While Scotland's entrepreneurial landscape has no shortage of discussions, programmes, and reports exploring how to support startups and scaleups, the question of why we're doing it often gets less attention. Without a clear ‘north star,’ execution can become fragmented, leading to misaligned initiatives and wasted resources.
This Thursday Gathering with James Varga, serial entrepreneur, and Laura Bernal Vergara, founder of Axiotic AI, is an opportunity to step back and ask: what is the shared vision for Scotland's tech ecosystem? What do we actually want to build, and for whom?
If you're a founder, ecosystem supporter, or simply curious about where the country goes next, join us for a conversation about the fundamental "why" behind our desire to build a Scotland that encourages, supports, and attracts entrepreneurship.
Our Thursday Gatherings are designed for serendipitous connections and making things happen. Expect plenty of chances to meet people, share ideas, and enjoy refreshments and activities along the way.
Join us in the Conversation Corner for an informal chat with PRIMED Edinburgh, a programme supporting researchers and innovators to turn cutting-edge ideas into real-world impact. Working at the intersection of academia and entrepreneurship, PRIMED helps individuals explore the commercial potential of their work and take early steps towards building ventures.
This is a relaxed opportunity to learn more about what they do, ask questions, and connect - whether you’re curious about innovation, exploring an idea, or just keen to meet others working across Edinburgh’s ecosystem.
Ready to get hands-on? Drop by and take on the LEGO challenge! Get ready to tackle the build - team up with others, dive in, and see how far you can get.
Whether you’re in it for a bit of fun, some light competition, or a chance to connect while you build, this is your space to collaborate and create. The question is… will you finish in time?
Sales conversations look very different in 2026. AI tools are everywhere, inboxes are noisier than ever, and still most deals are still won or lost on the same fundamentals
This session is designed for founders, early sales hires, operators, investors, or anyone who finds themselves having commercial conversations, whether or not they think of themselves as “in sales”
We’ll cover practical best practices for 2026, including
- How to start more relevant conversations with potential customers
- What actually works now when booking new meetings
- How to run clearer, more effective discovery conversations
- Common mistakes that quietly kill deals early
- How to turn good conversations into real pipeline and revenue
- How to coach and support others in your business to sell more effectively
It doesn’t matter if you’re brand new to sales or have built and run multiple sales teams. The focus is on simple, usable tactics that improve the quality of conversations immediately
The goal is for people to leave with a clearer understanding of how sales actually works, why it matters, and how it directly affects revenue, decision making, and growth
Get a glimpse into the future and explore what’s ahead! Join Kalem Turner for a session of quick-fire palm readings, where your hands can reveal insights, spark reflection, and help you engage with change.
As we spend so much time building and scaling within the ecosystem, this is a chance to pause and turn that same energy inward - reflecting on your own path, your future, and how it connects to the bigger picture.
The pre-registration period has now closed, but stay tuned for updates!
Hear from Laura Bernal, founder of Axiotic AI, as she shares her journey, the company she’s building, the milestones she’s reached, and the challenges she’s navigated along the way.
Join serial entrepreneur James Varga alongside Label Sessions Managing Director Nick Sherrard as they explore how a shift toward the public sector could unlock fresh momentum for collaboration and innovation across Scotland.
Hear from James Varga as he shares the progress of the Building Scotland project and outlines what comes next.
Following on from the conversation led by James Varga, this interactive session invites you to take the conversation a step further and help shape what Scotland’s ecosystem is really building towards. Before strategies, programmes, or investment, we’ll explore key questions - from why Scotland and who it’s for, to where we can compete and how we turn strengths into real impact.
Grab a post-it, share your perspective, and explore what others are thinking as we start to build a clearer, collective direction together.
James Varga is a serial founder, operator, and strategic advisor helping ambitious tech businesses turn complex innovation into trusted commercial growth. With more than 25 years across fintech, identity, data, and technology, he builds the bridge between new ideas and real adoption, shaping strategy, positioning, partnerships, and routes to market where trust and execution matter most.
While Scotland's entrepreneurial landscape has no shortage of discussions, programmes, and reports exploring how to support startups and scaleups, the question of why we're doing it often gets less attention. Without a clear ‘north star,’ execution can become fragmented, leading to misaligned initiatives and wasted resources.
This Thursday Gathering with James Varga, serial entrepreneur, and Laura Bernal Vergara, founder of Axiotic AI, is an opportunity to step back and ask: what is the shared vision for Scotland's tech ecosystem? What do we actually want to build, and for whom?
If you're a founder, ecosystem supporter, or simply curious about where the country goes next, join us for a conversation about the fundamental "why" behind our desire to build a Scotland that encourages, supports, and attracts entrepreneurship.
Our Thursday Gatherings are designed for serendipitous connections and making things happen. Expect plenty of chances to meet people, share ideas, and enjoy refreshments and activities along the way.
Join us in the Conversation Corner for an informal chat with PRIMED Edinburgh, a programme supporting researchers and innovators to turn cutting-edge ideas into real-world impact. Working at the intersection of academia and entrepreneurship, PRIMED helps individuals explore the commercial potential of their work and take early steps towards building ventures.
This is a relaxed opportunity to learn more about what they do, ask questions, and connect - whether you’re curious about innovation, exploring an idea, or just keen to meet others working across Edinburgh’s ecosystem.
Ready to get hands-on? Drop by and take on the LEGO challenge! Get ready to tackle the build - team up with others, dive in, and see how far you can get.
Whether you’re in it for a bit of fun, some light competition, or a chance to connect while you build, this is your space to collaborate and create. The question is… will you finish in time?
Sales conversations look very different in 2026. AI tools are everywhere, inboxes are noisier than ever, and still most deals are still won or lost on the same fundamentals
This session is designed for founders, early sales hires, operators, investors, or anyone who finds themselves having commercial conversations, whether or not they think of themselves as “in sales”
We’ll cover practical best practices for 2026, including
- How to start more relevant conversations with potential customers
- What actually works now when booking new meetings
- How to run clearer, more effective discovery conversations
- Common mistakes that quietly kill deals early
- How to turn good conversations into real pipeline and revenue
- How to coach and support others in your business to sell more effectively
It doesn’t matter if you’re brand new to sales or have built and run multiple sales teams. The focus is on simple, usable tactics that improve the quality of conversations immediately
The goal is for people to leave with a clearer understanding of how sales actually works, why it matters, and how it directly affects revenue, decision making, and growth
Get a glimpse into the future and explore what’s ahead! Join Kalem Turner for a session of quick-fire palm readings, where your hands can reveal insights, spark reflection, and help you engage with change.
As we spend so much time building and scaling within the ecosystem, this is a chance to pause and turn that same energy inward - reflecting on your own path, your future, and how it connects to the bigger picture.
The pre-registration period has now closed, but stay tuned for updates!
Hear from Laura Bernal, founder of Axiotic AI, as she shares her journey, the company she’s building, the milestones she’s reached, and the challenges she’s navigated along the way.
Join serial entrepreneur James Varga alongside Label Sessions Managing Director Nick Sherrard as they explore how a shift toward the public sector could unlock fresh momentum for collaboration and innovation across Scotland.
Hear from James Varga as he shares the progress of the Building Scotland project and outlines what comes next.
Following on from the conversation led by James Varga, this interactive session invites you to take the conversation a step further and help shape what Scotland’s ecosystem is really building towards. Before strategies, programmes, or investment, we’ll explore key questions - from why Scotland and who it’s for, to where we can compete and how we turn strengths into real impact.
Grab a post-it, share your perspective, and explore what others are thinking as we start to build a clearer, collective direction together.
James Varga is a serial founder, operator, and strategic advisor helping ambitious tech businesses turn complex innovation into trusted commercial growth. With more than 25 years across fintech, identity, data, and technology, he builds the bridge between new ideas and real adoption, shaping strategy, positioning, partnerships, and routes to market where trust and execution matter most.