🚀 Skyrora closer to launch, Approov Raise, Scotland PE deals fall 14%
Here's your Campfire for the 11th of August, 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
📉 A new KPMG report shows Scotland’s mid-market private equity deals “fell 14% in H1 2025, with 24 deals completed (6% of the UK total)”. Bolt-on acquisitions made up over two-thirds of activity, followed by buyouts, minority investments, and management buy-ins. The drop mirrors a 17% UK-wide decline, “driven by geopolitical uncertainty and tariff concerns, though sectors like business services, healthcare, and tech still attract strong interest”. TS SFN DGT
🚀 Edinburgh-based Skyrora (rocket development and space launch) has become the first UK company to secure a UK launch operator licence, clearing the way to send its 11-metre Skylark L rocket from Shetland’s SaxaVord Spaceport. Skyrora manufactures its rockets in Cumbernauld, with 3D-printed components in the UK, and is aiming for 16 launches a year by 2030.TS UKTN
🔒 Edinburgh-based Approov, which develops mobile app and API security software, raised £5 million in Series A funding to expand its R&D team. Approov’s technology is best known for app attestation, which verifies that a mobile app instance is legitimate before allowing it to connect to a backend API, helping protect against fraud, abuse, and unauthorised access. The round was led by the Maven Capital Partners (Investment Fund for Scotland) with participation from Souter Investments, Lanza TechVentures, and Scottish Enterprise. DGT UKTN TS
❤️ Glasgow-based CardioPrecision, a spin-out from the NHS via InnoScot Health, has become the first company to successfully perform robotic-assisted aortic valve replacement (AVR) through a small incision in the neck. Using its CoreVista® Robot Enabling Platform, the procedure was carried out at the Cleveland Clinic in the US. The minimally invasive transcervical approach aims to reduce pain, shorten hospital stays, and speed recovery compared to traditional open-heart surgery. The technology works with both sutureless and conventional sutured valves. TH SS DGT FS
💰 Invest2Scale returns on 30 September. Focused on sectors including deep tech, biotech, and AI, the showcase offers curated “1:1 meetings, panel discussions, and networking, with a dedicated AI panel this year.” Applications are open to “scale-ups seeking investment and new connections”. More info & apply here. GW
🌱 Applications Open for Greentech Futures: Greentech Futures (from Codebase) supports founders working on climate and environmental solutions. The programme offers “peer learning, practical tools, and founder spotlights to help early-stage and scaling entrepreneurs grow in the greentech space.” If you’re building something in sustainability or climate tech, here’s more info: MORE INFO
📣 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.
🎮 Cat Burton, founder of Goth Boss Studios, provides consultancy and coaching for games and creative industry founders. With 17+ years’ experience (founder, CTO, CPO), she supports studios and start-ups with business strategy, product, and technical direction. She also works 1:1 with founders navigating burnout, impostor syndrome, and leadership challenges. Learn more at GothBoss.co.uk.
🏡 Greenflip, a climate-tech startup helping make homes cheaper to run and better for the planet, is looking for a Machine Learning / AI Engineer. You'll work with satellite imagery, property data, and energy consumption data to build models that spot homes with strong potential for energy upgrades. It's a chance to apply AI to real-world climate impact. Apply here
🦾 Makerspace, Coworking, Hardware lab: thebeyond, a thriving hub of innovation: Whether you’re a founder, builder, creative, or part of a growing team - there’s a membership option that fits the way you work. 🌟 Big ideas need the right space. Come see what’s possible in thebeyond. If you'd like to find out more, please email katie.woods@stac.ac
👭 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
🔐 13/08, 18:00 🗺️ Edinburgh: Network One: Cybersecurity Startups & Professionals Meetup Meet others working in or building cybersecurity startups. A casual chance to swap ideas and stories. MORE INFO
🎨 13/08, 18:00 🗺️ Edinburgh: Poetry & Painting: An Evening Inspired by Mary Somerville. Not our usual event, but we’re mixing it up with an interactive evening of guided painting and poetry prompts, inspired by scientist and writer Mary Somerville. Open to all skill levels, with materials and refreshments provided. MORE INFO
🥐 14/08, 09:00 🗺️ Edinburgh: Professional Breakfast Join us for a relaxed morning of networking with Edinburgh’s professional community. Great vibe, great people. MORE INFO
🚀 19/08, 18:00 🗺️ Edinburgh: Founders Meetup Edinburgh. Tactical fireside chats with experienced entrepreneurs and speed networking with other founders, potential cofounders, and investors! MORE INFO
🕙 20/08, 10:00 (Online): Techscaler x CivTech: Round 11 Launch Webinar
Learn how to tackle real public-sector challenges, explore CivTech Round 11 funding, support, and guidance, and get advice on how to apply. MORE INFO
🍻 21/08, 18:15 🗺️ Edinburgh: People Planet Pint Join us in the beer gardens for a relaxed evening of sustainability chats, local ideas, and like-minded company. No agenda, just good people and better conversation. Bring a friend, bring your curiosity, and come raise a glass to making a difference. MORE INFO
🥐 22/08, 10:00 🗺️ Aberdeen: People Planet Pastry
A relaxed, informal event for anyone curious about sustainability, especially in a small business context. Join us over a Sage-sponsored coffee and pastry to connect with like-minded people, share ideas, and learn how others are taking action locally. MORE INFO
🛠️ 23/08, 10:00 🗺️ Edinburgh: Makers gonna make: Episode 9 A full day for indie makers to work on side projects, build new ideas, and share progress in a supportive, no-sales-pitch community. MORE INFO
🎤 03/09, 08:30 🗺️ Edinburgh: Unfiltered Edinburgh Honest conversations, real stories, and connection. A gathering for founders, creatives, and those building something meaningful. MORE INFO
🤝 03/09, 18:00 🗺️ Edinburgh: Business & Startup Networking Connect with local entrepreneurs, founders, and small businesses in a relaxed and welcoming environment. MORE INFO
🛠️ 04/09, 17:00 🗺️ Edinburgh: Build Night: Startup Founders & Builders A casual evening for startup people who want to build, chat, and collaborate. MORE INFO
🛡 10/09, 08:20 -16:30 🗺 Glasgow: Scot‑Secure West Summit 2025. Scotland’s biggest annual cybersecurity conference, featuring live keynotes, workshops, and an exhibition at the Hilton. This curated event brings together InfoSec leaders, IT experts, researchers, and law enforcement to explore emerging threats and resilience strategies. MORE INFO
🤖 16/09, 09:30 🗺️ Edinburgh: AI for Business Innovation & Impact Explore how businesses are using AI to improve performance and drive growth. Talks, Q&A, and networking. MORE INFO
📍 23/09 -25/09, 🗺️ Hilton Glasgow: APACT Conference
Organised by CPACT, the APACT conference brings together experts in process analytics and control to share innovations, research, and industry applications. The three-day event offers technical sessions, networking, and insights into the latest developments in process technology. MORE INFO
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That’s all for this week - have a great one!
Team 🔥 Campfire