Entrepreneurs Aberdeen

Geoff Leak, CEO at Young Enterprise Scotland. YES is a leading charity providing a wide range of programmes for young people aged 5–25, giving them the opportunity to develop their full potential and inspiring and preparing them to learn and succeed through enterprise. Geoff is also a Mentor at Project Scotland. Prior to YES and Project Scotland. Goeff had his own business in 90’s then worked with PSYBT in many different roles. Geoff won Entrepreneur’s Champion of the year Silver award at The Great British Entrepreneur Awards. Interview with Geoff Leask – Topics discussed: What makes an entrepreneur take the plunge? How can you conquer the fear of failure? Challenges involved in running a charity? What are the pitfalls startups should avoid? Best advice for startups? Show Notes: Recommended resource for Entrepreneurs: Entrepreneur.com Startup following: MadeBrave Contact Geoff: LinkedIn

Arpit Kotari, co-founder at Medd. Medd is your personal diagnostics companion. It lets you compare among the best labs and hospitals around you, book home tests, and saves all your reports on your phone. Not only that, you get upto 50% discount on every booking! Alumnus of IITB Arpit worked for companies like Reliance prior to starting up.

Balaji Vishwanathan, a rockstar on Quora with almost 150K followers and 100M views on his answers. Balaji is also the co-founder of Belimitless chrome extension which helps users to stick to productive habits and co-founder at Zingfin. An masters and MBA graduate Balaji is now working as a product manager at BlackDuck software and also worked for companies like Microsoft in the past. To sum up he is a writer, Entrepreneur and engineer. Interview with Balaji Vishwanathan – Topics discussed: What makes an entrepreneur take the plunge? Challenges involved in building a startup? Future of Startups in media? How are the pitfalls startups should avoid? Best advice for startups? Writing answers on Quora? What makes a person to write on Quora? Show NOTES: Recommended book for entrepreneurs: Atlas Shrugged Emerging startup in India: OYO Rooms Must have quality for an Entrepreneur: Focus Contact Balaji: Quora  

Lucy-Rose Walker, Co-founder and Chief Solutions Officer at Entrepreneurial Spark which  is also called e-spark. Entrepreneurial Spark is a nationwide non-sector specific free start up business accelerator. When I say free I really meant it. Lucy worked for various different companies prior to starting up e-spark with Jim Duffy in 2012. Interview with Lucy-Rose Walker – Topics discussed: What makes an entrepreneur take the plunge? How can you conquer the fear of failure? Challenges involved in building a startup? What are the pitfalls startups should avoid? Best advice for startups? Show Notes: Recommended Book for Entrepreneurs: Start with Why Recommended resource for Entrepreneurs: Inc Magazine Startup following: Appointedd Contact Lucy: Twitter

Jo Chidley, Founder of Beauty Kitchen. The business which is making 100% natural beauty and personal care products. A BSc graduate Jo worked for McCurrach and AVON prior to starting up. Interview with Jo Chidley- Topics discussed: What makes an entrepreneur take the plunge? How can you conquer the fear of failure? Challenges involved in building a startup? What are the pitfalls startups should avoid? Best advice for startups? Show Notes: Recommended resource for Entrepreneurs: TED talks Startup following: Vouch for that Contact Jo: LinkedIn

Colin Gray, Founder and Director at The Podcast Host ltd. If you are thinking about starting a Podcast this is the guy who can help you create and grow your Podcast. Colin has his own Podcast called the Podcraft where he talks mainly about podcasting. Colin is an online education expert. He also holds a Doctorate degree in that very thing. Colin worked as a lecturer at University of Abertay and Edinburgh Napier University. Interview with Colin Gray – NOTES: Recommended Book for Entrepreneurs: Essentialism Recommended resource for Entrepreneurs: http://www.transim.com/ Startup following: Better Back Contact Colin: Website

Leah Hutcheon is the Founder & CEO of Appointedd, Founded in 2011 Appointedd offers frictionless scheduling for small businesses. This Edinburgh-based startup revolutionising the way small businesses sell their timeslot appointments online. Winner of Scottish EDGE Leah was also featured in BBC entrepreneurs show. Prior to Appointedd Leah worked as an editor and also worked as a freelance copywriter. Interview with Leah Hutcheon – NOTES: Recommended Book for Entrepreneurs: Re-work Recommended resource for Entrepreneurs: Slack Startup following: MuscleCake Contact Leah: Leah@appointedd.com

Dr Craig Robertson is the Founder and Managing Director at Epipole ltd which develops intellectual property in the domain of image, data and signal processing with current project being a medical device which is particularly tuned to the detection of retinopathy. Craig has extensive skills in 2D and 3D imaging, machine vision, artificial intelligence and high-throughput computing. He has more than dozen publications in those areas. he also holds 4 patents. Interview with Craig Robertson – NOTES: Recommended Book for Entrepreneurs: Finite and Infinite Games Recommended resource for Entrepreneurs: Google Scholar Startup following: Fanduel Contact Craig: https://www.epipole.com/

Aakanksha is the co-founder and Business Development Manager of Kaarada Drilling LTD an Oil and Gas Technical Startup Which acts as a bridge between UK based companies wishing to establish presence in Indian oil and gas market. The company in the past 8 months has managed to onboard 2 major oil and gas companies from UK to work with potential clients in India. Aakanksha has worked with some of the big oil majors like Transocean, Halliburton etc. Aakanksha is a masters graduate in Petroleum Engineering from RGU and She TEDx speaker and also an active social entrepreneur with major interest in teaching young underprivileged children. Interview with Aakanksha Sadekar – NOTES: Recommended Book for Entrepreneurs: Many Lives Many Masters Recommended resource for Entrepreneurs: LinkedIn Startup following: Housing.com Contact Aakanksha: Facebook

Wish You A Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Talk to you in the new year again!

Yva Yorston is an enthusiastic young entrepreneur and owner of Boost Business Support which provides professional, flexible administrative services to support businesses in achieving their goals by relieving administrative burdens. What that means, in plain English, is if you need an extra pair of hands in your business contact Yva. Yva was a finalist at Youth business Scotland awards, most promising new business in grampian awards 2013 and listed in 40 under 40 Aberdeen 2014. Yva is also a Private Music Tutor. NOTES:  Recommended Book: The E-Myth Recommended resource: Aberdeen Business Network Startup following: Cat Cafe Contact Yva: @BoostBizSupport

Susanne Mitschke and Patrick Renner founders of MindMate app. MindMate is an award winning assistance app for people who live with dementia, their carers and family members. Mindmate has won numerous awards including Winner of the Enterprise Pathway Challenge. Winner of the Young Edge by the Scottish Edge Competition. Winner of Young Innovators Challenge 2015. Susanne – MSc in International management and leadership. Patrick – MSc in Finance and Management Let’s find out how this fantastic 4 team has come up with the idea and how their background helped them. NOTES: Best book: Girl Boss  The Mom Test Best online Resource: TechCrunch Startup following: Theranos EuroBiotix Contact Mindmate: http://www.mindmate-app.com/  

Nicholas Findlay is the Founder and Director at Edinburgh room rentals ltd (http://edinburghroomrentals.co.uk) which is soon going to be city room rentals, a specialist niche Booking Management and Advertising company with a core focus of delivering specialist market consultancy to universities, property funds and investors. This year company won Scottish Edge funding competition backed by great Scottish entrepreneur Sir Tom Hunter. Nick is very experienced hospitality and hotel professional with extensive sales background. Notes: Best book: Work Rules Best resource: Entrepreneur app Startup following: Pure LiFi Contact Nick:

Brian Williamson is the Managing Director at Jumpstart ltd (www.jumpstartuk.co.uk/). Jumpstart is the UK’s leading R&D tax credit specialist. Brian has been running companies at board level for the best part of last 3 decades. Brian is also Managing Director at tiger industries. He was awarded IoD regional director of the year in 2013 and highly commended for National Director of the year too, in the sam eyear his organization won Business Insider’s faster growing small business in Scotland. Brian also served as a director at Entrepreneurial Exchange Scotland. He is key Golfer. Notes: Best book: Getting To Yes Startup following: FanDuel Contact Brian: LinkedIn

Duncan Skinner is the Chairman of Glencraft limited (http://glencraft.co.uk/) which is a manufacturer and supplier of high quality, handcrafted beds and mattresses. A company which was placed into liquidation in 2009 won Social Enterprise of the year at UK Private business awards 2015 Glencraft employs 45 members of staff, 80% of whom are disabled or disadvantaged. Duncan was chief financial officer (CFO) for Wood Group PSN and was responsible for completion of WoodGroup and PSN merger. In February 2008, he was named Finance Director of the Year in the prestigious Bank of Scotland Awards. He has a Bachelor’s degree in management from the Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen and is a Chartered Management Accountant. Duncan is key Golfer. Loves hiking, fishing and traveling. Best book:  The evidence of things not seen by WH Murray Startup following: Social Bite Contact: dunx.skinner@btinternet.com

Margaret Gibson, CEO at Women’s Enterprise Scotland (wescotland.co.uk/). WES helps to create an entrepreneurial environment where women led businesses can flourish and grow, working in partnership with the business eco-system of Scotland. M setup her first business in 1985. Margaret is passionate about helping others to develop skills and build useful networks. With over 25 years of experience in the SME sector as an advisor and mentor she is driven by the pleasure of seeing others succeed in business. Margaret is the very first woman from Scotland to win Queen’s award for enterprise promotion. She is an MBA graduate from StrathClyde business School, She supports the Scottish EDGE Fund as a judge, she is also member of advisory committee for Institute of Directors. A mum of two Margaret is a committed swimmer, loves to travel and she claims that couldn’t live without music. Recommended resource: Just Network Startup following: Blown Away Contact Margaret: @RummleGumption LinkedIn 

Rebecca Pick is the Founder and Managing Director of Pick Protection Ltd. Pick Protection (pickprotection.com/) is a Glasgow based start up developing personal attack and lone worker alarm solutions for the personal security market segment one of which is dubbed as rape alarm. The company was founded in 2014 by Rebecca Pick. Rebecca is a graduate of the University of Strathclyde Business School. She won Young Innovators Challenge at Scottish Institute for Enterprise and winner of the undergraduate Santander universities entrepreneurship award. Best Book: Lean Startup Online resource: LinkedIn Startup following: Snap40 Contact: Twitter  Facebook Podcast episode in association with

Aisha Kasim is the Founder and owner at Madame Hair which provides high quality hair extensions, wigs and hair pieces. It was founded in 2007 by Aisha and expanded to different cities in 2009, the business then moved online at madamehair.com. Aisha is well known for her appearance on BBC apprentice show. Another interesting fact about Aisha is she launched a crowd funding campaign last year for her invention Hot Dount Hair Bun and she got more than 100% funding. She also won PSYBT Young entrepreneur of the year award in 2009. Best Book: The Road Less Travelled Recommended resource: Youttube Conatct: Twitter Website   Podcast episode in association with

David Kellock is co-founder and Technical Director at Trtl Pillow. Trtl Pillow is an evolution in travel pillow design; it provides more comfort and neck support than any travel pillow in the world, it packs small and weighs no more than a muffin and better yet as it looks like a scarf. David and his co-founder Michael found the company in 2013 and appeared on BBC’s Dragons Den earlier this year. Trtl pillow is available on Amazon and it has 90% of reviews more than 4 and 81% are 5/5. David has BE in Mech Engineering from Uni of Strathclyde and has diverse exp of working as sales assisant in Super market chain to co-founder of Trtl pillow. Best Book: Good to Great Recommended resource: Eat That Frog audio book by Brian Tracy Contact: david@trtl.co.uk Podcast episode in association with

Andrew Dobbie is the Founder and Managing Director of Scotland’s fastest growing design & digital creative agency, MadeBrave (madebrave.com/). MadeBrave is serving national & international brands including SKY, IBM, Aggrekko, Flavourly.com, The SSE Hydro, Peter Vardy, TEDxGlasgow, Radisson BLU. MadeBrave® was started by Andrew in March 2012 with an idea and a £1000 of personal savings. At the time Andrew started MadeBrave he had a newborn baby at home. Just three years on, the agency is now 20 people strong and recently moved to a bigger space so that it can continue to grow and service the client base. Andrew won Outstanding Contribution by a Young Business Leader Award 2014 and shortlisted for more than dozen awards. Andrew worked for a design agency for 8 years and as a freelancer for few months before he founded Madebrave. Best Book: Simon Sinek’s Start With Why Recommended Resource: YouTube Startup following: Flavourly.com Conact: Twitter  Website Podcast episode made in association with