🏥 ScreenIn3D, Impact Recycling raise, Craneware Rebuff, Supercomputer back on
Here's your Campfire for the 16th of June, 2025.
💼 This issue of Campfire is sponsored by Shepherd and Wedderburn's initiative to supercharge start-ups and scale-ups. Be sure to follow the Start to Scale LinkedIn page for useful videos and posts designed to help founders.
🌊 Updates
💰 Glasgow-based ScreenIn3D, a University of Strathclyde spin-out, raised £750,000 in seed funding to accelerate its breakthrough “lab-on-a-chip” cancer drug testing technology. The platform enables developers to test dozens of treatments on tiny patient-derived tumour samples, offering a faster, more accurate alternative to animal testing. The round was led by TRICAPITAL Angels Ltd, and included participation from Scottish Enterprise, Gabriel Investments, and international backers. SBN TH SS ACS
🏥 Edinburgh-based health-tech firm Craneware (provides software to the U.S. healthcare sector) has rejected a £940M takeover bid from Bain Capital, stating the £26.50/share offer undervalued the company and ignored its strong growth prospects. The board emphasised that recent share price dips reflect broader market factors, not company performance. DGT
🎯 Edinburgh’s supercomputer project is back on track with a £750 million investment from the UK Government, making it home to “the UK’s most powerful computing system”. Housed at the University of Edinburgh’s Advanced Computing Facility, the project aims to “boost the UK’s AI capabilities twentyfold and drive breakthroughs in medicine, sustainability, and climate change”. FS DGT
🌱 Grangemouth-based climate tech firm Impact Recycling (proprietary plastic recycling tech) has secured a £3.3 million follow-on investment from IW Capital. The company’s BOSS (Baffled Oscillation Separation System) uses water-based density separation to extract high-purity polymers from consumer waste. The investment builds on earlier funding, including a £7 million loan from Nestlé and grants from Innovate UK. UKTN EUS
🚀 Selling into the UK Gov? The UK Government is launching the National Digital Exchange (NDX), a new “AI-powered” platform to streamline public sector tech procurement, aiming to save over £1 billion annually and “increase small business participation in government contracts by 40% within three years”. Designed like an "app store" for public sector tech, NDX will offer pre-approved deals, real user reviews, and smart supplier matching. DGT UKgov
📣 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.
⚙️ Registers of Scotland is hiring a Startup Community Engagement Manager (Grade: Higher Executive Officer) for Geovation Scotland, with a £38,114–£43,364 salary, generous 28.97% pension, and up to 42 days annual leave. The permanent hybrid role is based in Edinburgh or Glasgow, supporting tech startups and managing community engagement, events, and partnerships in the Scottish innovation ecosystem. More info here.
🖥️ Geovation Scotland is also hiring a Programme & Delivery Lead (maternity cover, 12–15 months) to run its startup accelerator supporting land, property, and geotech startups. Based in Edinburgh or Glasgow (hybrid), £46.6k–£55k + excellent pension and 38 days leave. Apply by 1 June 2025. More info here.
💼 Work with TopHatch: Senior Frontend Engineer (Remote, UK/Finland) Looking for a place where you can bring your whole self to work and make a real impact? TopHatch, a remote-first company behind the award-winning app Concepts, is hiring a Senior Frontend Engineer (Contract, £60–£70/hr) based in the UK or Finland to work with modern web technologies in a supportive, people-first environment. Apply here.
✈️ TravelPerk, a hyper-growth SaaS company revolutionising business travel, is hiring a Senior Software Engineer in Edinburgh. You'll work with modern tech (Python/Django, React), shape product architecture, and join a fast-paced, award-winning team trusted by brands like Wise and Red Bull. Apply here.
💻 Looking for an early-stage fractional CTO? Carlos Fontana is an Edinburgh-based experienced tech leader with over a decade of success guiding teams and defining architecture. He is the kind of technical leader who thrives where vision meets execution. He specialises in defining architecture from the ground up, building systems that are both scalable and secure, and organising technical priorities that set teams up for long-term success. If you’re looking for technical leadership support, connect and reach out to Carlos—let’s build something that matters.
👭 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
🚀 16/06, 10:00 🗺️ Galashiels: The Next Big Leap: Scaling Women-Led Enterprises - Galashiels: Women in business: scale with strategy, not burnout. A power-packed morning of growth tools, talks & networking. MORE INFO
⚡️ 17/06, 14:00 🗺️ Online: Practicing your Pitch: Mentor Feedback: Our Practicing Your Pitch season is focused on supporting early startup founders as they get ready to present their ideas. Through a series of interactive online sessions, we'll be looking at different aspects of pitching and how a good pitch can change the journey of your startup. MORE INFO
👨🏻💻 17/06, 18:30 🗺️ Edinburgh: June Meetup - Geo and JS: Our talks aim to introduce members of the community, fostering networking, mentorship, learning, and collaboration. Everyone is welcome—whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned engineer. MORE INFO
🎤 18/06, 17:30 🗺️ Edinburgh: TestTalks: Edinburgh - Career Development: Join us at TestTalks: Edinburgh for a career themed event: career stories, advice, CV workshop. MORE INFO
⚡ 18/06, 17:30 🗺️ Glasgow: AI Networking Evening: Get ready for a relaxed yet impactful evening designed to fuel rewarding connections and fresh perspectives. MORE INFO
🔥 18/06, 18:00 🗺️ Glasgow: Fireside Chat: Becky Lumsden, Founder & CEO PURE Spa: Join us for an unforgettable evening of insight, inspiration, and entrepreneurial grit as we sit down with Becky Lumsden, the powerhouse behind PURE Spa & Beauty, a brand that has redefined wellness in the UK. MORE INFO
⚡ 19/06, 14:30 🗺️ Douglas: Developing a Community Energy Project: Join South of Scotland Enterprise and communities to hear about net-zero, renewables & clean heat opportunities. MORE INFO
✈️ 19/06, 17:30 🗺️ Edinburgh: Traveltech Meet up: Whether you're a startup founder, developer, marketer, or simply working in travel and technology, this is a chance to connect with others in the sector. MORE INFO
📌 19/06, 17:30 🗺️ Edinburgh: Product Leadership Unplugged: Join fellow product leaders for a candid evening on building high-performance teams. No fluff, just real talk, shared stories, and practical insights from those who’ve led at scale. If you're leading (or aiming to), this is your space to connect and learn. MORE INFO
🌱 19/06, 18:15 🗺️ Edinburgh: Introducing the Inner Development Goals (IDGs): Inner Growth for Outer Change: This session is for people who are interested in people, team, leadership and organizational development and who want to be share their interest with others. MORE INFO
💡 20/06, 13:00 🗺️ Online: Free Intro Session: Lewis Deep Democracy for Practitioners, Leaders and Teams: Come and learn about this empowering approach to participative leadership and conflict transformation. MORE INFO
💼 23/06, 10:00 🗺️ Edinburgh: Curating your (work) life blend with Flexible Working Scotland: Come and focus on a project, your job search, your own business or just come and get a change of scenery to power through your life admin and hang out with some adults before the schools break up for summer! MORE INFO
🔗 23/06, 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
☕ 23/06, 18:00 🗺️ Edinburgh: Startup Founders Meetup - June 2025: Tactical fireside chats with experienced entrepreneurs and speed networking with other founders, potential cofounders, and investors! MORE INFO
🌐 24/06, 09:00 🗺️ Edinburgh: Edinburgh Greentech Meetup with Tin Rocket Space: Join our monthly meetup with Ken Gordon for breakfast, coffee and connecting with the Edinburgh's Greentech Community. MORE INFO
🔎 24/06, 09:00 🗺️ Hawick: Better Business: Driving Continuous Improvement: Practical ways to improve productivity, reduce emissions, and use AI—designed for South of Scotland businesses. MORE INFO
💡 24/06, 10:00 🗺️ Edinburgh: Good Ideas: Catalyst x Edinburgh College: Our Good Ideas: Catalyst is the perfect way to explore the potential of a new idea for social or environmental change. If you’re an early-stage innovator, in need of a change of direction or just passionate about finding a way to address a cause, Good Ideas: Catalyst is an entry point for you to explore the feasibility of a new idea. MORE INFO
💼 24/06, 10:00 🗺️ Edinburgh: Co-Work Club Edinburgh: Tired of the home office grind but not ready for the daily commute? Say goodbye to crowded coffee shops and the endless search for a quiet Zoom spot. We've got the solution: Welcome to Co-Work Club @ Kimpton Hotel, Edinburgh. MORE INFO
💡 24/06, 11:00 🗺️ Online: Why Great Ideas Fail Without Great Teams — And How to Fix It: Great ideas fail without the right team. Join our webinar to learn what makes innovation teams succeed. MORE INFO
👌 24/06, 11:00 🗺️ Online: Faire: Setting your brand up for success on the marketplace: Discover how Faire helps Scottish brands and retailers grow their wholesale sales and simplify operations through one platform. MORE INFO
☀️ 24/06, 11:00 🗺️ Online: Clean Energy Transition Partnership Research and Innovation Funding Call: Join this webinar and learn about the 2025 Clean Energy Transition Partnership funding call. MORE INFO
👨🏻💻 24/06, 14:00 🗺️ Online: Implementing AI Agents in Your GTM Strategy: A Startups Guide: Join HubSpot for Startups and Codebase for a session on how autonomous AI Agents disrupt GTM strategies for Startups. MORE INFO
💪 24/06, 17:00 🗺️ Edinburgh: Edinburgh CAN B: Join us on Tuesday 24th June to continue working together to support collaboration for an even more sustainable and inclusive Edinburgh. Members of the CAN B Movement and anyone interested in getting involved are warmly welcome to join. MORE INFO
🚀 24/06, 17:30 🗺️ Edinburgh: Techscaler Japan Takeaways: Accelerating Scotland’s Global Gaming Ambitions: Join us for this special learning session as we unpack the key learnings obtained from Techscaler Japan for Scottish Gaming startups. MORE INFO
🍻 24/06, 17:30 🗺️ Edinburgh: ProductTank Edinburgh Social: Product Walk & Talk (or just Talk!) : Join us for a special summer edition of ProductTank Edinburgh: a laid-back social to connect with fellow product folks. Whether you’re up for a scenic stroll or just fancy a pint and a chat, we’ve got you covered. MORE INFO
🎓 25/06, 10:00 🗺️ Glasgow: Mastering prompt engineering with ChatGPT for global business success: Learn how to craft AI prompts that will get you more accurate, useful responses that can transform the way you work. MORE INFO
💼 25/06, 11:00 🗺️ Online: Online Office Hours: MedTech IP Strategies with HINDLES: Join us for a 1:1 IP Office Hours session with Jemma, a UK and European patent attorney from HINDLES. MORE INFO
🤝 26/06, 09:30 🗺️ Stirling: Founder 2 Founder: We’re keeping it simple: useful conversations, meaningful connections, and a few treats to help you through the day. Whether you’re just getting started or deep in the build stage, this is a great opportunity to branch out and engage with people who truly understand the ups and downs of building something from scratch. MORE INFO
🩺 26/06, 10:00 🗺️ Aberdeen: Barclays Eagle Labs at One Tech Hub Drop in Clinic Jun 2025: Drop in and let’s have a chat about your business goals and ambitions here at One Tech Hub. MORE INFO
🎯 26/06, 11:00 🗺️ Online: Online Office Hours: Power Your Tech Venture with Burges Salmon: Elevate your Legal and Commercial Strategy with Burges Salmon, who ensure startups in growth sectors are investment and IP ready. MORE INFO
🙌 26/06, 18:00 🗺️ Alloa: Techscaler Meetup Alloa: Casual networking in Alloa for creatives, techies & founders. Drinks, food & good chat. Thurs 26 June, 5–8pm. Free—register now! MORE INFO
🤝 27/06, 09:00 🗺️ Edinburgh: Founder Friday Coworking: Join us for a day of networking and inspiration! this is your chance to connect with fellow founders, share ideas, and maybe even spark your next big project. MORE INFO
🖥️ 28/06, 10:00 🗺️ Edinburgh: Makers gonna make - Episode 8: Whether you're a coding novice or a seasoned pro, have a recurring monthly revenue or none at all. Prefer the latest JavaScript framework, the magic of no-code, or maybe just a single index.php file, all are welcome. This is the place where you can start, learn and conquer all the features that have been sitting in your backlog for ages. MORE INFO
🎯 30/06, 17:30 🗺️ Northfield: Market like a Maverick – Bold moves to boost business: Make bold moves in marketing! Hear from mavericks, connect with peers, and spark fresh ideas in this energising evening session. MORE INFO
👩🏻💻 01/07, 09:30 🗺️ Glasgow: Female Founders Co-Working Club - July: Stay inspired, motivated and connected throughout 2025 with the Female Founder Co-Working Club at Glasgow Eagle Labs! MORE INFO
🥗 01/07, 12:00 🗺️ Glasgow: Lunch & Learn - Turning Your Business Journey into a Book: Write your book, share your expertise and watch your business thrive! MORE INFO
☕ Series: Unfiltered: Start your day right with some friendly networking, coffee and excellent chat. An in-person, informal catch-up with the Scottish tech community!
☕︎ 02/07, 08:30 🗺️ Inverness, MORE INFO
☕︎ 02/07, 08:30 🗺️ Aberdeen, MORE INFO
☕︎ 02/07, 08:30 🗺️ Stirling, MORE INFO
☕︎ 02/07, 08:30 🗺️ Dundee, MORE INFO
☕︎ 02/07, 08:30 🗺️ Glasgow, MORE INFO
☕︎ 02/07, 08:30 🗺️ Edinburgh, MORE INFO
💻 05/07, 10:00 🗺️ Edinburgh: AI Agent Build Day: Whether you're a coder or not, you're very welcome to join - but just be aware that this will be a self directed event, rather than a led workshop. We'll share some resources to get you started if you've never built anything like this before, but if you're not sure if this event is for you then just get in touch beforehand. MORE INFO
🍺 09/07, 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
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That’s all for this week - have a great one!
Team 🔥 Campfire0