In this conversation, Mark Zwinderman shares his experiences and insights from his journey spinning out a company from Napier University, discussing the challenges faced, lessons learned, and the evolution of support for startups over the past 25 years. He emphasises the importance of empathy, curiosity, and resilience in entrepreneurship, while also addressing common mistakes made by founders. Mark highlights the significance of engaging with the market early, the need for effective negotiation with universities, and the importance of building strong founding teams. He also discusses the strengths and weaknesses of the Scottish ecosystem and offers practical advice for policymakers and universities to enhance commercialisation efforts.