Glasgow City Innovation District (GCID) Venture Studio is proud to announce the launch of Wilson’s Foundry—a dynamic, fully-funded, design-led programme dedicated to supporting Glasgow-based creative entrepreneurs and startups through a unique, studio-based residency. Named after Alexander Wilson FRSE, a multi-talented polymath and creative collaborator, Wilson’s Foundry uses his values and characteristics to create a programme where ideas, issues and opportunities are transformed into successful, sustainable businesses.
This initiative, a first amongst the UK’s innovation ecosystem, brings together three established GCID creative studios—Graven, Spreng Thomson, and Threesixty Architecture—to drive economic impact through a collaborative approach that combines expertise, networks, and hands-on resources.
Glasgow City Innovation District Venture Studio has four pillars of activity - Challenge, Make, Innovate, and Impact - and is funded by the UK Government Shared Prosperity Fund. Wilson’s Foundry will deliver activity under the Make pillar and is focused on supporting new and existing businesses to deliver innovative products or services. The programme offers participants the opportunity to work within successful creative studios, leveraging decades of combined business experience spanning over 50 countries and diverse industry sectors. With the mentorship and support of Glasgow’s top creative minds, the Wilson’s Foundry residency provides creative entrepreneurs with essential tools to scale and make their product or service into sustainable, market-ready offerings.
Kicking off in November 2024, the four-month residency programme offers a full suite of resources including high-level coaching, tailored mentoring, access to investors and an extensive network of Glasgow’s innovative leaders.
Director of Glasgow City Innovation District, Alisdair Gunn, said: “We’re excited to launch Wilson’s Foundry which embodies our mission to foster Glasgow’s tech, digital, engineering, and creative ecosystem by providing much-needed support to our city’s creative and design-led entrepreneurs. We are thrilled to partner with Graven, Spreng Thomson and Threesixty Architecture - three businesses with deep roots and proven track records—to make this vision a reality.”
Professor Janice Kirkpatrick, Graven co-founder and Creative Director, said: “We believe it takes a community to build successful businesses. Based in GCID we are fortunate to be part of an innovative and creative community where business leaders are willing and able to share their knowledge, experience and networks.
“Graven has always collaborated with others and nurtured start-ups and entrepreneurial businesses. Now, as part of the Wilson’s Foundry team, we are able to provide a comprehensive range of support to individuals and businesses who will benefit from a residency in a creative and commercial studio environment.”
Stefano Faiella, Founder of Threesixty Architecture, said: “As business founders we understand what it takes to transform an idea into a commercially-viable proposition. Collectively, Wilson’s Foundry can help Glasgow makers in a unique way by providing access to the skills SMEs need to succeed in a highly-competitive market.
“Whether you need help with designing your proposition, building models, creating a brand, producing video or podcasts, Wilson’s Foundry can open these doors to help you transform your ideas into sustainable business propositions.”
Lesley Thomson, Founder of Spreng Thomson, said: “At Wilson’s Foundry we aim to help the businesses, who secure a place on the programme to progress their ideas over an intensive four-month period.
“A key benefit for participants will be the opportunity to test their ideas while building a network of support from the Wilson’s Foundry team as well as with the other businesses in the initial cohort. The range of skills, depth of experience and studio environment available will help enterprises accelerate their development.”
The Wilson’s Foundry programme provides participating businesses with access to design workshops, coaching, digital visualisation, prototyping, branding and communications, and financial planning resources—empowering Glasgow’s makers and innovators to develop, launch, and scale their ventures.
Interested applicants are encouraged to apply through GCID’s website. For more details, visit the Glasgow City innovation District Webpage.