🎯 QikServe and Ascensos acquisitions, Leap Automation raise, Aveni win at SFT
Plus more fallout from the Kooble administration
Here's your Campfire for the 30th of September, 2024.
💼 Want to create template legal agreements in minutes for free? Check out what Shepherd and Wedderburn making available for Campfire readers below in the ‘Asks and Offers section’. Also follow the Start to Scale LinkedIn page for useful videos and posts designed to help founders.
🌊 Updates
🎯 The Access Group has acquired Edinburgh-based digital commerce platform QikServe, which will join its hospitality division that offers guest booking systems, point of sale equipment, and table management software. QikServe's growth has been supported by investments from shareholders including Par Equity, Equity Gap, Scottish Enterprise, and Maven Capital Partners. ACS IN
🤝 Indian-based Firstsource (a global business process services provider) has acquired Motherwell-based Ascensos (customer experience outsourcing for retail and eCommerce businesses) for £42 million. Despite the acquisition, Ascensos will continue to operate as a separate business unit, retaining its Scottish headquarters and current CEO. BC
💰 Aberdeen-based Leap AI (Specialising in AI-powered robotic automation specially the food and drinks sector) has raised £7.9 million in a funding round led by £3.5 million from the Scottish National Investment Bank, with support from Mercia Ventures and WA Capital. The company plans to use the investment to accelerate robotics development. IN DGT SE
🏆 Aveni.ai was named Fintech of the Year at the 2024 Scottish Financial Technology Awards. The event, which kicked off the Scotland Fintech Festival, celebrated key players in Scotland's fintech and financial services sectors. Other notable winners included Edinburgh-based car leasing service loveelectric, which took home two awards for Best Start Up and Climate Impact. DGT
🤔 The now-defunct discount voucher platform Kooble, formerly known as 5pm, owes over £1 million to 258 unsecured creditors. The company's collapse left many businesses, including major hotel chains and local merchants, as well as consumers, out of pocket. Customers who purchased vouchers but couldn't use them due to unpaid merchants have been advised to file chargeback claims or register as creditors in the administration process. IN
📣 Applications for the next cohort of the ScaleUpScotland 2.0 programme are now open, targeting high-growth Scottish companies with over £10m in revenue and a track record of year-on-year growth. The programme offers strategic support and peer-to-peer learning, aiming to help these businesses grow their turnover to over £100m. Biotech companies and those with high valuations but low revenue are also encouraged to apply. TS IN
📣 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.
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✍️ Want to write something for Campfire? Have an opinion you'd like to share? get in touch!
📅 Events
🤝 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!
⛾ 02/10, 08:30 🗺️ Stirling , MORE INFO
⛾ 02/10, 08:30 🗺️ Inverness , MORE INFO
⛾ 02/10, 08:30 🗺️ Edinburgh , MORE INFO
⛾ 02/10, 08:30 🗺️ Glasgow , MORE INFO
⛾ 02/10, 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
🤝 03/10, 18:00 🗺️ Glasgow: Tech Meetup Glasgow - October 2024: All are welcome and there is no requirement to have any level of tech knowledge or experience to attend, just a desire to learn. Come along (bring your friends), network and learn something new with us! MORE INFO
🌱 08/10, 10:00 🗺️ Online: Intro to Life Sciences Tech Scaleup Support: Are you a founder or professional in the Life Sciences Tech sector, eager to scale up your startup and bring your groundbreaking software solutions or innovative products to market? Join us for an online event crafted exclusively for the brightest minds in the Highlands and Islands! MORE INFO
💼 09/10, 09:00 🗺️ Aberdeen: Planned Maintenance & Asset Management: Learn to think lean as we support you through the development of a continuous improvement plan aligned with energy transition priorities. MORE INFO
🎤 10/10, 10:00 🗺️ Dundee: Pitch Perfect Presentation Skills: This will be a full day programme from 10:00 till 16:00 with a talk and workshop from Greg Summers on pitching and public speaking and a chance for people to present their practice pitches in the afternoon. MORE INFO
🤝 11/10, 09:30 🗺️ Online: Online Coworking Session - Week 3: 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'
🥂 14/10, 18:00 🗺️ Edinburgh: Startup Founders Meetup - October 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
📅 14/10, 18:30 🗺️ Inverness: Inverness Tech Meetup: No matter your experience level or intentions, please book a ticket as places are limited. MORE INFO
🦅 15/10, 10:00 🗺️ Aberdeen: Eagle Has landed - Barclays Eagle labs October 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
🔗 17/10, 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
📢 17/10, 18:00 🗺️ Edinburgh: Founders Live Edinburgh: Bring your friends and co-workers, grab some food and drink, get to know your local entrepreneurs and vote for the next big thing. With city leader Matthew Cameron. 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.
🇬🇧 Upcoming Innovate UK deadlines:
Cyber Local Applications close 9 October
Contracts for Innovation: AI tools for education Applications close 9 October
Analysis for Innovators Round 14: Stage 1 EOI Applications close 9 October
Quantum CR&D Demonstrators for Position, Navigation and Timing Applications due 9 October
Contracts for Innovation: International Rail Innovation Challenges Applications close 16 October
Biomedical Catalyst 2024 Round 1: Industry-led R&D Applications close 16 October
Innovate UK Smart grants: July 2024 Applications close 23 October
Innovate UK innovation loans future economy: Round 17 Applications close 30 October
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