Peter Cowley, Cambridge, UK
Commercial activities
After university, I worked in IT and project management for Logica (a software services company, where I worked on a Whitbread brewery automation project, a international call alarm monitoring system for the Post Office and various remote plant monitoring systems) before moving to Bavaria to join a small computer manufacturer (Ulbrich Automation). This company was sold to a large machine gun manufacturer, so I left to co-found a new company (Gercom GmbH, which became: www.gersys.de) – I was responsible for the technical development department and setting up international distributors throughout Europe and in the USA.
Camdata and Microscribe (www.camdata.co.uk, www.microscribe.co.uk, www.rfidcam.com and www.trafficsignalterminals.com and www.melock.com)
I returned in 1984 to the UK, after our first son was born, and set up Camdata from Earith and Somersham. At the end of the 1980s, Camdata had plc status, 26 staff and a turnover of nearly £3M (adjusted for inflation). Sold Camdata to Microscribe, then bought it back 6 months later. Camdata bought Microscribe four years later. Camdata develops and manufactures niche technology for industrial and retail customers – the industrial solutions based on a level of ruggedness (protected against dust, water, shock, vibration, temperature, altitude, chemical spillage etc) and the retail solutions are for EPOS and security systems. Over 54,000 products have been shipped. Current projects include SecureTrace - tracking pharmaceutical products from manufacture to dispensing. MeLock introduced - advanced PC security device. Director and 100% shareholding.
Starfish Developments (www.starfish-homes.com)
Diversified in 2000 into property development – built 3 town-houses and then a further 2 as a joint venture with the owner of the building plot. Undertaken several refurbishment projects – full houses in Stamford and Hull, insurance-damage projects in Foxton and Cambridge. Maintain NHBC registration. Director and 100% shareholding.
ZedCam (www.zedcam.com)
In 2007, set up ZedCam – providing overt and covert cameras solutions for businesses, councils, the police and house-holders. Used to prevent theft, fly-tipping and vandalism. Sales via our eCommerce site and a re-seller network. Director and 50% shareholding.
Starfish Consultants
Numerous projects undertaken over the last 20 years. Current ones including the Advice Hub (www.advicehub.org.uk/) property project in Cambridge and an innovative child tracking system (www.incrowds.com)
Cambridge Angels (www.cambridgeangels.angelgroups.net/ )
Board member of a group of Cambridge, UK investor/mentors.
Globosense (www.globosense.co.uk)
Startup having won some SBRi contracts, sensing and making sense of energy data
UFfB Understanding Finance for Business (http://www.stjohns.co.uk/finance/)
Programme to educate and possibly mentor companies in the east of England
Martlet Marshall of Cambridge Corporate Angel Investing (www.martlet.org.uk)
Investing in local early-stage high-growth companies.