In the season finale of The Catalyst, Emily Macdonald is joined by Daisy Ford-Downes, Emily’s predecessor at Firstport and one of Scotland’s leading voices in social investment and blended finance.

Daisy led Firstport’s investment programmes for five years and played a key role in the creation and early rollout of the Catalyst Fund. In this episode, she takes us inside the thinking behind the fund, why it was designed, what gap it was created to fill, and how revenue-based finance can support social enterprises in a more flexible, patient way.

Together, Emily and Daisy explore the limits of traditional funding tools, the role of risk capital without equity, and why investment models need to be designed around people, planet, revenue, impact, and organisational readiness.

The conversation also looks at investment readiness, mission protection, patient capital, steward ownership, community shares, and the future of social investment in Scotland.

For founders exploring the Catalyst Fund, or trying to understand whether social investment could support their next step, this episode offers a clear and generous look at the principles behind the fund and the kinds of organisations it was built to serve.

In Episode 6 of The Catalyst, Emily Macdonald is joined by Hal Prescott, founder of The Pitt.

Together, they explore the journey from launching one of Edinburgh’s best-known street food markets in Leith, to rebuilding The Pitt as a social enterprise in Granton through the Granton Project CIC.

Hal shares how The Pitt began as a grassroots street food market, how community and trader support became central to the model, and why the move to Granton created an opportunity to build something with deeper social purpose. The conversation looks at social investment, crowdfunding, phasing a project, peer support, resilience, and what it means to create a space that supports local traders, community groups, and small businesses.

The episode also explores Hal’s experience of Firstport’s LaunchMe programme, investment from the Catalyst Fund, and partnership funding with Foundation Scotland, as well as the realities of building a large, complex community-led project from the ground up.

For founders thinking about social investment, place-based enterprise, or how to turn a bold idea into something practical, this episode offers an honest look at ambition, uncertainty, and building with community at the centre.

In Episode 5 of The Catalyst, Emily Macdonald is joined by Amy Gutcher from the Sumerian Foundation. Together, they explore what social investment looks like when it is built around impact, patience, trust, and long-term support. Amy shares her journey from helping found a social enterprise, to training as an accountant, to working within an impact-first social investor.

The conversation looks at cash flows, financial resilience, revenue-based repayments, patient capital, and why investment should be more than money. Amy also reflects on access, trust, underrepresented founders, and how social investors can think differently about risk.

For founders trying to understand finance, investment readiness, or what kind of support they might need to grow sustainably, this episode offers a practical and thoughtful perspective.

In Episode 4 of The Catalyst, Emily Macdonald is joined by Susan Aktemel, founder and chief executive of Homes for Good.

Together, they explore Susan’s journey from founding Impact Arts to creating Homes for Good, Scotland’s first social enterprise letting agency. The conversation looks at entrepreneurship, burnout, property, social investment, and what it takes to build a values-led organisation that can attract significant investment while staying rooted in social purpose.

Susan shares how Homes for Good raised more than £20 million in social investment to create quality homes for people with limited housing options, while also managing properties for landlords across the west of Scotland. She reflects on the importance of understanding your numbers, building trust with investors, using grants and investment for different purposes, and being honest when things are challenging.

For founders exploring investment, this episode offers a practical and deeply experienced view of what it means to build relationships with funders, understand your business model, and keep impact at the centre as you scale.

In Episode 3 of The Catalyst, Emily Macdonald is joined by Chris Holloway, Head of Social Investment at Foundation Scotland.

Together, they explore how the social investment landscape in Scotland has evolved over the last decade, the role blended finance can play in supporting organisations, and why flexibility, trust, and partnership matter just as much as the money itself.

Chris shares his unexpected journey into social investment, from working in ASDA and grant-making roles, through to leading Foundation Scotland’s £3.5 million social investment portfolio. The conversation explores the realities of lending to social enterprises, what investment readiness actually looks like in practice, and how social investors can support organisations through difficult periods rather than simply funding them.

Emily and Chris also discuss patient capital, co-investment, governance, repayment capacity, community shares, blended grant-and-loan models, and the importance of collaboration across Scotland’s social investment ecosystem.

For founders, trustees, and organisations considering social investment for the first time, this episode offers a grounded and practical look at what good social investment relationships can look like in practice.

In this episode of The Catalyst, Emily Macdonald speaks with Trudi Donahue, founder and CEO of Wild & Kind, a Glasgow-based social enterprise supporting neurodivergent creatives, third sector workers, and social entrepreneurs through flexible workspace, creative community, and practical support.

Wild & Kind has been supported by Firstport since its early days, including Start It and Build It grants, LaunchMe investment readiness support, and investment through the Catalyst Fund.

Together, Emily and Trudi explore the reality of building a social enterprise through uncertainty, from early creative workshops and community building, to rapid growth, social investment, difficult pivots, and finding a more sustainable model.

The conversation looks honestly at debt, risk, cash flow, wellbeing, peer support, and what it means to keep showing up when things do not go to plan. Trudi also shares how Firstport support helped Wild & Kind navigate challenging periods, and how investment can bring learning, resilience, and confidence, even when the journey takes an unexpected shape.

For founders thinking about social investment, growth, or what support could look like beyond funding alone, this is a grounded conversation about the real work of building something that lasts.

The Catalyst is a podcast by Firstport, taking you inside social investment.

Hosted by Emily Macdonald, each episode speaks to founders, social investors, and partners across the ecosystem to demystify social investment, explore what it means to be investment ready, and understand what it really takes to fund a social enterprise.

In this first episode, Emily is joined by Angie Lee, Director of Venture Support at The Challenges Group and a key lead within The Ventures Lab.

Together, they discuss:

• Supporting impact-led ventures from idea to investment readiness
• Angie's journey through social enterprise
• Building commercial confidence and financial clarity
• The value of peer support and patient capital
• The role of lived experience in creating sustainable social enterprises
• The challenges that remain for underrepresented founders

Whether you're building a purpose-led organisation or exploring your next step towards sustainability, growth, or investment, this episode offers practical insights into what investment readiness looks like in practice.