I typically highlight other people’s news so this feels a little strange, but as you may have gathered, I have an update I wanted to share with you guys… I’ll be moving to Cambridge very shortly for a job I just couldn’t resist.
Who/what/when… huh?
Remember the Springboard programme we announced last month? The one that’s partnered with TechStars and started by Jon Bradford of the Difference Engine? Well I was offered a chance to help with the Springboard runnings, and while at first I was flabbergasted at the thought of crossing the Scottish border, I came to realise it was too neat an opportunity to pass up.
After meeting Jon at TechMeetup last year and at a couple Launch48 events since then, I thought he’d be an awesome person to work with and learn from. I’ve got to give a big thanks to Tech Meetup & Launch48 for making our paths cross, and thanks Jon for making the offer.
Essentially the role will entail organising and attending events, facilitating connections, and blogging about startups… oh how unlike me, I know! I realised it’s all the things I love doing in my spare time, so I think that’s a pretty good sign. If I get to do all that for work, I suppose I’ll have to find some “real” hobbies!
So… plan is I’ll be moving to Cambridge this Saturday, running off to the USA for my gran’s 90th, catching a TechStars conference in New York, and then starting with Springboard mid-April.
Ups and Downs
A funny challenge I’m encountering is dealing with my personal identity, both online and actually mentally. I don’t think my JessicaInScotland email or my @JessInScotland twitter will fly down South. Kate threatened to register @JessInCambridge so I couldn’t move, which was remarkably paralyzing, but I think I’m going to go for a location-neutral identity and opt for a more permanent identifier – my monochromatic wardrobe. I’m still delaying action on this one but I think you’ll catch me @JessInBlue starting soon, unless I get a clever suggestion…?
I’m really sad to be hopping away from the Edinburgh community, the Appleton gang, the Tech Meetups and E-Clubs and endless events I’ve had fun crashing. And I want to thank everyone for making me feel so at home here in Edinburgh. It’s been a real honour to learn from all of you and I’ve really enjoyed helping out where I’ve been able to.
At the same time, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t quite excited now to get involved with Springboard (@springboardnews) and explore the startup scene in another capacity. The 10 teams taking part will be from around the world, so I think it will be valuable to see startup life outside the Scottish bubble I love and adore.
Edinburgh love… and bubbly on Friday this week!
I also hope that my activities down South can still be helpful to the Scottish community, so don’t expect me to disappear off the grid. I am keeping my Edinburgh flat for goodness sake, and I hope you’ll drop me a line if you find yourself in Cambridge in the near future.
So that’s my news, and thanks for all the good wishes already. If you’re around Appleton Tower this Friday, bring your lunch to the 6th floor kitchen area 1-2pm and I’ll bring some bubbly for a little lunch before I take off. I’ll really really miss you guys, but I’ll make sure all of Cambridge knows how fabulous you are.
Cheers, and thanks for listening,
~ Jess
You gotta take your opportunities and run with them. Best of luck, Jess – you added an immense amount of positive energy into the Edinburgh startup scene, and it’ll be great to see you do the same down in Cambridge. There’s no doubt that you’re going to do good things and be an inspiration for a great many entrepreneurs.
Looking forward to seeing some high-energy posts over on http://springboard.com/ 🙂
Aw thank you Ben! Hope we can bring the Edinburgh & Cambridge communities closer together where possible… and I’m happy to know there are some quality Edinburgh mentors involved *wink wink* [note: Ben is one of the awesome Springboard mentors, wuhoo!].
Will work on rocking the Springboard blog for sure ;). Thanks so much again for the note!
Exciting news! Good luck Jess!
Buy hey, are you still going to post here??
Hey Jess, I’ll miss you enormously, but I’m looking forward to hearing about what you get up to in Cambridge 🙂 Springboard is an awesome opportunity and I wish I were going too!
It’s all so incredibly exciting!! I know you’re sad to leave Edin but Thomas and I are glad to have you a little closer to us in London! We’re coming to crash on your floor for crazy Cambridge w/ends :)xx
All the best Jess,
They’ve been in need of your enthusiasm for 800 years!
p
Thanks you guys!!! And yes will still be blogging away here, just from different coffee shops… and not from my “office”… visitors welcome!!!