EVENTS
RISE@UofG is hosting regular formal and informal hybrid events to provide information, learning, and networking opportunities for existing and aspiring founders.
RISE@UofG presents: A Conversation with Professor Pat Gunning: Dream Big, Start Small - 28th April 2025
We are thrilled to invite you to our upcoming RISE@UofG event on 28th April 2025 at 4pm, hosted at the Adam Smith Business School, Hothouse (282).
Join us as we welcome Professor Pat Gunning, a distinguished alumnus of the University of Glasgow and a renowned professor at both the University of Toronto and the University of Glasgow. A celebrated serial entrepreneur, Pat has made groundbreaking contributions to biotech and healthcare, earning numerous awards and accolades for his research and innovation.
Pat’s journey is a testament to the power of dreaming big and starting small. He has founded multiple successful biotech companies, including Janpix Inc, Dunad Therapeutics, and Dalriada Therapeutics.
During this event, Pat will share his real-world experiences in entrepreneurship—highlighting his struggles, a few failures, and many remarkable successes. Following his presentation, Pat will be joined by Professor Andrew Jamieson, UofG’s Professor of Chemical Biology, for an engaging fireside chat. Together, they’ll delve into Pat’s past and future entrepreneurial ventures focussing on the lessons he’s learned along the way. The event will also feature an open Q&A session, giving you the chance to ask all your burning questions.
This event will be available both in-person and online, hosted by the university’s entrepreneurial teams. In-person attendees will enjoy a networking reception with a buffet and beverages, providing the perfect opportunity to connect with like-minded innovators.
Don’t miss this chance to gain invaluable insights from one of the brightest minds in biotech and entrepreneurship.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Get your free ticket here
Further events in planning for 2025:
Routes to commercialisation
Meet the investors
Entrepreneurial Stories
Pitch Practice Event
RISE@UofG - Founders’ Club launch event (28th October 2024; ARC - 237A&B or online)
The exclusive launch event featured two high-profile guest speakers discussing the about the ups and downs of their own entrepreneurial journeys, a panel Q&A, and networking with like-minded colleagues from across the University.
The hybrid RISE@UofG launch event took place both in person at the University’s Advanced Research Centre (ARC) on Monday 28 October and on-line for the speakers and panel elements.
Watch the recording of the event here
About the Speakers
Joe O’Keeffe is a serial entrepreneur and founder of InfiniLED, a MicroLED display technology company acquired by Facebook in 2016, and SensL, a sensor technology firm acquired by ONSemi. He is the former VP of Display Research at Meta, where he led technology development for AR, VR, and Portal products. Joe has also launched many other start-ups, including Nannocoms, EnBIO, PixQuanta, and PlasMedica. He currently supports around ten early-stage deep-tech startups, focusing on AR/VR, optics/photonics, semiconductors, and AI. Additionally, Joe is an Entrepreneur in Residence at the Tyndall Research Institute in Cork. He has a strong background in technology and business, with degrees from Dublin City University and University College Dublin.
Shireen Davies is a Glasgow-based entrepreneur originally from Singapore, holding an Honorary Professorship at the University of Glasgow and is an elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Shireen is CEO and co-founder of SOLASTA Bio, which she has scaled from a University of Glasgow spin-out to a prominent scale-up with over 20 employees and a US subsidiary. Her leadership has been instrumental in securing substantial funding, including a recent $14m Series A round. SOLASTA Bio is at the forefront of developing innovative bioinsecticides through first-in-class, tiny proteins designed to target major insect pests. This approach offers cutting-edge solutions to the global challenge of sustainable food production.
Shireen has a distinguished track record in innovation, team building, and fundraising, including several prestigious fellowship awards. Most notably, she received the UKRI BBSRC Enterprise Fellowship.
Her accolades include the Scotland Knowledge Exchange and Glasgow Entrepreneur of the Year awards in 2020, the 60s competition at the World Agritech Innovation Summit 2022, and the Radicle UPL Challenge in San Francisco in 2024.
RISE@UofG: Demystifying the Pitch (27th January 2025 - 237B or online)
This session featured Sarah Hardy (Archangels) and Alex Lusty (Gabriel), alongside other investment experts, who discussed the funding processes for new and aspiring start-up and spin-out founders at all points on their journey. This was followed by a Q&A, where the audience gained valuable insights into navigating the world of investment.
The event, co-hosted by members of the university’s entrepreneurial teams, concluded with a networking reception, including a buffet and beverages, for in-person attendees.
Watch the recording of this event here
RISE@UofG - Founders’ Club launch event
The exclusive launch event featured two high-profile guest speakers (Joe O'Keeffe and Shireen Davies) discussing the about the ups and downs of their own entrepreneurial journeys, and a panel Q&A.
RISE@UofG: Demystifying the Pitch
Investment experts discuss the funding processes for new and aspiring start-up and spin-out founders at all points on their journey to help you gain valuable insights into navigating the world of investment.