Beyond StArtups

How do you rebuild after failure? In this episode of Beyond StArtups , Sean Patton, Executive Coach at Novus Global, entrepreneur, author, and leadership expert, shares the experiences that shaped his approach to leadership and business. From launching and losing his first company to building a highly successful business and coaching executives worldwide, Sean reflects on the roles of identity, re...

In this episode of Beyond StArtups , we’re joined by João Leitão, Vice-Rector of the University of Beira Interior and Associate Professor of Economics, to discuss how the IMPACTWHEEL project is helping universities across Europe move beyond traditional academic models to create measurable societal and entrepreneurial impact. IMPACTWHEEL is a €1.34M project running from 2025–2027, bringing together...

This week on Beyond StArtups, we have our second ever Special EdenTay Roundtable episode. If you don’t yet know, the EdenTay Founders Community is a collaboration between University of Dundee's Centre for Entrepreneurship, Abertay's Bell Street Ventures, and St Andrews’ Entrepreneurship Centre. This week we are joined by James McCorkindale, a fourth-year Computing Science student at the University...

In today’s episode of Beyond StArtups, we are joined by Charlie Aitken, Director at Rum Cay Rum, which provides a premium spiced rum, inspired by the way of life his grandparents embraced after spending part of their lives in The Bahamas. Charlie shares the story behind the flavours and ethos of this brand. He delves into how he learned about the distillery process, and what led him to combine the...

In this episode of Beyond StArtups, we are joined by Dr Kate Smith, Co-Founder of ProfessorMe, the leading provider of award winning multilingual university AI Tech Products and in-person training resources in the UK. Dr Smith breaks down the high-quality multilingual branded tech products that Professors Me offers, their future goals, and the process of founding a female run business. Listen to h...

In this episode of Beyond Startups, we’re joined by Manoj, a structural engineer and tech founder who is reimagining the backbone of our built environment through digital innovation. With a career spanning from private residential designs to complex £100M ventures in London, Manoj has seen firsthand where traditional engineering methodologies fall short. Manoj discusses his transition from navigat...

In this episode of Beyond Startups, we’re joined by Danielle Gaffney du Plooy, a social entrepreneur, psychotherapist, and coach dedicated to human-centered leadership and inclusive employment. Danielle discusses the realities of building and scaling social enterprises—from her decade of experience founding and leading Uppertunity, a charity supporting adults with additional needs, to her recent a...

In this episode of Beyond Startups, we’re joined by Albert Suriñach, founder of Studio Platero, a theatre production company dedicated to transmedia storytelling and artist-led creative work. Albert discusses the realities of building a company in the arts sector — from navigating non-traditional funding channels, to maintaining team morale without salaries, to collaborating across composition, ac...

In this episode, we’re joined by Sebastien Chesse, a fourth-year Management and Economics student at the University of St Andrews, who shares his experience contributing to the creation and growth of a student-led Mexican food catering concept in St Andrews. Sebastien discusses how identifying gaps in the local food scene led to the development of a catering operation focused on private dinners an...

In this episode of Beyond Startups, we speak with Artur, co-founder of Vici Bio, a computational-biology startup built to make advanced protein modelling accessible to every scientist. Artur discusses how his Biochemistry degree, a research placement in Singapore, and a self-taught interest in coding led him to build Vici Bio with his co-founder. He explains why biology is entering a new era drive...

In this episode of Beyond Startups, we’re joined by Alex Rowe, St Andrews Economics alumnus and founder of Sun & Planet, a Scottish initiative dedicated to helping early-stage tech startups become investment-ready. After graduating in 2015, Alex built a career advising hundreds of founders and supporting fundraises totalling over £60 million. He shares his path from academic curiosity about cr...

In this episode of Beyond Startups, we’re joined by Alex Brunner, St Andrews alumnus and co-founder of Aurelia AI, an Oxford-incubated startup developing voice-driven agents that make navigating the web faster, simpler, and more inclusive. Alex shares how his first failed student venture sparked a deeper curiosity for entrepreneurship, eventually leading him to co-found Aurelia AI, a company now s...

Innovation Week Special Edition – Douglas Clement, Founder of Kingsbarns Distillery In this special episode of Beyond Startups, we’re joined by Douglas Clement, founder of Kingsbarns Distillery in Fife. Douglas shares his remarkable journey from St Andrews golf caddie to entrepreneur, transforming a derelict farm into a world-class distillery and visitor centre. He talks about learning an entirely...

In this episode of Beyond Startups, we’re joined by Carina Kohli, founder of HumCare, a health-tech startup dedicated to improving employee wellbeing and access to care across India. After studying at the University of St Andrews, Carina was inspired by her own health experiences to create a platform that bridges the gaps in everyday healthcare; from mental health and fertility support to chronic...

In this episode of Beyond Startups, we’re joined by Oliver Clem, St Andrews Chemistry alumnus and co-founder of Solas Healthcare, a startup pioneering patient-focused access to medicinal cannabis in the UK. Oliver reflects on his journey from graduating in 1996, to a 20-year career in pharmaceutical manufacturing, to launching a venture shaped by compassion and innovation. He shares insights into...

In this episode we are joined by Kat Pohorecka, CoFounder of Mude, an adaptive wear company that delivers functional and fashionable undergarments to people whose health and wellbeing depends on wearing medical devices. Kat shares what she has learnt in her journey from studying Product Design to becoming a founder: from the importance of customer discovery and user-centred design, to the perks an...

In this episode, we speak with Angus Robertson, Portfolio Manager within the High Growth Ventures team at Scottish Enterprise. Angus and his team work with early-stage, high-potential companies at the critical point where substantial investment is needed to scale from creation to revenue. With a focus on de-risking and adding value, Angus helps founders navigate leadership development, team buildi...

In this episode, we speak with Alexandra Feechan, founder and CEO of FINDRA, a sustainable outdoor clothing brand inspired by a love of nature and a commitment to empowering women through design. With a background in fashion and textiles, Alex set out to rethink performance wear, creating high-quality, ethically made garments that blend style, functionality, and environmental responsibility. Along...

In this special STAR Radio live edition of Beyond Startups, we’re joined by Dr Abd Alsattar Ardati, Lecturer in Computer Science, and Digital Strategy Officer at the University of St Andrews. With a PhD in Computer Science and a passion for collaboration and impact, Abd’s work focuses on bridging the gap between researchers and communities to tackle pressing social challenges, from digital poverty...

In this week's special EdenTay roundtable episode of Beyond Startups , we’re spotlighting the importance of female founders by sitting down with three women whose ventures challenge the norms of their industries through thoughtful design, technical creativity, and a strong sense of purpose. 👗 Noemie Jouas , founder of NoeDresses , shares her journey in building a sustainable slow fashion brand fr...

In this episode, we speak with Caragh Keane, founder of Superkeen, an Autoimmune Protocol (AIP)-friendly cereal brand, offering allergen-free, gut-friendly products designed to support anti-inflammatory lifestyles. Inspired by her own experience living with lupus, Caragh created Superkeen to make it easier for people with autoimmune conditions or dietary restrictions to access nourishing, enjoyabl...

In this episode, we’re joined by Leonardo Binetti — the Chief Technology Officer, Co-founder, and Scientific Director of Arabat, a circular economy startup pioneering a game-changing lithium battery recycling process using agri-food waste. Arabat recovers valuable metals from used batteries using organic waste such as oranges, marking a leap forward in sustainable tech. Leonardo holds a PhD in Opt...

In this episode, we are joined by Ali-Reza Omidvar who is the Co-founder & CEO of Inoox, an AI task management platform designed to keep you in control and reduce anxiety. This platform integrates sentimental analytics with proactive task management, empowering teams to stay organized and focused while enhancing productivity and well-being. His expertise in anxiety and mental health extends be...

In this episode, we are joined by Carlos Navarro, a Computer Science graduate from the University of St Andrews and the co-founder of Wayak AI - a tech startup that provides an AI operating system to help businesses automate operations using large language models. Carlos discusses how his company, Wayak, evolved from a cross-border payment platform into a full-scale AI automation solution. He dive...

In this episode, we are joined by Emilio Rimini who is the co-founder and owner of The Green Company, which addresses the challenge of finding alternatives to single use plastic products through its goal of offering condensed cleaning solutions to reduce plastic waste and carbon emissions from household staples. Emilio Rimini is a St Andrews Alumnus who graduated from the University last June with...