Can Do Fest is Go!

Running from April 19 to May 9, Can Do Fest is a three-week multi-faceted event across Scotland with the goal of accelerating sustainable growth and innovation. Implementing this model has the potential to improve economic and environmental conditions while adding social value to our world-leading entrepreneurial nation.

Open to aspiring entrepreneurs, businesses and organisations from around the globe, the festival starts in Edinburgh at the historic McEwan Hall with EIE18, Scotland’s premier technology investor showcase. There, 60 pitching companies will compete for ‘seed to series A’ funding and of course a coveted EIE (Engage Invest Exploit) Award.

April 24 sees the focus shift west, first in the afternoon with ‘Movement Makers: Learn, Connect, Do‘ where, powered by The Melting Pot and hosted by Glasgow Caledonian University, Social Bite cofounder Josh Littlejohn will give the keynote speech.

St. Lukes is the evening’s venue for ‘Zebras Not Unicorns: Stories from Scotland’s Social Entrepreneurs‘, a workshop discussing socially-responsible and sustainable business models.

The Gleneagles Hotel on April 26 is the setting for the 22nd annual Entrepreneurial Scotland Conference. Addressing this year’s theme of ‘global mindsets and ambition’ will be pioneering speakers including world-conquering British cyclist and Entrepreneurial Scotland Foundation patron Mark Beaumont, CEO and co-founder of Skyscanner Gareth Williams and Cobra Beer founder Lord Bilimoria CBE.

On May 3 the iconic Glasgow School of Art is the location for a symposium exploring connections between higher education and the creative and cultural sectors. The programme for ‘Places of Creative Production: Understanding Scotland’s Creative Economy Landscape‘ includes a keynote speech from Sir Peter Bazalgette, ITV Chairman and author of the UK Government’s 2017 Independent Review of Creative Industries.

The event also features a series of panels covering a range of creative industry landscape issues including a deep-dive into Trajectories for Creative Talent from Scotland’s Higher and Further Education Institutions, with panellists Rachael Brown of Cultural Enterprise Office, CAMEo Research Institute’s Dr Doris Eikhof, Creative Scotland’s Clive Gillman and Sandra Gunn Curriculum Director at the City of Glasgow College.

The festival culminates with the Impact Summit on May 9. Spread over three venues – BAad, St Lukes and The Backyard – all are located in the heart of Glasgow’s East End, the Barras. With inspired speakers, interactive roundtable discussions and a special After Party event, there’s sure to be plenty of food and drink for thought.