A School of Computing Science support programme for aspiring software–based start-ups is looking to recruit staff and students with world-changing ideas. The School’s Tech Start programme is offering aspiring entrepreneurs the chance to find out more at an information session on 1 November 2017.

The programme, managed by Jill Ramsay, Business Development Manager in Computing Science, aims to bring together those who have ambitions to start a software-based business to access expert and peer support to help nurture their ideas.

With Lean start-up principles at the core of the approach, participants will be supported through Meetups, Masterclasses and Mentorships from a collection of alumni with a wealth of entrepreneurial experience.

Tech Start is supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and UofG graduate Mark Logan (previously COO at Skyscanner). The programme invites any staff or students who have an idea  - even at concept stage - to come along to an information session at 1pm on 1 November at Sir Alwyn Williams building 422 and be part of the emerging tech community at UofG.

Packaged within three strands of support offered by Tech Start, Mentorship sessions allow current and prospective ventures to connect with experienced members of the tech community who share their passion for growing innovative start-ups. Here, companies can form individual relationships with mentors who have interests that align with their own and create a bespoke support system.

Entrepreurial Alumni 

An impressive catalogue of UofG alumni working in the technology world have signed on to become Mentors for this exciting programme nurturing the tech start-ups of tomorrow. Joining Mark Logan are fellow alumni: Gerry Docherty Chairman of Smarter Grid Solutions, Steven Drost, Chief Strategy Officer at CodeBase and John McAdam, Board of Directors at F5 Networks.

Jill Ramsay, Business Development Manager at School of Computing Science said: “There’s a real interest in the tech start-up scene as more people are inspired by the technologies and companies that they engage with every day online or on their phones.

“The programme complements the great service that central Student Enterprise provides, by focusing on the common challenges faced by software start-ups and helping people to navigate them successfully.  We want to help those with the drive and talent to start and grow their own business to ensure they build products that meet real market needs, and develop their businesses so they can scale successfully.”

Mark Logan, co-funder of the programme and previous COO of Skyscanner said: “The strength of Glasgow’s talent and the quality of its universities are the equal of any location on Earth. But this isn’t yet reflected in our rate of start-up creation and growth.  

“I believe that Tech Start will make a major contribution to improving this situation at University of Glasgow.  Our goal should be to achieve a successful start-up and scale-up rate equal, per-capita, to the Silicon Valley.”

Kick Starting the Tech Community

Tech Start has been developed to support the growing tech start-up community at UofG: growing from a handful of initiatives to at least 15 budding ventures in the last 3 years. James McMinn of Scoop, a recent start-up aided by Tech Start said: “The programme for me has been an incredible source of support for us. The community and atmosphere that been has built up around it is a fantastic opportunity to engage with others going through the same process.

“The mentors are very approachable, and have run companies from tiny start-ups to household names, so being able to talk to them about what we're working on has been invaluable - it's an opportunity that we simply wouldn't get without Tech Start.”

Professor Chris Johnson, Head of Computing Science, said: “I am thrilled to see Tech Start gaining momentum at the University and nurturing our talent. Supporting start-ups and helping to develop a wider eco system where students engage with local IT businesses is central to our future and to the development of our academic discipline.”

Staff and students with business ideas are invited to an Information session on 1 November 2017 at 1pm in Sir Alwyn Williams building 422. See the Tech Start Information Session page to register a place.

For more information on Tech Start and how you can join UofG’s growing tech community, contact Jill Ramsay.

First published: 23 October 2017

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