In this special STAR Radio live edition of Beyond Startups, we’re joined by Dr Abd Alsattar Ardati, Lecturer in Computer Science, and Digital Strategy Officer at the University of St Andrews.

With a PhD in Computer Science and a passion for collaboration and impact, Abd’s work focuses on bridging the gap between researchers and communities to tackle pressing social challenges, from digital poverty to misinformation. His research introduced the Ethnographically-informed Distributed Participatory Design (EDPD) framework, which empowers diverse online communities to contribute to bottom-up solutions.

In this episode, Abd shares insights from his current project on the connection between inner personal development and purpose-driven entrepreneurship. We explore how self-awareness, mindset, and intentional design can help founders and changemakers create meaningful, lasting impact.

In this week's special EdenTay roundtable episode of Beyond Startups, we’re spotlighting the importance of female founders by sitting down with three women whose ventures challenge the norms of their industries through thoughtful design, technical creativity, and a strong sense of purpose.

👗 Noemie Jouas, founder of NoeDresses, shares her journey in building a sustainable slow fashion brand from the ground up, balancing timeless design with ethical production. Her work has been featured in Vogue, Marie Claire, and Cosmopolitan, and she’s on a mission to change the way we consume fashion.

🎮 Ellen Dunsmore and 🎨 Ivana Rodrigues, co-founders of ShoutyKnot Games, talk about launching their indie game studio and expanding into intuitive app and web design. Together, they explore how creativity, collaboration, and thoughtful tech can transform both storytelling and user experience.

From overcoming industry barriers to building communities and redefining leadership, these founders reflect on what it means to be female founders in their industries.

In this episode, we speak with Caragh Keane, founder of Superkeen, an Autoimmune Protocol (AIP)-friendly cereal brand, offering allergen-free, gut-friendly products designed to support anti-inflammatory lifestyles. Inspired by her own experience living with lupus, Caragh created Superkeen to make it easier for people with autoimmune conditions or dietary restrictions to access nourishing, enjoyable food. Caragh walks us through her startup journey, from a personal health challenge to building an award-winning food brand now stocked in Whole Foods Market, Planet Organic, and Selfridges.

In this episode, we’re joined by Leonardo Binetti — the Chief Technology Officer, Co-founder, and Scientific Director of Arabat, a circular economy startup pioneering a game-changing lithium battery recycling process using agri-food waste. Arabat recovers valuable metals from used batteries using organic waste such as oranges, marking a leap forward in sustainable tech.

Leonardo holds a PhD in Optoelectronics from Edinburgh Napier University and serves as an Entrepreneur in Residence there, guiding the next generation of innovators. His entrepreneurial journey spans multiple ventures, including a pizzeria in Italy, and he shares how he balances five businesses while managing international expansion.

Tune in for insights on translating academic research into real-world impact, raising investment, and the mindset shift from academia to entrepreneurship.

In this episode, we are joined by Ali-Reza Omidvar who is the Co-founder & CEO of Inoox, an AI task management platform designed to keep you in control and reduce anxiety. This platform integrates sentimental analytics with proactive task management, empowering teams to stay organized and focused while enhancing productivity and well-being.

His expertise in anxiety and mental health extends beyond AI having previously served as the Event Officer and YouTube Manager for the Oxford Psychedelic Society, where he organized events with top scientists and spiritual leaders.

Tune in to hear Ali-Reza share his story and to hear his insight on AI can be used as a task management tool that can help reduce anxiety!

In this episode, we are joined by Carlos Navarro, a Computer Science graduate from the University of St Andrews and the co-founder of Wayak AI - a tech startup that provides an AI operating system to help businesses automate operations using large language models.

Carlos discusses how his company, Wayak, evolved from a cross-border payment platform into a full-scale AI automation solution. He dives into the intricacies of AI, including its rapid pace, competitive landscape, and the importance of privacy-first solutions. Carlos also shares his entrepreneurial journey - from launching his first startup in high school to becoming profitable within a year with Wayak.

Tune in to hear Carlos talk about perseverance through failure, pivoting smartly, and building AI products that truly serve businesses!

In this episode, we are joined by Emilio Rimini who is the co-founder and owner of The Green Company, which addresses the challenge of finding alternatives to single use plastic products through its goal of offering condensed cleaning solutions to reduce plastic waste and carbon emissions from household staples.

Emilio Rimini is a St Andrews Alumnus who graduated from the University last June with a degree in Geography. Throughout his time at the University, Emilio worked on several entrepreneurial endeavors, his E-Commerce experience being instrumental in moving The Green Company’s operations online during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tune in to hear Emilio share his story and to hear his advice on overcoming failure and persevering within the business world!

In this episode, we are joined by Johnny Jain, the founder of JJ Agency, a relocation service dedicated to helping international students secure rental housing in the UK. Johnny is a psychology student at the University of St Andrews, and has started his entrepreneurial journey over a year ago, having to balance academics with the demands of running a business. He shares his experience of launching JJ Agency, discussing challenges like having a low initial budget, outsourcing labor, maintaining work-life balance, and staying motivated through setbacks. Tune in to hear his inspiring story and insights on navigating student entrepreneurship and the UK housing market.