Retaining business talent vital for Dundee

I-design founder says city needs to hold on to entrepreneurial talent

A leading Scottish fintech entrepreneur has welcomed changing attitudes towards Dundee and said she hoped the new positivity could help boost start-up business rates in the city.

Ana Stewart, founder of i-design, was speaking ahead of taking up her slot as a judge at Dundee’s University’s Venture Final 2017 pitching competition.

The event, which also featured Mallzee entrepreneur Cally Russell and adventurer and university rector Mark Beaumont, offered 15 entrepreneurs and start-up companies the chance to pitch their business idea to win part of a £25,000 prize fund. Ms Stewart is a former student of Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design.

After graduating she went on to found i-design, a business creating engagement software and advertising solutions for cash machines .

The company achieved an AIM market listing in 2007 and was sold to US cash machine giant Cardtronic in a multi-million-pound deal in 2013.

I-design is still operating and has a staff of 40, 28 of which are based at the firm’s offices at City Quay.

Ms Stewart said: “The V&A is a bit of a game-changer for the city and region.

“The talent is here and we are trying to focus on keeping it within Dundee and the surrounding area. One of the big things for us is supporting the Centre for Entrepreneurship at the university.

“The springboard and environment needs to be there to support students and post graduates.

“Funding for the centre has been approved and I am on the steering panel to ensure it all happens.”

Awards: Undergraduate Student Award (Early Stage Idea) – Ollie Sime (Danni’s House) £1,250, R Mohana Sundaram (Rioga Design) £1,250.

Undergraduate Student Award (Graduating Award) – Nicola Chalmers (Satori Medi) £5,000. Postgrad Student Award – Lucy Robertson (Panda Extreme) £2,000, Rana Abu-Mounes and Rania Edris (Al-Mushakah) £3,000.

Alumni Award – Rossie Stone (Dekko Comics) £1,250, Stuart Clark (Solarvis Technology Ltd) £1,250.

Staff Award (non-research) – Paula Fox (Nixvis Ltd) £5,000.

Staff Award (research) – Deborah Wake (Myway Digital Health) £5,000.

Top: Cally Russell. Above: Ana Stewart, founder of i-design.