Funding round worth £200k to help Scottish startup make Edinburgh most flexible working capital

Funding round worth £200k to help Scottish startup make Edinburgh most flexible working capital

SWURF CEO and co-founder Nikki Gibson and chair Alison Grieve

Edinburgh-based remote working platform SWURF has announced a new £200,000 funding round.

The investment will accelerate SWURF’s expansion, with the goal of turning Edinburgh into the world’s most flexible working friendly city. Investors will join existing backers including Gareth Williams, co-founder of Skyscanner, and hospitality entrepreneur Anna Lagerqvist Christopherson, owner of Boda BV, Green Room and Victoria Bar.

The investment will primarily drive the rollout of the innovative SWURF Pods, the state of the art, on demand private meeting spaces. Designed for professionals who require immediate privacy for sensitive business calls, the pods feature advanced soundproofing, private WiFi networks with security-grade encryption, smart LED lighting, air filtration systems, and ergonomic seating.

The SWURF Pods are already in Edinburgh Airport and YOTEL on Queen Street, providing a seamless solution for the “work-from-anywhere” professional. SWURF plans for Edinburgh workers to always be within 15 minutes of a SWURF Pod location.

Through the SWURF app, users can discover and connect with welcoming remote working friendly venues across the city, including hotels, cafes, bars, and more. By checking in via the app, Swurfers unlock exclusive perks and gain instant access to secure WiFi codes. To date, over 450 venues are listed on the app, including partners such as the new Hoxton hotel, the Crowne Plaza Edinburgh Royal Terrace, and The Royal Scots Club, serving a growing community of 14,000 Swurfers.

Data highlights SWURF is contributing £2 million to the local Edinburgh economy through venues adding new revenue streams, monetising space during off-peak hours, and Swurfers discovering new venues across the city.

Nikki Gibson, CEO and co-founder of SWURF, said: “This latest investment is a testament to what we are building as we continue to redefine remote working.

“People want more than just a desk, they need flexibility, security, and environments that inspire productivity. Our mission is to make Edinburgh the global gold standard for flexible working.

“By expanding our network of host venues and rolling out our high tech SWURF Pods, we are ensuring that whatever your work needs are, the city is your office.”

Margaret Auld, general manager of Yotel Edinburgh, said: “The Swurf pod is an excellent service that we can provide to our hotel guests and it also brings new people into our hotel.”

This funding round follows a successful six figure investment in 2025 and the appointment of three industry heavyweights to the SWURF board. The board is chaired by Alison Grieve, founder of G-Hold and an expert in international scaling. She is joined by Scott Leckie, who moved from fractional CTO to a permanent board seat, and Daniel Rodgers, founder of the Scottish tech success story QikServe, who serves as a non-executive director.

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