From navigating business culture in Japan to unpacking the changes AI is bringing to the lab, we’re tackling some big topics at this week’s Thursday Gathering – have a look!
Meaningful ideas and changes are sparked when serendipitous connection collides with intention. The Thursday Gathering is our free, weekly meet-up that connects people from across Edinburgh’s innovation community to make things happen. Every Thursday, we bring together innovators of all backgrounds, from founders and investors to students and researchers, to discuss big ideas and connect human to human.
Powered by Advanced Research + Invention Agency
Grab a drink, and join the conversation! Whether you're looking to meet potential collaborators, exchange ideas, grow your network, or simply continue the conversation, this is a great opportunity to connect with fellow innovators, entrepreneurs, and members of the community. You never know where a conversation might lead!
Discover the world of matcha with Matcha Mind!
Join us for a relaxed tasting experience exploring premium ceremonial matcha, its distinctive flavour and the mindful ritual behind every cup. Learn more about MatchaMind’s approach to gut-friendly, wellness-focused drinks while sampling some of their delicious matcha creations. Come along, taste something new and connect with the community over a cup of matcha!
Imagine a city, landscape or community designed for the future. Take inspiration from places you’ve visited, places that inspire you, or invent somewhere completely new.
Think about the spaces, buildings, people, nature and unexpected details that could make your future place somewhere that ideas, businesses and communities can thrive. Whether you imagine a futuristic city, a peaceful utopia, or a landscape that combines the best of places from home and away, there are no rules - just bring your imagination!
Connect with people around you and discuss what would shape your dream city - then draw, doodle and assemble a masterpiece that reminds you of what you value most!
Find out more about the exciting startups in our ecosystem at our Innovator Showcase - the perfect chance to meet the people behind the ideas.
- Amytis – Amytis is an Edinburgh-based AI platform transforming how life science researchers work, using specialised AI models and no-code workflows to help scientists analyse data, manage research, and streamline complex scientific processes.
- Volkcell – Volkcell is biotech start-up that develops high-throughput cell counting systems and image analysis software for life science researchers
As AI technologies improve, it can feel as if human skills are becoming optional. A few are becoming essential.
Katie Buckland, founder of AI training company Mosaic Academy, introduces some of the skills that matter most when working with AI. Come along for a short talk followed by interactive activities, including the AI Crime Scene, where you investigate an AI-written post before it goes live.
Take a seat and hear from Venture Café Edinburgh Programme Manager, Arielle Vetro who will go through how to make the most of a Thursday Gathering and give you a quick preview of what's in line for this week's event.
Venture Café is a global movement built on a simple but powerful belief: isolation is the enemy of innovation.
At our weekly Thursday Gatherings, we connect creators, entrepreneurs, investors, coworkers, students and visionaries to build strong, inclusive and equitable innovation ecosystem. As ecosystem activators, Venture Café Edinburgh is creating a central hub for the city's innovation ecosystem, driving visibility, collaboration and community.
And if you’d like to get more involved with Venture Café, there are plenty of ways to join our network:
🤝 Become a partner
🎤 Speak at an upcoming Thursday Gathering
🙌 Join our ambassador team
Looking to expand your startup globally? Understanding cultural nuance and commercial opportunity is critical when entering East Asia’s largest tech market.
Join us for a practical, candid panel with two founders who spent an intensive two-weeks in-market, as part of Techscaler’s Japan 2026 Programme. They’ll cover their experience navigating distinct business cultures, how to balance anchor conferences with high-value meetings, and how to identify where Scotland's robotics, deep- and space-tech ecosystems can adapt to hit global scale.
Whether you’re exploring Japan or already planning your next move, this session will unpack what it takes to break in, and what other founders can learn.
Anthropic has set up its own biology lab, Nobel Prizes have been awarded for AI-enabled discoveries and tech bosses worldwide are calling for AI development to slow down. Should AI be used in science, and if so, how? Hear three life science founders who build with and use these tools daily discuss what’s going on behind the headlines, how they believe AI should be used in science and where they think the field is going next.
From navigating business culture in Japan to unpacking the changes AI is bringing to the lab, we’re tackling some big topics at this week’s Thursday Gathering – have a look!
Meaningful ideas and changes are sparked when serendipitous connection collides with intention. The Thursday Gathering is our free, weekly meet-up that connects people from across Edinburgh’s innovation community to make things happen. Every Thursday, we bring together innovators of all backgrounds, from founders and investors to students and researchers, to discuss big ideas and connect human to human.
Powered by Advanced Research + Invention Agency
Grab a drink, and join the conversation! Whether you're looking to meet potential collaborators, exchange ideas, grow your network, or simply continue the conversation, this is a great opportunity to connect with fellow innovators, entrepreneurs, and members of the community. You never know where a conversation might lead!
Discover the world of matcha with Matcha Mind!
Join us for a relaxed tasting experience exploring premium ceremonial matcha, its distinctive flavour and the mindful ritual behind every cup. Learn more about MatchaMind’s approach to gut-friendly, wellness-focused drinks while sampling some of their delicious matcha creations. Come along, taste something new and connect with the community over a cup of matcha!
Imagine a city, landscape or community designed for the future. Take inspiration from places you’ve visited, places that inspire you, or invent somewhere completely new.
Think about the spaces, buildings, people, nature and unexpected details that could make your future place somewhere that ideas, businesses and communities can thrive. Whether you imagine a futuristic city, a peaceful utopia, or a landscape that combines the best of places from home and away, there are no rules - just bring your imagination!
Connect with people around you and discuss what would shape your dream city - then draw, doodle and assemble a masterpiece that reminds you of what you value most!
Find out more about the exciting startups in our ecosystem at our Innovator Showcase - the perfect chance to meet the people behind the ideas.
- Amytis – Amytis is an Edinburgh-based AI platform transforming how life science researchers work, using specialised AI models and no-code workflows to help scientists analyse data, manage research, and streamline complex scientific processes.
- Volkcell – Volkcell is biotech start-up that develops high-throughput cell counting systems and image analysis software for life science researchers
As AI technologies improve, it can feel as if human skills are becoming optional. A few are becoming essential.
Katie Buckland, founder of AI training company Mosaic Academy, introduces some of the skills that matter most when working with AI. Come along for a short talk followed by interactive activities, including the AI Crime Scene, where you investigate an AI-written post before it goes live.
Take a seat and hear from Venture Café Edinburgh Programme Manager, Arielle Vetro who will go through how to make the most of a Thursday Gathering and give you a quick preview of what's in line for this week's event.
Venture Café is a global movement built on a simple but powerful belief: isolation is the enemy of innovation.
At our weekly Thursday Gatherings, we connect creators, entrepreneurs, investors, coworkers, students and visionaries to build strong, inclusive and equitable innovation ecosystem. As ecosystem activators, Venture Café Edinburgh is creating a central hub for the city's innovation ecosystem, driving visibility, collaboration and community.
And if you’d like to get more involved with Venture Café, there are plenty of ways to join our network:
🤝 Become a partner
🎤 Speak at an upcoming Thursday Gathering
🙌 Join our ambassador team
Looking to expand your startup globally? Understanding cultural nuance and commercial opportunity is critical when entering East Asia’s largest tech market.
Join us for a practical, candid panel with two founders who spent an intensive two-weeks in-market, as part of Techscaler’s Japan 2026 Programme. They’ll cover their experience navigating distinct business cultures, how to balance anchor conferences with high-value meetings, and how to identify where Scotland's robotics, deep- and space-tech ecosystems can adapt to hit global scale.
Whether you’re exploring Japan or already planning your next move, this session will unpack what it takes to break in, and what other founders can learn.
Anthropic has set up its own biology lab, Nobel Prizes have been awarded for AI-enabled discoveries and tech bosses worldwide are calling for AI development to slow down. Should AI be used in science, and if so, how? Hear three life science founders who build with and use these tools daily discuss what’s going on behind the headlines, how they believe AI should be used in science and where they think the field is going next.