Our customers

  • It became clear that evidence of demand would be vital in securing funding to take the product to market. Ruth has provided us with the evidence we need, along with a deep understanding of how our target customers think about the product—and has done so on a very tight budget and timescale. Throughout Ruth filled me with tremendous confidence and assurance that the work would be done to a high standard. She delivered, and I will be hiring her again in the future.

    Victoria O'Donoghue Founder and CEO of Loc8er

  • The financial model is at least as competent - if not more so - as any I have seen, and has taken out the overcomplicating factors

    Entrepreneurial finance expert from PWC

  • Ian is a goldmine for any start-up looking to fast-track the commercialisation a technology offering. He is thought-provoking, well-connected, tactful (but honest!) and I always leave our meetings better equipped, and inspired to handle the challenges ahead. I look forward to continuing to work with Ian and hope it's a long relationship.

    Suzanne Doyle-Morris CEO and Founder, InclusIQ

  • Ian has been tremendously useful to Contemplate, taking us from first-time entrepreneurs with a vision and some promising technology to our first contracts with real customers. He helped us explore ideas for products and investigate potential markets, and played a key role in signing up the first customers to our early adopter programme. Along the way he provided valuable assistance with all aspects of business development, produced excellent material for presentations and business plans, and even sorted out stubborn system problems on my laptop. Highly recommended.

    Don Sannella Founder and CEO of Contemplate Ltd

  • Ian has been an integral part of Loc8er this past year, not to mention that I have thoroughly enjoyed working with him. He has an exceptional balance of technology, commercial and industry understanding, which has helped Loc8er define its route to market. Ian is very professional and refreshingly honest. He helped us challenge our ideas and the feedback we had received, which sharpened the companies vision. He has a wealth of knowledge and expertise that is vital for getting start-ups up and running along the right tracks.

    Victoria O'Donoghue Founder and CEO of Loc8er

 Place your cursor over or tap on a logo for more details

UniKLasers
Ian has helped raise grants (>£150k) and investment (~£200k), and prepared a business plan and financial projections.
Edinburgh Napier University
Ian was Commercial Champion for the award winning Fragment Finder HGSP project, building a business which will spin out in 2016 as Cyacomb.
ATEEDA
Ian worked with ATEEDA for more than 5 years, supporting sales and marketing activity and helping with investment (>£2m) and grants (>£400k).
Contemplate
Ian conducted early stage Business Development work for Contemplate, as well as supporting licensing negotiations and business planning. Later Ian took a role as a Non Exec Director.
InclusIQ
Ian supported early stage business planning and funding applications.
University of Strathclyde
Ian was "Commercial Champion" for a SE funded project in optical spectroscopy. Ian conducted market assessment, identified partners to build the product, and built a business plan and investor pitch. The team won the 2014 Converge Challenge, and attracted a provisional offer of funding from investors.
Oran Audio
Ian prepared a business plan, financial model and investor pitch, while Ruth led market research with retailers to establish market size and customer wants.
The University of Edinburgh
Ian carried out an initial market assessment exercise for the University, which led to the development of Contemplate Ltd . Ruth supported market research that collected results from over 100 industry professionals.
Customer Name
Ian helped with early market exploration and grant applications (£100k), as well as supporting introductions to investors who have subsequently invested over £500k.
Loc8er Mobile
Ian carried out business planning and investor readiness work, and Ruth conducted a UK-wide survey of potential users.
Launch.ed
Ian and Ruth delivered workshops on Market Research to the Launch.ed Summer Schools
Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce
Ian delivered workshops on Marketing for Startups.
Informatics Ventures
Ian delivered a CEO Masterclass on Global Marketing for Startups.
SICSA
Ian and Ruth delivered workshops on Market Research to the SICSA Summer School.
LINC Scotland
Miscellaneous support and research, including a market research project to explore interest in a Guide to Young Company Finance, and what content it should contain. Resulted in a successful publication.
Young Company Finance
Projects including support for the SE-funded Risk Capital Markets report, and market research to test interest in additional offerings under the Young Company Finance brand.
Heriot Watt University
Ian delivered a workshop with a spin-out company on preparing a pitch for support from Scottish Enterprise.
Scottish Enterprise
A small project to investigate the potential of a company seeking support from Scottish Enterprise.

For reasons of confidentiality there are some customers that we cannot list on this page, and most project descriptions must be in general terms. We willl happily provide contacts at any customer for a reference on request.