🚀 Launchpad raise, Edinburgh gets an 'AI Factory Antenna', Euan's Guide, plus sign up to hire local talent by the 30th
Here's your Campfire for the 20th of October, 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
🤖 Edinburgh and New York-based Launchpad raised £8.2m in Series A funding, investors include the Scottish National Investment Bank, Lavrock Ventures, and Squadra Ventures. The firm develops AI and robotics tools to help smaller manufacturers automate operations across the UK, US, and Europe. IN DGT ST
🏛️ The University of Edinburgh will host a new €10m UK AI Factory Antenna (UKAIFA), “connecting UK firms to Europe’s supercomputing network to advance AI in sectors such as health, fintech, and engineering.” Funded by the EU and UK Government, the hub will employ 20 staff and support businesses and researchers in developing AI literacy and adoption. DGT IN
♿ UK charity Euan’s Guide founded by Edinburgh-based founder Euan MacDonald who passed away last year from Motor Neurone Disease (MND), has relaunched its disabled access information platform. The platform helps disabled people find and share access reviews, following survey results showing 74% of disabled people say inaccessible transport affects their lives. EG
🎓 Reminder: Scotland’s Startup Careers Fair connects students and graduates from 19 universities and 24 colleges with early-stage employers. Startups can list paid roles, projects, or micro-internships for free here before October 30.
📣 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.
👭 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!
📅 Events
🚀 21/10, 18:00, 🗺️ Edinburgh: Founders Meetup Edinburgh Tactical fireside chats with experienced entrepreneurs and speed networking with other founders, potential cofounders, and investors! MORE INFO
🚶🏻♂️22/10, 08:30, 🗺️ Edinburgh: Netwalking in the Park, Join this Mindful Netwalking experience: Meet other Founders, enjoying the healthy way to network, inspired by a gentle walk. MORE INFO
✈️ 22/10, 12:30 🗺️ Edinburgh: TravelTech Meetup (Lunchtime Edition) Join founders and technologists at the Edinburgh Futures Institute for lunch, networking, and a reverse pitch from TUI’s Chris Carmichael on TravelTech collaboration. MORE INFO
♻️ 23/10, 19:00, 🗺️ 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
👾 23/10, 17:30, 🗺️ Edinburgh: Build with AI: The Lovable Hackathon An AI hackathon with Lovable: form a team (or watch as a spectator) to build apps from scratch using plain-English prompts, then pitch and test the results live. MORE INFO
♻️ 23/10, 18:15, 🗺️ 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
💻 23/10, 17:30, 🗺️ Edinburgh: Build with AI: The Lovable Hackathon, Join AI Builders for a hands-on hackathon using Lovable, the no-code platform that turns plain English prompts into real apps. MORE INFO
💻 24/10, 09:30, 🗺️ Edinburgh: Bayes and ScotlandIS Founders Hub, Join us at The Bayes Centre for our regular weekly co-working Fridays designed specifically for founders building scalable technology businesses. MORE INFO
🛜 27/10, 10:00, 🗺️ Edinburgh: UNITE Digital Health Scottish Matchmaking Event, This free in-person event connects Scottish businesses and stakeholders in digital health to encourage knowledge exchange and collaboration. MORE INFO
♻️ 28/10, 09:00, 🗺️ Edinburgh: Greentech Meetup: Edinburgh Remakery, Building Your Local Circular Economy, Join their monthly meetup where we bring the Edinburgh Greentech community together for a learning session, networking & a spot of breakfast. MORE INFO
🤖 29/10, 18:00, 🗺️ Glasgow: Startup Grind Glasgow: Myth-busting AI: Lightning Talks & Debate, Join us for an evening of fast-paced lightning talks and an open panel debate that cuts through the buzzwords and how to move from hype to ROI and gets to the heart of what AI really means for startups, entrepreneurs, and innovators. MORE INFO
🎉 30/10, 19:30, 🗺️ Edinburgh: The Melting Pot turns 18! Join members, friends, and partners for an informal evening of stories, cake, drinks, and networking celebrating Scotland’s Centre for Social Innovation and the community that made it possible. MORE INFO
💬 30/10, 10:00, 🗺️ Aberdeen: Barclays Eagle Labs Drop-In Clinic stop by ONE Tech Hub to chat with the Barclays team about your business goals, challenges, and growth opportunities. MORE INFO
💸 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
💼 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, 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, 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, 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
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That’s all for this week - have a great one!
Team 🔥 Campfire