It’s one of the most significant crossroads in the spin-out journey: Can, and should, a researcher lead the company they created? On Thursday, we’re moving past the polite surface talk for an open conversation about the CEO’s role in deep-tech spin-outs. Whether you’re a PI weighing up your future, a PhD student with a prototype, or a supporter of the next wave of technical talent, come join the conversation. We’ll hear from founders who have taken both paths and explore how Scotland can ensure more world-class research makes a world-class impact.
Come along to connect with innovators, entrepreneurs, and curious minds in a relaxed, welcoming space designed to spark meaningful connections. Whether you're looking to share ideas, find collaborators, or simply meet new people, our networking space offers the perfect opportunity to engage with a diverse community and discover new perspectives.
What’s the one thing you want to carry forward?
Drop in and turn inspiration into something tangible. Reflect on what’s resonated with you throughout the event - an idea, a word, a mindset - and capture it on your own keyring charm!
Craft, decorate, and personalise your piece, creating a small but powerful reminder of what you need to succeed on your journey.
Take it with you, keep it close and let it guide what comes next!
We all make false assumptions and mistakes in our leadership & business journey – but they often don’t get talked about enough...
What were your small or big disasters? Did you launch initiatives that were unsuccessful? Did you hire someone and it all went really wrong?Invest in IT that just didn’t work? What ‘went from good to bad’ and what did you learn from it?
Let’s hear some of your juiciest tales, and take the most of these everyday failure-stories to make our businesses and leadership practices better, and develop empathy with others humans navigating the pitfalls of trying hard!
Patricia El Jichi, Investment Manager at PXN Group, will offer four founders a private 10‑minute slot for a focused, one‑to‑one conversation.
How it works:
-
Register your interest – the first 4 people to sign up will be offered a slot.
-
A waiting list will be created in case of cancellations.
-
We'll confirm your spot before the event.
PXN Group is the combination of two of the North’s best fund managers (Praetura Ventures and Par Equity) coming together to create an investor that the region deserves. With offices in Edinburgh, Manchester, Leeds and London, they deliver world-class investment programmes – including EIS, VCT, Business Relief, Natural Capital and later-stage capital – at scale to help build the Northern economy. They support ambitious founders via their PXN Ventures brand and financial advisers & investors via PXN Investments, which are both brands in the PXN Group.
Should the researcher lead the company? Or step aside for a commercial CEO?
There's no single answer to the spin‑out CEO question, so in this no‑holds‑barred conversation we bring together four people who have lived it from very different angles.
Gillian Fleming, Co‑Founder & Managing Director at Mint Ventures.
Shahida Imani, Co‑Founder and CEO of Singular Photonics.
Andrew Noble, COO at PXN.
Dave Hughes, former Founding Director and CTO of Novosound.
They’ll tackle the pros, cons and uncomfortable trade-offs. What red flags make investors hesitate? Should an academic grow into the CEO role – or step aside for a commercial veteran? And when a professional CEO is brought in, who gives up equity?
No polished answers. Just an open, honest conversation about one of the hardest decision a founder faces.
It’s one of the most significant crossroads in the spin-out journey: Can, and should, a researcher lead the company they created? On Thursday, we’re moving past the polite surface talk for an open conversation about the CEO’s role in deep-tech spin-outs. Whether you’re a PI weighing up your future, a PhD student with a prototype, or a supporter of the next wave of technical talent, come join the conversation. We’ll hear from founders who have taken both paths and explore how Scotland can ensure more world-class research makes a world-class impact.
Come along to connect with innovators, entrepreneurs, and curious minds in a relaxed, welcoming space designed to spark meaningful connections. Whether you're looking to share ideas, find collaborators, or simply meet new people, our networking space offers the perfect opportunity to engage with a diverse community and discover new perspectives.
What’s the one thing you want to carry forward?
Drop in and turn inspiration into something tangible. Reflect on what’s resonated with you throughout the event - an idea, a word, a mindset - and capture it on your own keyring charm!
Craft, decorate, and personalise your piece, creating a small but powerful reminder of what you need to succeed on your journey.
Take it with you, keep it close and let it guide what comes next!
We all make false assumptions and mistakes in our leadership & business journey – but they often don’t get talked about enough...
What were your small or big disasters? Did you launch initiatives that were unsuccessful? Did you hire someone and it all went really wrong?Invest in IT that just didn’t work? What ‘went from good to bad’ and what did you learn from it?
Let’s hear some of your juiciest tales, and take the most of these everyday failure-stories to make our businesses and leadership practices better, and develop empathy with others humans navigating the pitfalls of trying hard!
Patricia El Jichi, Investment Manager at PXN Group, will offer four founders a private 10‑minute slot for a focused, one‑to‑one conversation.
How it works:
-
Register your interest – the first 4 people to sign up will be offered a slot.
-
A waiting list will be created in case of cancellations.
-
We'll confirm your spot before the event.
PXN Group is the combination of two of the North’s best fund managers (Praetura Ventures and Par Equity) coming together to create an investor that the region deserves. With offices in Edinburgh, Manchester, Leeds and London, they deliver world-class investment programmes – including EIS, VCT, Business Relief, Natural Capital and later-stage capital – at scale to help build the Northern economy. They support ambitious founders via their PXN Ventures brand and financial advisers & investors via PXN Investments, which are both brands in the PXN Group.
Should the researcher lead the company? Or step aside for a commercial CEO?
There's no single answer to the spin‑out CEO question, so in this no‑holds‑barred conversation we bring together four people who have lived it from very different angles.
Gillian Fleming, Co‑Founder & Managing Director at Mint Ventures.
Shahida Imani, Co‑Founder and CEO of Singular Photonics.
Andrew Noble, COO at PXN.
Dave Hughes, former Founding Director and CTO of Novosound.
They’ll tackle the pros, cons and uncomfortable trade-offs. What red flags make investors hesitate? Should an academic grow into the CEO role – or step aside for a commercial veteran? And when a professional CEO is brought in, who gives up equity?
No polished answers. Just an open, honest conversation about one of the hardest decision a founder faces.