New York’s Leading Business Angel and Pioneering Hotel Entrepreneur Announced For Entrepreneurial Scotland’s Annual Summit

Dylan MacdonaldGeneral News

Entrepreneurial Scotland (ES) the leading business development organisation, has announced a further two speakers for its upcoming annual Summit, on April 25 – the foremost networking event on the annual Scottish business calendar.

David S. Rose, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the global financing platform Gust, and Charlie MacGregor, the CEO of the innovative hotel chain The Student Hotel, are the latest additions to this year’s inspiring line-up of speakers.

Described as ‘New York’s Archangel’ by Forbes, David S. Rose is a serial entrepreneur and investor with a wide ranging portfolio of investments across the globe. David launched his latest venture, Gust, to support start-ups on their entrepreneurial and funding journey through an online platform that connects entrepreneurs within the global start-up community. Gust is used by more than 750,000 entrepreneurs in 191 countries to connect with over 80,000 early stage investors.

David S. Rose, CEO of Gust, said: “As an investor who has been involved with high-growth ventures on six continents, I have seen Scotland’s entrepreneurial journey become a truly global one over the past decade. 

I’m honoured to have been asked to speak at this year’s ES Summit at Gleneagles on 25 April. This unique event will host some of the world’s most innovative minds and I look forward to sharing lessons I’ve learned from my four decades of experience on both sides of the start-up financing table.”

By creating projects that are destinations in themselves, in locations where there is good demand from business travellers, young professional tourists and longer stay students, Charlie MacGregor has grown The Student Hotel from its inception in Amsterdam to 12 hotels in five countries across Europe. With a further 25 in planning or under construction and a goal to have 65 hotels in Europe in the next five years.

Charlie MacGregor, founder and CEO of The Student Hotel, said: “Growing Scottish entrepreneurship across the globe is pivotal for Scotland’s success.

I can’t wait to speak at this year’s ES Summit, discussing The Student Hotel journey and how we embraced different ways of working and living to create a successful new hybrid hospitality concept that is now being copied around the globe.

As part of our expansion plan, we are very, very keen to expand into Scotland. We’ve identified a handful of sites in the UK where we want to be and Edinburgh is Number One on the list. Edinburgh is special to my heart because I’m from there.’’

Other prominent entrepreneurs who will take to the stage are Stefani Grosse, CEO of Monreal London; Jo Fairley, founder of chocolate brand, Green & Black’s, and Steven Gray, CEO of subsea remotely operated vehicle services provider, ROVOP.

Emma Watson Mack, Development Director of Entrepreneurial Scotland, said: “We are thrilled to welcome David and Charlie to this year’s Summit, they will join our line-up of pioneers and visionaries from around the globe who all speak and share the language of growth.

Each year, we aim to bring a wide range of voices to our Summit – David and Charlie are both inspirational role models who embody this year’s theme of Global Mindset. They are international leaders who have disrupted their sectors, created new market opportunities and taken ground-breaking ideas to international success.

We look forward to welcoming everyone on 25 April!”

Bob Hair, Head of Edinburgh Office, Cazenove Capital, said: “Entrepreneurial Scotland is once again being supported by many prestigious speakers, keen to share their stories in order to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs and founders. We are really looking forward to hearing from these talented individuals in April for what is shaping up to be another memorable conference.”

Tickets for the summit and dinner at Gleneagles are on sale now.

Download the full press release here.