8
 min read
Craig Somerville of WITR attending Techscaler Startup First Steps
In partnership with
No items found.
Text Link
Shona Marsh
Text Link
Shona Marsh
November 7, 2024
November 7, 2024

Launching WITR App Through Techscaler, Craig Somerville is Making Networking Efficient

Craig Somerville, with Techscaler’s support, launches WITR, a networking app that streamlines event connections by syncing LinkedIn profiles via QR codes.

Craig Somerville is a filmmaker and media director based in Stirlingshire, his business Castabroad Collective focuses on content and marketing for outdoors companies. 

Craig joined Techscaler at the start of 2024 to take part in Startup First Steps with the idea of launching Guided App, an app that enables outdoor guides to streamline their booking and customer support administration, and eventually build a marketplace of professionally guided outdoor experiences for adventure seekers. And while 2024 has led to the successful launch of Guided App, Craig’s journey through Startup First Steps has unexpectedly also led to him launching a new app today, WITR (Who’s In the Room, pronounced witter), and here Craig tells us the story of how this came to be.

Tell us about where the idea for WITR came from?

Participants of Techscaler Startup First Steps at the Showcase

I was a participant of Startup First Steps at the start of 2024, which culminated in a showcase at the end of March, which also served as an event for the launch of the Techscaler Annual Report. There were about 150 people in the room so it was a busy event. I’m secretly a bit of an introvert so I struggle with these sorts of events, I particularly don’t really like the small talk. I sat down and got chatting to the guy next to me, Dale Hornidge, and it turned out we had a lot in common. He was starting up his own no-code agency Build With Zero. I also ended up sat next to Mike Scott who’s been building Tap-That.io, a tappable QR code interface. As I was leaving the event, I wondered how many people I’d actually missed talking to who would have been interesting and where the connections may have also helped me to develop. So combining the idea of QR codes with a networking app that helps you find the right people in the room came about. I approached Dale later and asked him to build the app, and now we’re launching!

I’m excited to have now teamed up (again) with long term business partner across other ventures Geoff Todd of Farsight Digital Solutions. He lives in this world of events, and networking is key to his many successes too. 

Serendipity some might say! So, how exactly does WITR work and what does it do?

From the event manager's end, the aim is to have as little admin as possible:

Codebase Stirling’s Gabriella Checking Out the Attendees at Unfiltered on WITR
  • You create an account
  • Then set up an event page in a matter of seconds. 
  • This creates a unique QR code and a link for your event, present it, and your attendees can start using it!

From the event attendee's end:

  • Scan the QR code
  • Sync with Linkedin
  • Add a tagline ie/what is your ask/offer for the event, what is your background, expertise
  • You'll then see a list of everyone at the event, with the idea that you can see names and faces next to what their ask/offer is, and then look out for them or seek them out.
WITR Being Used in the Wild at Codebase Edinburgh’s Unfiltered - 6th November 2024

The attendee list is live for a limited time, and deleted 48 hours after your event so making sure attendee information is protected. I for one love the idea of not being tracked, re-targeted or advertised to, so once the event is over you have enough time to reach out to the genuine connections made, and like Snapchat the list and all the data disappears - “That’s so refreshing” is what I was told this morning from an attendee at our trial launch. 

And now you’ve launched, what’s the plan for what’s next? And what’s the ambition?

Yes, we launched the first in person use of WITR today at CodeBase’s Unfiltered networking events at Stirling, Edinburgh and Inverness as a trial and to get feedback. We’re then going to be using it for the Startup Next Steps Autumn ‘25 showcase at the end of the month which will serve as our official launch, so it will have come full cycle in 8 months. I have some interesting conversations in progress with the Forth Valley Chamber of Commerce at the moment too, and then I’d love to get connected to anyone who runs networking events who’d like to try it out. We’re toying with the idea of affiliate programs too, so get in touch if you think this is for you. The aim being that the attendees at all of the events then enjoy the app experience and recommend it to other event organisers. 

We’ve heard just today of two other uses, one being university lectures where the lecturer can navigate the students in the room with what they’d like to achieve/their strengths; and two the NHS - but I’ve yet to hear what the thought process was here.

How can people find out more, or even get WITR for their next networking event or conference?

Head to the website and register for an account, I’ve designed it to be as quick and easy as possible! Our launch price means you can try it out for just £10 per event. And then send me feedback so we can make it better and make it work for you info@witr.info 

Seeing as WITR is designed to help with networking, what’s your one networking tip?

Just turn up! Seriously, even if you think it’s going to be a waste of time, you don’t want to mix with other people, or you’re like me and your inner introvert takes over, trust me, something will come of it - especially now that we all have WITR. 

BIG thanks to the Techscaler team and regional CodeBASE teams for the support in both WITR and Guided. 

Subscribe to newsletter

Subscribe to receive the latest blog posts to your inbox every week.

By subscribing you agree to with our Privacy Policy.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Join Techscaler

If our education courses are of interest to you, apply for Techscaler membership. Membership is for people working in startups who are at all stages of the startup journey, from ideation through to scaling phase, based in Scotland, and with ambitions to grow their business. Fill in the application form and Team Techscaler will get back to you as soon as possible to let you know your suitability for Techscaler membership and benefits available to you.

You can also keep up to date with our tech events and sign up to receive the latest news from Techscaler and the Scottish tech ecosystem.

Button goes here.

Related Resources

Nov 7, 2024
8
 mins

Launching WITR App Through Techscaler, Craig Somerville is Making Networking Efficient

Craig Somerville, with Techscaler’s support, launches WITR, a networking app that streamlines event connections by syncing LinkedIn profiles via QR codes.
View All
Nov 5, 2024
7
 mins

Insights from San Francisco: A Transformative Journey for Podplistic

Kayla-Megan Burns is the Founder of Podplistic, an AI-enabled podcast production software. Hear their experiences from Techscaler Silicon Valley.
View All
Nov 5, 2024
10
 mins

Failing Fast and Furiously - Thoughts from Silicon Valley, September 2024

Thoughts from Techscaler Silicon Valley, September 2024 By Nicole Christie, ACCA, Founder of Alvah
View All
Oct 10, 2024
10
 mins

Insights from Silicon Valley: what it takes to build something meaningful

Lewis O'Neill, founder of Niovant, shares what it takes to build something meaningful: resilience, community, and a willingness to navigate the unknown.
View All
Sep 26, 2024
10
 mins

Insights from Silicon Valley: AI is not your feature, it’s your core

Hear from Matt Jenner, founder of Coursensu, about his experience of Techscaler Silicon Valley and the growing significance of AI
View All
Sep 26, 2024
5
 mins

Insights from Silicon Valley: We’re all on our own together

CodeBase's Lauren Wilson shares how the Techscaler Silicon Valley cohort forged a founder community
View All
Sep 24, 2024
5
 mins

Unlock growth for your startup with the Techscaler and Scottish Enterprise MVP Grant

We’re excited to introduce a powerful funding opportunity that can help tech startups take the next step: the Techscaler Minimum Viable Product (MVP) Small R&D Grant, offered in collaboration with Scottish Enterprise
View All
View All
Aug 1, 2024
10
 mins

From Spark to Scale: The Essential Stages of Startup Growth

Learn more about the lifecycle stages of a startup as it builds, grows and scales
View All
Jul 24, 2024
5
 mins

Embracing Digital Accessibility: An Interview with Wojtek Kutyla for Disability Pride Month

For Disability Pride Month, we interviewed UX design expert Wojtek Kutyla about how digital accessibility can improve inclusion in tech.
View All
Jul 22, 2024
5
 mins

Meet Dr Matthew Freer, founder and CEO of Infix Support

Dr Matthew Freer shares his experiences as a Techscaler member working in the public sector
View All
Jul 15, 2024
5
 mins

Growing my startup by learning from others - outcomes from attending Turing Fest 2024

Founder of Coursensu - the learning design platform, Matt Jenner shares his experience of attending Turing Fest 2024 and what he learned to further grow his EdTech startup.
View All
Jul 10, 2024
5
 mins

It's a good time to be a generalist

Oli Littlejohn shares the opportunities being a generalist brings, and how AI can support them
View All
Jun 26, 2024
5
 mins

Improve Investability with an Organised Investor Vault

Ian Martin, Head of Startup Experience at CodeBase, shares insights on a crucial part of startup growth: gaining investment.
View All
Jun 12, 2024
7
 mins

Meet Richie Wan, Founder of Seeker

Meet Richie Wan, Founder of Seeker (previously RefermyJobs), a job board that helps startups attract higher quality candidates.
View All
Jun 10, 2024
3
 mins

Celebrating Pride Month: How to plan authentic events and activities

How can you plan events and celebrations that go beyond performative gestures? Notes from the group-led discussion at CodeBase’s LGBTQ+ meetup.
View All
May 30, 2024
7
 mins

Navigating startup funding: lessons from an active investor

Insights from Paul Atkinson, Founding Partner of Par Equity, on how best to approach investors for your startup, and challenges of the current investment landscape.
View All
May 27, 2024
5
 mins

Why do tech startups fail?

‍Destigmatising Failure and Building a Supportive Community for Startup Success
View All
Apr 30, 2024
5
 mins

What is a tech startup?

What exactly is a tech startup and how does it differ from a traditional small business?
View All
Apr 25, 2024
3
 mins

Meet Mike Brown, Co-Founder of rankein

Meet Mike Brown; he is the Co-Founder of rankein, a company focused on measuring and enhancing Emotional Intelligence skills across workplaces globally.
View All
Mar 26, 2024
5
 mins

Why Generalists Shine as Community Builders

CodeBase's Barry McDonald explains why generalists shine as community builders
View All
Mar 13, 2024
5
 mins

Reflections from Techscaler Silicon Valley

VP of R+D, Oli Littlejohn, shares musings on his week in San Francisco with Scottish tech founders
View All
Mar 12, 2024
5
 mins

Where do startup ideas come from?

It’s not the best idea - no joke intended - to try and build your startup from just an idea. Instead, we recommend looking for a key insight instead.
View All
Mar 11, 2024
5
 mins

The Power of Partnerships

"10 months that changed my life" - Genna Masterton, Founder at Gifted Kind
View All
Mar 4, 2024
5
 mins

Stale, Male and Pale: The narrowing investor landscape for early stage startups

Shift in High Net Worth Definition Threatens Women and Underrepresented Investors in Early Stage Tech Financing
View All
Mar 4, 2024
5
 mins

The Community Building Toolbox (and why you'll need more than a hammer)

VP of Community, Barry McDonald, shares his thoughts on community building
View All
Mar 1, 2024
1
 mins

New Techscaler website live!

Techscaler launches new website to improve member experience
View All