🦅 Recast return and raise, Simul8 digital twin, Reactec profitability
Plus a new startup from the founders of Boundary and GCID's Venture Studio launches
Here's your Campfire for the 15th of July, 2024. Well done to the Turing Fest team for another great event last week. Special thanks to Shepherd & Wedderburn for hosting the official Turing Fest Networking Drinks, and to Johnston Carmichael for hosting our Pitched Your Idea session.
💼 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 founding team of EPOS (Exited to Zettle which exited to PayPal), and Boundary are back with a new startup in the EPOS space: Seamless POS aims to revolutionise hospitality with iPad and cloud-based POS solutions, enhancing operations for food trucks, cafes, and restaurants. Lnkdn
💰 Edinburgh-based Recast (fintech-for-media platform), the company that went into administration last year, is back, and has raised $5m from Morpheus Ventures with additional investments from Airstream Ventures and Cooley. SBN TS DGT
🌐 Glasgow-based Simul8 (specialising in real-world simulation tech) is developing a digital twin for the NHS to address backlogs. Simul8 collaborated with NHS boards in Scotland and trusts across the UK to enhance hospital patient flows and reduce bottlenecks. FS DGT
🌱 Edinburgh-based Reactec (a tech firm that focuses on reducing workplace risk) has become profitable and expanded global sales in 2023. The company experienced its busiest year ever, with significant international growth, including a stronger presence in the US. Reactec's products, like the R-Link smartwatch, monitor vibration exposure to help prevent hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS). SS TH
🚀 Glasgow City Innovation District (GCID) announced a new package of startup challenges, grants, and support, referring it as a 'Venture Studio’. It’s been developed to ‘help Glasgow-based founders turn new ideas, products, and business models into high-growth companies, while also promoting social innovation and community benefits.’ DGT SS
📊 Scottish spinouts get over 1/5th of spinout investment deals in the UK. Despite recent declines in the UK equity market, overall investment values have risen by 182% in the past decade, with deal numbers up by 42%. In 2023, Scotland accounted for nearly one-fifth of all UK equity deals involving university spinouts. The University of Strathclyde and the University of Edinburgh were among the top five institutions nationally for spinout activity. It would be interesting to see the figures without funding from gap funders like Scottish Enterprise included. DGT IN
📈 Scotland had 142 foreign direct investment (FDI) projects in 2023, a 12.7% increase from 2022, according to EY’s annual Scotland attractiveness survey. This marks the fifth year of growth for Scotland, surpassing both the UK and Europe, which saw a 6% increase and a 4% decline, respectively. YNews
🌸 New Summit: Pathways Forward will host the Female Founders Growth Summit in Edinburgh on September 5th, in collaboration with Female Founders Rise. The event aims to support female founders in scaling their businesses by providing networking opportunities with investors from across the UK and insights from established founders. Lnkdn SBN DGT
📣 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.
🗣️ Faur, a new Edinburgh-based strategic communications collective, is offering a free Communications Strategy to supercharge one Scottish startup. You can find more details here, and have until Wednesday, 17th July 2024 to register interest.
🥃 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!
📅 Events
🩺 16/07, 10:00 🗺️ Edinburgh: Health startup de-risking: Uncover the human in healthcare: A reflective 90-minute workshop to learn how understanding the human experience behind the patient/user label will help expand your evidence base and reduce your risk. MORE INFO
🤔 17/07, 17:30 🗺️ Online/Edinburgh: Cofounder Curious: How to find the right cofounder in Scotland and beyond: You can expect to learn practical tools and tips to help you on your cofounder search, as well as prompts to reflect on your startup vision as a way to guide you when connecting with a potential cofounder. MORE INFO
🏠 18/07, 11:00 🗺️ Online: Utilising AI to future-proof homes: A free-to-attend webinar that will explore how emerging AI technologies can be utilised to assess and manage the climate risks facing UK properties. MORE INFO
⛓️ 18/07, 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
🍺 18/07, 18:30 🗺️ Dundee: Dundee - 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
🔌 23/07, 12:00 🗺️ Kirkcaldy: Unplugged Kirkcaldy: This event aims to bring together entrepreneurs, techies, creatives, students, investors, and other regional stakeholders to network and share ideas. It is open to everyone. MORE INFO
📢 23/07, 18:00 🗺️ Edinburgh: Founders Live Edinburgh: For the first time ever in Scotland! Founders Live is an unforgettable competition sweeping the globe where five handpicked companies take the hot seat, with only 99 seconds to pitch their company and describe their value proposition in front of an eager audience. MORE INFO
🔗 24/07, 09:30 🗺️ Glasgow: Engaging in Lean: Join us and become a cultural enabler that delivers sustainable improvement through engagement, lean and supporting behaviours. MORE INFO
💬 24/07, 11:00 🗺️ Dundee: Barclays Eagle labs at MSIP July 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
🔌 24/07, 12:30 🗺️ Edinburgh: Presentation Club: Join us for a supportive and friendly afternoon of public speaking practice for people in the tech startup world. MORE INFO
🚀 24/07, 17:30 🗺️ Edinburgh: AI, Cryptocurrency and the Third Sector: Our fourth and final event in the series is a roundtable presenting the expectations and uses of cryptocurrency in the Third Sector. MORE INFO
🏖️ 25/07, 16:00 🗺️ Dumfries: South of Scotland Summer Social: We are excited to invite you to our first Summer Social in the South of Scotland, where innovation meets community! Whether you're a seasoned tech professional, a passionate hobbyist, or just curious about the tech world, this is the perfect opportunity to connect, share ideas, and have a great time, in a relaxed and informal setting. MORE INFO
👥 25/07, 17:00 🗺️ Stirling: The Social at CodeBase Stirling: Open to everyone, this is an in-person celebration to connect and catch up with the CodeBase and Central Scotland community. MORE INFO
🎯 25/07, 17:15 🗺️ Edinburgh: Barclays Eagle Labs and CodeBase monthly Quiz - Edinburgh (July): Join us for this month's pub quiz - bringing together the CodeBase and Edinburgh community for a bit of fun! MORE INFO
👾 25/07, 18:00 🗺️ Dundee: Cyber for Startups 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
🎯 25/07, 18:30 🗺️ Edinburgh: ProductTank Edinburgh Social @ Beehive Inn: This event is an excellent opportunity for product enthusiasts, professionals, and those interested in the industry to connect with like-minded individuals in the vibrant product community. MORE INFO
🦅 30/07, 10:00 🗺️ Aberdeen: Eagle Has landed - Barclays Eagle labs July Drop in Clinic: Drop in and let’s have a chat about your business goals and ambitions here at One Tech Hub. MORE INFO
🍻 30/07, 18:00 🗺️ Dundee: Dundee Data Meetup: Welcome to the monthly recurring Dundee Data Meetup, a vibrant community-driven event that brings together curious learners, data enthusiasts and professionals to explore the captivating world of data and its applications. MORE INFO
📅 31/07, 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
🤝 06/08, 17:30 🗺️ Edinburgh: Tech Meetup Edinburgh - August 2024: The Tech Meetup is a monthly excuse for the tech community around Scotland to network, learn and share new ideas! MORE INFO
🛈 07/08, 17:30 🗺️ Edinburgh: Inclusive Innovation: Ensuring No one is Left Behind: This inspiring event will bring together women from different backgrounds to explore experiences of social innovation. MORE INFO
🎯 Deadlines
📣 The Tech Trailblazers Awards are open for nominations The first independent global awards dedicated to enterprise tech startups, have opened nominations for their 13th edition. Covering 13 tech categories, along with Firestarter, Diversity, Investment, and individual CxO leadership categories, these awards recognise and celebrate cutting-edge enterprise tech innovation from young startups worldwide. Learn more here. (SS)
🇬🇧 Upcoming Innovate UK deadlines:
UK-Taiwan CRD 2024 Applications close 17 July
Innovate UK Smart grants: April 2024 Applications close 24 July
Europe Quantum Technology CR&D 2024 Applications close 28 August
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That’s all for this week - have a great one!
Team 🔥 Campfire