The cream of Scotland’s entrepreneurial talent is gathering in Edinburgh today for EIE13 (Engage| Invest|Exploit), Scotland’s flagship investor event, at the Assembly Rooms. Over 60 entrepreneurial companies from the informatics, computer science, energy and life science sectors will be showcasing their services and products with a view to securing interest from potential investors.
Sir Tom Hunter, one of Scotland’s most successful entrepreneurs, who has supported many start-ups, including the latest business incubator Entrepreneurial Spark, will be addressing delegates during his morning keynote conversation with BBC Radio 4’s Quentin Cooper. Sir Tom will be imparting valuable advice to young entrepreneurs as he believes their talent and ingenuity lies at the heart of Scotland’s ability to compete in the world.
“Sergei Brin’s biggest fear isn’t apparently a Yahoo or a Microsoft, it’s some guy inventing a transformational technology in a garage somewhere – why not a garage here in Scotland? The internet has transformed the way we do business and is ever changing; today’s two billion users will be seven billion in only a few years’ time – the opportunities this presents for Scottish companies, particularly in technology are unprecedented. The EIE13 showcases just some of those hugely talented companies, many of whom no doubt started in a garage, loft or bedroom here in Scotland.”
Also not to be missed is the afternoon keynote speaker, entrepreneur and serial angel investor Sherry Coutu. Her appearance at EIE13 offers a rare opportunity to hear the thoughts of one of the top 25 ‘most influential people in the wired world’.
During the day, 16 short-listed companies from the 60 exhibiting at EIE13, will deliver their quick-fire pitches to a panel of investors. The selected businesses represent the most promising Scottish entrepreneurial talent in the informatics, computer science, energy and life science sectors, including personal shopping mall website Mallzee, biotechnology firm Taragenyx and marine renewable energy company Trident Energy.
Gordon Stuart of Informatics Ventures, the organisers behind EIE13, believes there has never been a better time for young entrepreneurial talent in Scotland to set up a company. “A wide range of investors are increasingly coming forward to fill the gap left by the banks. For companies looking for investment, there is every chance they will get funding if they have the right proposition. It’s going to be very exciting to see talented entrepreneurs and seasoned investors mixing with each other and I am positive this will lead to the successful growth of many of the early stage companies exhibiting here today.”
And Eleanor Mitchell, director of commercialisation at Scottish Enterprise added, “This year’s EIE offers a great snapshot of the wealth of entrepreneurial talent and investment opportunity available in Scotland today. Scottish Enterprise is delighted once again to have a number of our supported companies pitching at the conference in front of such a wide international audience in three of the sectors in which Scotland has a strong innovation track record.”
For the first time, this year the event will continue into the evening when Glasgow-born Olympic swimmer, Michael Jamieson, will entertain guests over dinner with an insight into his 2012 silver medal-winning experience.
This year’s EIE13 will be the biggest in its six year history with 60 companies across the sectors exhibiting to raise investment and form partnerships. Organisers Informatics Ventures will be joining forces for the first time with Edinburgh BioQuarter and the Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation (ECCI) alongside sponsors Johnston Carmichael, MBM Commercial and Open Innovation.
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