In this episode of Beyond Startups, we’re joined by Albert Suriñach, founder of Studio Platero, a theatre production company dedicated to transmedia storytelling and artist-led creative work.

Albert discusses the realities of building a company in the arts sector — from navigating non-traditional funding channels, to maintaining team morale without salaries, to collaborating across composition, acting, set design and production. He explains how Studio Platero is expanding into music production, animation and publishing, and why artistic values and long-term vision matter more than shortcuts.

This episode also highlights Studio Platero’s upcoming musical "The Tears of Nerakhis" debuting at the Byre Theatre on February 5th & 6th, showcasing the company’s mission to tell stories across theatre, music, visual media and print.

Tune in to hear how creativity, entrepreneurship and community intersect at Studio Platero.

In this episode, we’re joined by Sebastien Chesse, a fourth-year Management and Economics student at the University of St Andrews, who shares his experience contributing to the creation and growth of a student-led Mexican food catering concept in St Andrews.

Sebastien discusses how identifying gaps in the local food scene led to the development of a catering operation focused on private dinners and large-scale student events, and how the team navigated branding, operations, marketing, and scaling, all while balancing full-time studies.

Please note: due to visa restrictions, Sebastien was not legally able to formally found or own the business. His involvement centred on the creative vision, operational development, and strategic direction of the venture, working alongside others who held legal ownership.

Tune in to hear Sebastien reflect on the realities of student entrepreneurship, leadership without formal titles, and the lessons learned from building something ambitious under real-world constraints.

In this episode of Beyond Startups, we speak with Artur, co-founder of Vici Bio, a computational-biology startup built to make advanced protein modelling accessible to every scientist.

Artur discusses how his Biochemistry degree, a research placement in Singapore, and a self-taught interest in coding led him to build Vici Bio with his co-founder. He explains why biology is entering a new era driven by AI-enabled discovery, how Vici Bio removes bottlenecks in tools like AlphaFold, and how automated workflows can accelerate everything from binder design to pathway analysis.

We also explore the reality of starting a deep-tech company as a student, navigating user growth, fundraising decisions, and the future possibilities of AI-driven protein engineering.

Tune in to hear how Vici Bio is shaping the future of biotechnology.