 9:00, 🗺️ Edinburgh: Quarterly Networking Breakfast, connecting local founders and professionals over coffee, breakfast, and light networking activities. MORE INFO
☕ 28/11, 7:00 🗺️ Dundee: Coffee Morning @ Flour Mill A casual networking event by Dundee Founders Collective. Share blockers, swap advice, and connect over free coffee from Flour Mill. MORE INFO
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That’s all for this week - have a great one!
Team 🔥 Campfire