Campbell Murray. The human dynamo.

A long time ago I walked into a small meeting room in a Scottish Enterprise startup incubator in Bellshill. This being in 2000 we had just signed the legal documents incorporating our spin out company from Napier University in Edinburgh.

Though not perfect yet, Scotland today has a good eco-system of startup and spinout support, incubators, training events and networking events. From eSpark to Converge Challenge, there are many organisations and universities working to support academics looking to commercialise their research.

In comparison, in 2000 our spin out process resulted in a three-year legal battle with Napier University on a range of issues including intellectual property, share structure, investment and many more. These were dark days for us with little or no income, investment dead in the water because of the university position and many technical problems yet to solve.

It was in that meeting room in Bellshill we first met Campbell Murray at Scottish Enterprise. For years he worked with young startups and spin outs in tireless efforts to support the founders with their young, fragile companies and help them on their way. It is rare in life to meet someone who genuinely impacts your attitude and your view of the world as much as Campbell managed to.

Campbell’s tireless energy and positivity could have powered the entire Central Belt. Like a human dynamo he would recharge us whenever we were sure there was no way forward. Campbell worked with us to figure a way out of the swamp. Always looking for new solutions, he brought a belief that things could be done, could be changed. A belief firmly grounded in the hard day-to-day realities of politics in universities and Scottish Enterprise and the ruthlessness of business and equity investment.

I am not sure my company would be around today if not for Campbell’s enthusiasm and early stage guidance, mentoring and sheer injection of unshakable belief. Campbell had belief in us, our company and in the fact that when good people put their hearts and minds into it, it is possible to change things, for the better.

Campbell died last Sunday, way too young, married and father of a young child. Last time I met him was a few years ago in a café in Glasgow. He seemed to have only gained in energy levels since that first meeting in Bellshill. Enthusiastic and delighted to hear we were doing well. Though he never seemed to doubt that we would. I came away from meeting Campbell feeling better, happier and energized. Just like always.

Thing is, we all have to be a little more positive today and we all have to work that little harder today, simply because we have to compensate for Campbell not being there today.