What’s your favourite thing about the industry?
I have the pleasure of working with innovative, dynamic and driven individuals on a day-to-day basis and so it is the people within the industry that I value the most.
Looking to the future, what do you see as being the next big thing in tech?
Its hard to ignore the impact that AI and Data will have on our lives in the future but, closer to home, I can see the cleantech space really taking off (particularly given the Scottish National Investment Bank has been established with the aim of accelerating our move to a low carbon, high tech and connected economy). You only have to look to the great work being undertaken at the Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation for an example of what can be achieved with the right support.
Any new products, services, events coming up for your business?
We are currently in the process of rolling out a funding / investment platform, along with some other really exciting add on solutions, which we hope will take the headache, stress and time out of the investment process for both startups and investors. It’s something we have been working on, and trialling with some entrepreneurs / investors, for around a year now so we are all really looking forward to getting it into our clients’ hands and seeing their reaction.
What do you consider to be the biggest benefit of your ScotlandIS membership?
The biggest benefit of ScotlandIS membership is access to a network that fosters the sharing of insight, connections and opportunities.
If you could give one piece of advice to an emerging business/startup, what would it be?
I mentor a number of start-up companies through working with incubators and the one piece of advice I give to them all is to draw upon the collective experience of their respective ecosystems. Doing so ensures that they avoid making the same mistakes as those who have gone before them and should help them navigate the somewhat tricky startup waters.