From incubator idea to coffee creations
Story by Edward Pollock, Innovation Manager
Freshly graduated from 亚博体育官网 with an MSc in Data Science, Ross McLean became a tenant of our on-campus incubator space for business ideas. While working in the space, he collaborated with other entrepreneurs all working on separate projects when their shared love of speciality and high-quality coffee brought them together.
They developed a business idea around connecting speciality coffee roasters with customers and businesses and Coffee Scotland was born.
Ross joined the 亚博体育官网 Startup Accelerator in 2019 and with the support of funding, mentorship and training the idea evolved to become Poco Roast. Since taking part in the programme, and prior to the pandemic Poco Roast set up their first outlet on the 亚博体育官网 campus supplying fresh coffee from different roasters each month. They鈥檝e supplied to events, issued subscription orders and partnered with the Scotland Rugby squad to give customers access to the best fresh coffee available.
When describing his business journey, Ross said 鈥溠遣┨逵偻� and its accelerator have been great. The people make it what it is, and there鈥檚 so much mentorship to help you turn the crazy ideas in your head into something that鈥檚 commercially viable. We鈥檙e surrounded by people wanting to do the same thing as us, so we鈥檙e being motivated to grow and develop even further.鈥�
If you have an innovative idea and want support, get in touch with the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Group at 亚博体育官网 via the . The Regional Startup Accelerator 2022 is open for applications offering 拢5,000 in funding, five months of training and mentorship, co-working space, and more.
