2025 Kick Off Mixer: Be Bold, Take Action, Go Global π
βThis isnβt business as usual. Itβs the night we kick-start 2025 with ambition, fun and a little bit of swagger. Expect a vibrant mix of sharp ideas, high-energy networking, and the kind of atmosphere that gets you thinking big.
βBut, let's be real...
βScotlandβs ecosystem has the talent, the ideas, and the drive. But weβre not where we could be, not just yet.
β2025 for us is an opportunity to challenge the status quo, look outward for fresh ideas and double down on what actually moves the needle.
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βπ‘ Why Attend?
βHereβs what youβll get out of it:
βπ Global Lessons, Scottish Impact
Learn what the worldβs best ecosystems are doing right, and how we can bring those ideas home to Scotland.
ββ‘ A Curated Room of Visionaries
Every attendee has been carefully selected, ensuring a room full of ambitious founders, startup leaders, investors, corporates, universities and ecosystem champions.
βπ¬ Sharp Talks with Real Lessons
No fluff, no filler. Just the hard truths and actionable insights from a variety of investors, founders, and ecosystem leaders.
βπ₯ Drinks, Bites, and Vibes
Enjoy bold flavours, sip on great drinks and connect with fellow founders in a relaxed yet electric atmosphere.
ββ¨ Big Announcements
Weβve been working on something special behind the scenes. Trust us, youβll want to be in the room when we unveil it.
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βπ£οΈ Who's Speaking?
βWe're delighted to be joined by 2x quick-fire panels as we dive into the world of growth investors, global mindsets, and much, much more.
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βPanel #1 - Angel Investing, Ecosystem Builders & a Global Mindset
βWe'll be joined by:
β[Host] Selby Cary - Head of Product & Engineering (COO) at Mapify Logistics and Host of the Startup Founders Meetup
βA product manager, engineer and serial tech founder who has spent 10 years building real-world autonomous and intelligent systems.
βNow leading product and engineering at Mapify Logistics, following success as co-founder of ZIVA Robotics (Scotland's Top AI Startup 2019) and scaling TestCard's technical operations.
β
βShosh Shetty - MD of Thim Ventures & Host of Angel Investor Meetups (AIM)
βOver the past decade, Shosh has worked on Β£1bn+ in capital raised, experiencing all sides of the fundraising table as Head of an Angel Syndicate, VC Investor at Old College Capital, Startup Operator, and Investment Banker.
βAt Thim Ventures, they help their investor network make strategic angel investments while training new angels to create impact.
β
βBruce Walker - Founder of Ecosystem Builders Network & VC Scout at Ada Ventures
βA founder, advisor, and occasional angel investor who's built international networks helping high-impact businesses scale globally.
βThrough FutureX, formed partnerships across Europe, Silicon Valley, and Asia, with alumni raising $200M+ and generating $1B+ in value. Now leading Ecosystem Builders Network to connect entrepreneurial ecosystems worldwide.
β
βKatie Nicholson - Director of Gateway Angels & Advisory Board Member at UKBAA
βAs director at Gateway Angels and UKBAA advisory board member, Katie leads angel networks and connects founders to strategic capital, following success in managing the Bridge Angel Network at KPMG.
βKatie also leads Startup Grind's Isle of Man Chapter within the world's largest startup community (4M+ entrepreneurs globally).
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βPanel #2 - A Growth Investors' Perspective & Scaling
βWe'll be joined by:
β[Host] Dave Hughes - CEO of Novosound
βAs CEO and founder of Novosound, Dave leads the development of the world's first wireless, wearable ultrasound platform.
βHis vision is integrating ultrasound everywhere, from hospitals to smartwatches, revolutionizing how we monitor health through Novosound Inside technology.
β
βBernice Brooks - VC Associate at Guinness Ventures
βVC Associate at Guinness Ventures evaluating high-growth UK businesses across consumer, tech, and health sectors.
βGuinness Ventures provides Series A capital (Β£1-5M), with a portfolio of 180+ companies and Β£255M+ invested, combining funding with strategic guidance to unlock founder potential.
β
ββBen Leslie - Investment Director at Puma Growth Partners
βInvestment Director at Puma Growth Partners deploying Β£4-10M in high-growth UK and European businesses.
βFormer Deloitte professional and current board director, bringing M&A expertise and strategic planning to help companies achieve transformational growth across sectors.
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βππ» TLDR
βπ Where: Hidden Venue, Glasgow (Location reveal on Approval)
π
When: Thursday, January 30, 2025
β° Time: 6:00 PM β 9:00 PM
βThis is an approval-only event with limited spaces. Make sure to secure your spot.
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βAbout Foras ππ΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ
βForas connects ambitious founders with global opportunities. From Scotland to the world and back again, we bring together high-growth startups, investors, corporates, universities and ecosystem leaders to build connections that scale internationally.
βThrough carefully curated events and immersive international programs, we deliver actionable insights, meaningful relationships, and unique pathways to growth.
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ββForas is proud to collaborate with:
ββββThorntons Law - Where legal expertise meets entrepreneurial vision. Trusted advisor for comprehensive legal solutions for startups/scaleups and expert guidance to navigate the legal landscape in the UK.
ββββJohnston Carmichael - Premier choice for expert tax and accountancy solutions to accelerate your financial growth.
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βπΈ Important Info
βBy attending this event you agree to be photographed and filmed, and we may use the footage for marketing purposes. Additionally, we will share the attendee list with our valued sponsors.
ββIf you prefer not to have your photos or footage used, or if you do not wish for your details to be shared with sponsors, kindly let us know. We will be more than happy to accommodate your preferences.
ββThank you for your understanding, and we look forward to seeing you at the event!
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βπ© Got questions or want to inquire about bringing a +1? Email us at hello@foras.scot.
βLetβs kick off 2025 with bold ideas, strong connections, and a global mindset π₯π.