Research & Innovation Services

The exclusive launch event featured two high-profile guest speakers discussing the about the ups and downs of their own entrepreneurial journeys, a panel Q&A, and networking with like-minded colleagues from across the University.

The hybrid RISE@UofG launch event took place both in person at the University’s Advanced Research Centre (ARC) on Monday 28 October and on-line for the speakers and panel elements.

Watch the recording of the event here

About the Speakers

Joe O’Keeffe is a serial entrepreneur and founder of InfiniLED, a MicroLED display technology company acquired by Facebook in 2016, and SensL, a sensor technology firm acquired by ONSemi. He is the former VP of Display Research at Meta, where he led technology development for AR, VR, and Portal products. Joe has also launched many other start-ups, including Nannocoms, EnBIO, PixQuanta, and PlasMedica. He currently supports around ten early-stage deep-tech startups, focusing on AR/VR, optics/photonics, semiconductors, and AI. Additionally, Joe is an Entrepreneur in Residence at the Tyndall Research Institute in Cork. He has a strong background in technology and business, with degrees from Dublin City University and University College Dublin.

Shireen Davies is a Glasgow-based entrepreneur originally from Singapore, holding an Honorary Professorship at the University of Glasgow and is an elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Shireen is CEO and co-founder of SOLASTA Bio, which she has scaled from a University of Glasgow spin-out to a prominent scale-up with over 20 employees and a US subsidiary. Her leadership has been instrumental in securing substantial funding, including a recent $14m Series A round. SOLASTA Bio is at the forefront of developing innovative bioinsecticides through first-in-class, tiny proteins designed to target major insect pests.  This approach offers cutting-edge solutions to the global challenge of sustainable food production.

Shireen has a distinguished track record in innovation, team building, and fundraising, including several prestigious fellowship awards. Most notably, she received the UKRI BBSRC Enterprise Fellowship.

Her accolades include the Scotland Knowledge Exchange and Glasgow Entrepreneur of the Year awards in 2020, the 60s competition at the World Agritech Innovation Summit 2022, and the Radicle UPL Challenge in San Francisco in 2024.

This session featured Sarah Hardy (Archangels) and Alex Lusty (Gabriel), alongside other investment experts, who discussed the funding processes for new and aspiring start-up and spin-out founders at all points on their journey. This was followed by a Q&A, where the audience gained valuable insights into navigating the world of investment.

The event, co-hosted by members of the university’s entrepreneurial teams, concluded with a networking reception, including a buffet and beverages, for in-person attendees.

Watch the recording of this event here

On 28th April 25 we welcomed Professor Pat Gunning, a distinguished alumnus of the University of Glasgow and a renowned professor at both the University of Toronto and the University of Glasgow. A celebrated serial entrepreneur, Pat has made groundbreaking contributions to biotech and healthcare, earning numerous awards and accolades for his research and innovation.

Pat’s journey is a testament to the power of dreaming big and starting small. He has founded multiple successful biotech companies, including Janpix Inc, Dunad Therapeutics, and Dalriada Therapeutics.

During this event, Pat shared his real-world experiences in entrepreneurship—highlighting his struggles, a few failures, and many remarkable successes. Following his presentation, Pat was joined by Professor Andrew Jamieson, UofG’s Professor of Chemical Biology, for an engaging fireside chat. Together, they delved into Pat’s past and future entrepreneurial ventures focussing on the lessons he’s learned along the way. The event also featured an open Q&A session.

In today’s interconnected world, success as an entrepreneur is no longer defined by local traction alone, it’s about building international momentum from day one.

In this engaging session, seasoned entrepreneur and global connector Russell Dalgleish - a recently appointed Entrepreneur in Residence at the University - shared his hard-earned insights from his journey leading ventures across continents and industries. This talk was targeted at entrepreneurs, founders, and researchers seeking to go beyond borders to identify funding, partnerships, and customers. The event also featured a Q&A session.