StartupCafe

This week, entrepreneurship in Edinburgh received a substantial media lift as five major news organisations reported on the University of Edinburgh’s record number of spinout companies.

The thrust of the story: 40 new companies were formed by staff and students at the University of Edinburgh last year, including a whopping 19 student startups. That’s a personal best for Edinburgh, and more than any other Scottish university has achieved in the past.

The coverage came last week, with the Scotsman, the Times, the Financial Times, the Observer and the Times Higher Education all carrying the story.

This quick list highlights the diversity of companies in this year’s crop:

• Carbon Masters — a new consultancy providing carbon mitigation services to businesses and communities in both developed and developing markets.
• Gymetrix — a system that allows gyms to efficiently monitor customer use patterns, evaluate demand for specific machines, reduce customer frustration and improve customer retention.
• Kitt Up — an online vendor of personalised boxer shorts.
• Musemantik — a developer of new emotion-aware tools for making big-budget, blockbuster computer and video games.
• Peekabu Studios — creator of a gesture control interface (think Minority Report) for laptops and mobiles that gives users intuitive control over dynamic media, games, 3D models and more.
• Restored Hearing — creator of Somtus, a therapy for ringing of the ears that customers can use directly through the web.
• Shyrdak Rugs — importers of handmade wool felt rugs from Kyrgyzstan.
• Wingfield Digby Interiors — a producer of unique, high-quality interior furnishings including luxury beanbags, handmade lampshades, handbags, hipflasks, rugs and throws.
• Zoomatelo — a website that facilitates carpooling amongst employees of large organisations, with a beta service in Africa.