In this episode, we are joined by Farshad Nowshadi, the business mentor and VC of Level39(UK), with a background as the ex-VP of Technology for one of the largest banks in the Middle East and experience mentoring original startups such as WISE and Revolut.

Farshad hosted our Fin-Tech workshop at the University of St Andrews during Innovation Week last semester, and joined us once again on the Beyond StArtups podcast to reflect on his journey from working for over 25 years with major corporations such as Reuters, Deutsche Bank, Barclays, and even Microsoft HQ, to writing internationally-selling books on technology in the financial world, through to being an initial investor in Google and Amazon!

Tune in to hear Farshad share his expertise on how you can maximise your business opportunities and prepare yourself for the tsunami of AI technologies that are coming our way!

In this episode, we are joined by Noemie Jouas, the founder of NoeDresses, a slow fashion brand specializing in made-to-order garments. Noemie began her entrepreneurial journey during her final year as a management student at the University of St Andrews. After graduating in 2021, she moved to London to continue growing her business.

Noemie shares her experience of turning a lifelong passion for sewing into a thriving brand, discussing challenges like work-life balance, managing her business during COVID, and the creative rewards that come with being an entrepreneur.

Tune in to hear her inspiring story and insights on navigating the world of slow fashion and entrepreneurship.

In this episode, we’re joined by Abdhesh Kumar, founder of Copper & Carbon Ltd., an energy tech startup creating innovative wind turbine solutions to fast-track the global transition to net zero.

Abdhesh shares his remarkable journey from growing up in a small town in India, to moving to the UK in pursuit of better education, to launching a cutting-edge business in the UK. He discusses the development of his vertical axis wind turbine prototype, securing funding, and the challenges of being a first-time entrepreneur in the hardware sector.

Tune into this episode packed with insights on sustainability, innovation, and resilience.

In this episode, we are joined by Melanie Rieback, CEO and founder of Radically Open Security, a social enterprise transforming cybersecurity through ethical practices and social impact.

Melanie shares her inspiring journey—from addressing cybersecurity issues in the banking sector to building a company with a mission to drive change. She dives into the concept of Post Growth Entrepreneurship, challenging traditional business models and redefining what profit truly means. Her company reinvests a significant portion of its profits into meaningful causes, proving that ethical business can also be highly impactful.

Tune in to learn how businesses can create a lasting social impact, challenge conventional growth metrics, and build a future rooted in sustainability and responsibility.

In this episode, we are joined by Robert Sidey, the founder of KindHive, a reward-based crowdfunding platform that enables contactless donations to homeless people that can only be used on essential services. In this episode, Robert Sidey reflects on his journey founding and building KindHive at St Andrews, engaging with the Entrepreneurship Centre, graduating with a degree in Physics from the University in 2023, and shares his future goals.

In this episode, we are joined by Bryan and Annabella, the two St Andrews University student entrepreneurs that started OutNAbout. OutNAbout is a social platform which aims to empower students to have a fulfilling and enriching university experience by matching them with lifestyle events in St Andrews. Bryan and Annabella return to the Entrepreneurship Centre where they first met to share all: from OutNAbout’s origin story to its recent rebrand, and everything that has taken place in between, including the technical and marketing side of things, building their team and much more.

In this episode we are joined by Oliver Lee, the cofounder of a molecular modeling software - Digichem. Oliver is a postgraduate student at the University of St Andrews, and had developed his product alongside his PhD supervisor. In the past Oliver has won grants from the Entrepreneurship Center helping him start his business. Oliver shares his experience in being a first time entrepreneur, discussing challenges such as work-life balance, and task delegations. As well as touching on all the rewards and achievements his entrepreneurial journey has brought to him.

Today we are joined by Paul Cheek, a Senior Lecturer at MIT in the Sloan School of Management as well as the Executive Director of the Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship. Paul delves into the creation of his New Advanced Programme “Venture Creation Tactics” as well as the release of his book Disciplined Entrepreneurship: Startup Tactics, which is based on this course. Paul also shares his experience being the Co-Founder and CTO of Oceanworks, a for-profit company with a mission to end plastic pollution, and touches on his breadth of experience working and doing consulting for a wide range of companies.

In this live edition of our podcast, we are joined by guest Harry Bremner, the founder and CEO of Tuggs and an alumnus of the University of St Andrews. Harry revisits his time studying Mathematics at St Andrews as well as the moment he took his first leap into entrepreneurship and founded 'Local Student Storage' - a student storage coming which, eight years later, is still fully operational. Harry delves into his time at the School of Management in University College London (UCL), where he developed his idea for an insect-based dog food. He takes us through how this idea developed and eventually became Tuggs, now an award-winning pet wellness startup creating freshly-prepared dog food in a sustainable way.

In this episode we are joined by Rachel Hanretty, founder of Mademoiselle Macaron. This award winning female entrepreneur started her business at age 23 from her kitchen table after living in Paris and completing her degree in English and French at the University of St Andrews. Rachel delves into her experience working with a vast variety of clients including Gatwick Airport and Warner Brothers, and how she has navigated brick and mortar retail, scaling an online shop and dealing with HR, finance, marketing and everything in between.

You could have the chance to taste these delicious macarons by taking part in our Fintech Startup Workshop on the Thursday of Innovation Week at the University of St Andrews! Each team member of the winning team will receive a macaron box and a voucher so RSVP now: http://standrews.startuptree.co/event/s/gZd4H7vbv9jvkCAvH8K4ym/%5BInnovation-Week%5D-FinTech-Startup-Workshop