Top Tech Entrepreneurs Announced At Start-Up Summit

Image of robot
  • Raising Partners Live announces high-profile speakers – including co-founders of Made.com and Freeagent 
  • Former Skyscanner COO Mark Logan says the conference will be the “starting gun” for creating a world-class tech sector in Scotland
  • FreeAgent co-founder Ed Molyneux hopes the conference can help the Scottish tech scene “dream a little bigger, push a little harder”

The co-founders of tech firms Freeagent and Made.com will share their secrets of success at an entrepreneurs’ investment summit being held in Glasgow next month.

Ed Molyneux, who was the CEO of accounting software firm Freeagent, and Julien Callede, the former COO of online furniture retailer Made.com, have been announced as speakers at Raising Partners Live alongside investment experts specializing in early-stage business funding.

The one-day conference, which takes place on May 10, at the University of Strathclyde’s Technology & Innovation Centre (TIC), will help to equip Scottish entrepreneurs with the skills and knowledge to successfully raise funding.  

The event is being supported by the Scottish Government’s Technology Ecosystem Fund, which was created in response to the 2020 Logan Report, an independent review of how Scotland’s tech economy should be supported.

Mark Logan, who spent five years as a chief operating officer at Skyscanner, one of only three tech unicorns – companies valued at $1 billion – to come out of Scotland, believes the conference will play an important role in creating a world-class tech sector for Scotland.

Mr. Logan, who authored the report, said: “We know Scotland has what it takes to be a global tech leader, while we still need to do more to give our entrepreneurs the networks and skills to raise the finance they need to grow. 

“This conference is a very exciting step in harnessing the potential of Scotland’s entrepreneurial spirit. Events like these are absolutely essential for fostering the relationships and networks businesses rely on to access advice, talent and funding.”

Ed Molyneux, co-founder and former CEO of Freeagent, added: “Being an entrepreneur can be a lonely business, and there’s no handbook. But it’s not rocket science; others have been there before you, getting off the ground, raising finance, building successful teams, and of course making plenty of mistakes on the way.  

“Having a network of fellow entrepreneurs around you, at all stages of their journeys, and learning from them about what did and didn’t work, can make all the difference. That’s what this conference is all about.”

The free conference was created by the fundraising firm Raising Partners, which was founded in 2017 by Glasgow entrepreneur Helena Murphy, who was frustrated at the lack of finance options for growing businesses.

She said: “The speaker line-up at the conference will give attendees amazing access to entrepreneurs who’ve been through the ups and downs of fundraising, as well as hearing from investors who can help them understand how to go about securing finance for growth.

Finance has been a stumbling block for Scottish tech firms for far too long – this conference is going to help us change that.”

As well as insights from the keynote speakers, the conference will feature panel discussions on what investors are looking for when deciding to back new businesses; workshops to help entrepreneurs develop their skills; and opportunities for entrepreneurs and investors to meet and grow their networks.

How E-commerce Marketers Can Win Black Friday

Sue Azari • 11th November 2024

As new global eCommerce players expand their influence across both European and US markets, traditional brands are navigating a rapidly shifting landscape. These fast-growing Asian platforms have gained traction by offering ultra-low prices, rapid product turnarounds, heavy investment in paid user acquisition, and leveraging viral social media trends to create demand almost in real-time. This...

Why microgrids are big news

Craig Tropea • 31st October 2024

As the world continues its march towards a greener future, businesses, communities, and individuals alike are all increasingly turning towards renewable energy sources to power their operations. What is most interesting, though, is how many of them are taking the pro-active position of researching, selecting, and implementing their preferred solutions without the assistance of traditional...

Is automation the silver bullet for customer retention?

Carter Busse • 22nd October 2024

CX innovation has accelerated rapidly since 2020, as business and consumer expectations evolved dramatically during the Covid-19 pandemic. Now, finding the best way to engage and respond to customers has become a top business priority and a key business challenge. Not only do customers expect the highest standard, but companies are prioritising superb CX to...

Automated Testing Tools and Their Impact on Software Quality

Natalia Yanchii • 09th October 2024

Test automation refers to using specialized software tools and frameworks to automate the execution of test cases, thereby reducing the time and effort required for manual testing. This approach ensures that automation tests run quickly and consistently, allowing development teams to identify and resolve defects more effectively. Test automation provides greater accuracy by eliminating human...

Custom Software Development

Natalia Yanchii • 04th October 2024

There is a wide performance gap between industry-leading companies and other market players. What helps these top businesses outperform their competitors? McKinsey & Company researchers are confident that these are digital technologies and custom software solutions. Nearly 70% of the top performers develop their proprietary products to differentiate themselves from competitors and drive growth. As...

The Impact of Test Automation on Software Quality

Natalia Yanchii • 04th October 2024

Software systems have become highly complex now, with multiple interconnected components, diverse user interfaces, and business logic. To ensure quality, QA engineers thoroughly test these systems through either automated or manual testing. At Testlum, we met many software development teams who were pressured to deliver new features and updates at a faster pace. The manual...