Been there and done it? Interested in using your own personal experience and expertise to help fellow Strathclyders to launch their business and product ideas? There are several ways in which you could get involved.
Over the last couple of years, we have worked hard to involve a global network of successful alumni entrepreneurs and business people in the process of supporting the next generation of Strathclyde entrepreneurs.
A number of our clients have been successfully paired with mentors who had the right expertise, the right contacts and the right experience.
Use your own personal experience to help launch a fellow alumni business and register as a Mentor.
To find out more email the Enterprise Team.
Prominent alumni entrepreneurs Iain Graham, Jim McColl and John McGlynn recently took part in the University's Celebration of Entrepreneurship Day where they heard pitches from a variety of student and alumni entrepreneurs.
The team are always keen to engage with experienced business people who are interested in dedicating some of their time to this type of activity.
The Strathclyders into Business Fund provides small, yet critical, finance to students and alumni looking to start new businesses and introduce new products to market. For more information on making donations to the SIB Fund, contact the Alumni Office.
Some inventors, require extra assistance in commercialising their products and technologies due to lack of time, skills or knowledge.
Our Commercialisation Champions Programme is a unique initiative which links budding entrepreneurs and inventors with commercial champions, with a view to stimulating commercial activity.
Acting as a consultant, the champion will carry out an initial commercial assessment and may undertake market feasibility, a risk analysis or start a dialogue with potential customers. The aim of the initiative is to add value to the original idea and use the champion's energy, skills and experience to help the inventor/entrepreneur to make informed decisions and articulate the most appropriate commercial direction.
The University is always seeking to build contacts with individuals from commercial backgrounds interested in becoming Executive Directors of new spin-out companies. This can include working with the academic teams at the pre-startup phase, under contract to the University. Commercialisation funding can be made available to support such roles. It is anticipated that individuals who express interest will be seeking a salaried position and a shareholding in a technology company. Individuals with previous executive director experience in a technology company, and/or with raising investment from the private sector for such a company, are likely to be best suited to these roles.
It's not what you know, it's who you know
You can help budding entrepreneurs by giving them access to your invaluable network of contacts, allowing them to gather relevant information and advice from experienced entrepreneurs and industry experts.
There may be future opportunities to invest in the Fund