SAS Environmental Services Ltd

At SAS Environmental Services we use our unique microemulsion technology and 20 years experience in oil waste treatment to solve oil waste problems, treat oil waste sludge, separate oil mud waste and cleanup oil waste in general. Our mission is to clean up the oil waste around the planet until we can honestly say it is Done. We have some ways to go and we would love you to work with us, clean up the oil waste and do so economically, quickly and to the highest standard.

The Moonshot Factory

Director ZCL - The Moonshot Factory

SAS Production Services

Non Executive Director

Craft Prospect

Craft Prospect develops AI systems for cubesats and space based Quantum Key Delivery technology.

Non Executive Chair

Entrepreneur Business School

Business Mentor - Technology Startups & Growth Companies

Surface Active Solutions Ltd

Develop and implement international sales & marketing strategy.

Commercial Director

Edinburgh Napier University

Development of microemulsion systems for use in pesticide formulation and exo-toxicity testing. 

Development of unique chemistries for safe sheepdip formulations.

Formulating new chemistry for use in mining operations.

Research Assistant

CEO at SAS | Creating Moonshots

As a seasoned entrepreneur and CEO at SAS Environmental Services, I have devoted my career to the development of innovative oil waste treatment solutions for environmental remediation projects. With over two decades of experience, I have led SAS to become a global leader in reducing energy consumption and carbon footprints in oil waste treatment. 

Beyond SAS, I mentor and train technology companies & founder teams as part of the Moonshot Factory.  

I am always open to connecting with like-minded professionals and exploring new opportunities. Feel free to reach out if you are interested in discussing innovative waste management, entrepreneurship, or business growth.

In the Moonshot Factory we provide transformational mentoring and training programs to incubated companies at the Higgs Centre for Innovation in Edinburgh. Collaborating directly with founder teams, managing directors, and investors, we enhance the strategic direction and execution of early-stage ventures. 

Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of working closely with founders and startups across a diverse range of industries, including pharma & medical technologies, space tech, renewables, environmental, and energy. As a trusted advisor, non-executive director, or through program-based engagements such as Edinburgh Innovations (Edinburgh University), Planet Positive Lab (Oxford), the Royal Society of Edinburgh Research Fellowship Awards, Converge Challenge, or iCure, I am committed to driving success and empowering transformative ventures.

A short weekend in Edinburgh ahead of the last set of workshops at the Higgs Centre for Innovation.

Tomorrow will be about Market Research and Systems for Scaling up.

A lack of solid market knowledge kills many startups. About 72% according to one study. Better get this right!

And systems for scaling is my soapbox. No growth without systems. 

Bit of fresh air first. Linlithgow is amazing. I loved living here.

Mark Zwinderman

CEO at SAS | Advisor to Growth-Stage Tech Companies | Expert in Sales Strategy, Processes & Scalable Systems

This little card. Interesting idea.

Like Russell Dalgleish I’m a bit surprised by the “Steward” label. I guess in my head they are the Hivis wearing folks at football matches 😃

It got my superpower right though.

This year has been amazing and being able to bring the transformational nature of the Moonshot Methot to more people was great.

2025 will be great!

No alternative text description for this image

The best investment opportunity for 2025?

You.

What if you invested in yourself? Maybe you don't have a Moonshot you can define just now. Maybe you are wondering what that would even be.

If you are thinking "My Moonshot Goal in 5 - 10 years? No idea", that's fine.

Make the goal for 2025 to figure it out.

Invest in yourself. Take time to reflect. Set the goal of making new friends and meet new people. 

Contact 5 new people on Linkedin per month and ask for a call or coffee.

Go to 2 networking events per month and speak to at least 3 new people at each event. (not just the folks you know already)

Read 20 pages of a book each day. Choose different books. Fiction, non-fiction, history, new writers, business books, science books.

Take a 20 min walk each day.

Every 2 months take an hour to sit down somewhere and write down all the things you like about what you do now. Write down all the things you don't like.

Just do the above. The answers will come to you. IF invest in yourself.

#Scotland #Cairngorms #Walk #Moonshot #Career

I love innovation.

It would be fun to see the pitch deck.

In 1965, an unusual device was patented to assist with childbirth using centrifugal force.

The idea was to spin a pregnant woman on a rotating table to help the baby come out with less effort.

While it sounds bizarre today, the inventors, George and Charlotte Blonsky, believed it would help women who lacked the physical strength for labor.

The machine was designed with safety features, including a net to catch the baby as it emerged.

Despite its good intentions, the device never gained popularity and became more of a curiosity in the history of childbirth technology.

Not all investors have the same views and requirements. Still, this is a good place to start

VC Investor | Actionable insights on startups, innovation, and entrepreneurship

𝗢𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝟭% 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗸𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹—𝘄𝗵𝘆?

The difference lies in the details founders often overlook.

Sequoia Capital’s legendary pitch deck template outlines the must-have slides that make investors say “yes”:

1️⃣ 𝗣𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲: Define your company’s mission with clarity.

2️⃣ 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺: Address the issue your customers face with insight.

3️⃣ 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Show your product as the game-changing answer.

4️⃣ 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗡𝗼𝘄: Prove the timing is right.

5️⃣ 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗦𝗶𝘇𝗲: Demonstrate your TAM, SAM, and SOM potential.

6️⃣ 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Highlight your edge over competitors.

7️⃣ 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁: Showcase its brilliance and roadmap.

8️⃣ 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗹: Make your revenue model compelling.

9️⃣ 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺: Present the people building your vision.

This isn’t just about data or charts—it’s about crafting a narrative that resonates with investors.

As Chris Tottman emphasizes, “Every great pitch deck connects a bold vision with a clear path forward. Investors don’t just want numbers—they want to see your story.”

Start with why. End with how.

What’s your take on this structure?

Follow Rubén D. for more.

You can also join 100,000+ founders and VCs who receive these insights in my weekly newsletter: https://lnkd.in/dtifw4mC

Success and happiness. Chicken or egg?

I used to drive up and down to Aberdeen, fly to Houston and Calgary. All to persuade people to buy our products. It was tiring, hard work, and often without money and with a lot of stress.

But with success would come happiness. I was convinced.

Turns out, it's the other way round.

Once you are happy and enjoying yourself, the success follows.

The research also shows this. Happiness leads to success. When you are happy you have more energy, are more fun to work with and be with, and more opportunities come your way.

Enjoy the process. Do fun things. Meet good people. Make sure your friends are supportive. Work with interesting and positive folks. Take a day off. Go swimming. Have that nice coffee.

Find your happy and success will find you.
#Happy #Happiness #Work #Entrepreneur

I’m looking to raise £2M for my next venture. An organic Haggis farm.

Looking for London based investors

Would you like a self driving business?

At the workshop I delivered on Monday at the Higgs Centre for Innovation  in Edinburgh we worked on the impact of systems and processes.

Simply put, you will not be able to build a scaling business without systems.

AND

If you want a life, you must develop systems and processes.

They create clarity for you and your team. They create freedom to think and allow you to do high value work.

Start with an evaluation of the work you do across a week. What tasks do you do?

Pick the ones you hate or that drain your energy. Delegate those. Turn them into a process. Pick 2 or 3.

In three months time do this again. Pick another 2 or 3 tasks.

See your life change.

Here's my 2024 LinkedIn Rewind, by Coauthor:

What did 2024 teach me about achieving Moonshot Goals? That success isn't about being better - it's about being different.

Whether helping businesses reduce their environmental impact or guiding founders through strategic growth, the path to extraordinary outcomes starts with understanding where and when you want to win.

Three developments shaped our impact this year:

→ The Moonshot Method evolved from concept to proven framework through workshops at the Higgs Centre for Innovation, helping entrepreneurs break down ambitious visions into achievable steps

→ Launched "Mastering the Board Room" online course, turning board meetings from updates into strategic accelerators (now with 30+ founders enrolled)

→ Advanced SAS Environmental Services' innovative waste treatment solutions while strengthening connections between Oxford and Scottish entrepreneurial ecosystems

Posts that resonated most with our community:

"If you are flying 10 hours to try and win a £3M contract don't you think it's worth investing £2k to arrive fresh and prepared?"
On strategic investment mindset
https://lnkd.in/eRu2QSqV

"Whenever a team stays together for many years it tells you a lot about a business"
On building lasting partnerships
https://lnkd.in/eB7MGDmn

"There are few countries that have an asset like SDI"
On Scotland's international business presence
https://lnkd.in/eRRmEP2n

Looking to 2025: Expanding the Moonshot Method's reach while advancing environmental solutions in oil waste treatment. The goal remains clear - helping companies achieve transformative outcomes through systematic execution.

Your Moonshot isn't about being better than your competition. It's about being different in ways that matter.

#Moonshot #Business #Oxford #Scotland #ZCL

--

Get your 2024 LinkedIn Rewind! Go to coauthor [dot] studio in your browser

Would you invest £2k to make £3M?

Next time, if you can, upgrade and turn the other way when you walk onboard a flight.

Business class gets you in a different mindset. You have calm, space to work, space to relax and you arrive differently.

As a wise man told me some time ago; if you are flying 10 hours to try and win a £3M contract don't you think it's worth investing £2k to arrive fresh and prepared?

I also believe it sets the right mindset. I walk on and I work. Travel is now an experience of relaxed work. No emails (stay away from wifi inflight is my motto) just time to work.

Just a comfortable seat, calm and productive time.

If you haven't before, upgrade next time. Even if you can't (yet) afford it, it will set your motivation to 11.

And you will walk off the plane rested, feeling productive and ready to head into your meeting and get the deal.

I do love an ambitious Moonshot.

This is a Goal to pursue 😀

Today is the “Happiness workshop” 😃

How do Systems and Processes impact your business success?

Well, simply put, no systems - no scaling up.

I have delivered versions of this workshop since 2010. It has evolved a lot but a few people remarked over time it should be called “The Happiness Workshop”.

The ability to delegate and to systemise creates freedom for you as entrepreneur to do more of what you enjoy doing.

At the same time it creates clarity for the team.

Entrepreneurs don’t always realise how hard it is for others to work with them! 

Clarity reduces stress and improves happiness. For everybody.

Resist the urge to off-desk.

Off-desking: Getting stuff off your desk and onto someone else's desk just so you can go on a break with the self delusion you got work done.

1. Your work is not done. It's never done. Your teachers lied to you.

2. You just provided a dose of stress to someone else who is now worrying about it over the break.

Which brings me to 3.

3. Don't stress about stuff over the Christmas break. 

25 years in business have taught me that solving problems is the job. Having a genuine crisis is extremely rare. Chill out. Those problems will be solved in January. Or not. But stress about it then.

From the desk of the "don't off-desk society".

I hope Santa delivered this morning some great prezzies and I hope you get to spend time with the right people in your life.

Having worked in the oil industry for 25 years I am well aware of the many people who do not get be home on Christmas.

They are out there in the North Sea, at a refinery, or elsewhere making sure we have a warm home to be in at Christmas.

So, a thank you to all of you out there. Hopefully Santa found your rig and dropped a few presents!

#Keepinguswarm #OIl #NorthSea #DecomUK #Oilfield #Santa

Monday will be the last set of workshops at the Higgs Centre for Innovation in Edinburgh.

I'm always looking forward to these. Lovely people, great businesses and engaged founders.

Let's see how we do!

moonshotfactory.co.uk

Moonshot Workshops Wall of Love — Zwinderman Consulting Ltd

Failing to achieve a hard to reach Moonshot is mostly a Mindset issue.

The solution is actually relatively straightforward. First you define what is your Moonshot. 

Or Where and When do you want to win?

That will tell you where you need to be in 1-3 years time (your Gemini stage).

Knowing where you need to be in 1-3 years time clarifies where your priorities are in the next 12 months.

The mindset issue? Actually sitting down this weekend and figuring out the above AND then sticking it above your desk on the wall.

Then? Get stuff done.

It's mindset and attitude. The Moonshot Method is straightforward and takes little time away from your work.

#Moonshot #Mindset #Scotland #Oxford #Business #VC #AI #Entrepreneur

Sharing to my network seems a really small thing to do.

Still, women do read and see if it is suitable. Men, forward to the climate women in your network

Investment Associate @Climate Founders Investor & Accelerator

15 calls. 1 woman.

Next week, I have 15 intro calls with ClimateTech startup founders – and only ONE is a woman. That’s just 7%. How is this still happening in 2024?

I know there are incredible female founders out there building game-changing ClimateTech solutions!

Are you a female founder working on a ClimateTech startup? I’d love to connect and hear from you! 
Let’s ensure these conversations include more women. 💪🏃‍♀️

Interested? Apply directly here: https://lnkd.in/d3f_r7Px

Do you want to change the world?

At the Moonshot Factory we talk a lot about focus. There are so many great
technologies out there. However, if you don't have the ability or you don't take the opportunity to commercialise your innovation and products, you will never impact the world or have a positive impact on people’s lives.

The world has plenty of problems. Why I started the Moonshot Factory is to support people define & achieve their Goals, and make sure that these inventions, these technologies will make it to the market. 

I started the Moonshot Factory to help entrepreneurs have a real impact on people's lives.

A major issue with technology startups and spinouts is lack of focus. If your technology works on a number of applications or can be sold in a number of markets, it is easy to be distracted. 

What happens is people pursue all opportunities and win none. Amazon started by just selling books. All the other stuff came later.

It is really hard to commercialise one product, in one location. So, if you have 10 things that you want to commercialise, all over the world, you are going to struggle. 

In all likelihood you will fail.

So, focus. Because the world needs you to be successful.

Pick one market. Pick one product. Pick on customer.

I have already seen three posts today with the same structure and story.

I have a confession to make.

For the past year I have secrety…

Followed by a hugely obvious thing they are pushing.

Originality is starting the year with some copy/paste from a social media toolkit 

Anyway, I have no confession to make. 

No secret life.

Those guys at NASA were on to something in the 60s. Getting someone to walk on the Moon is not that easy.

The method they used at NASA was brilliant though.

Break up your journey in three main stages. Mercury, Gemini & Apollo.

Break down each stage in smaller key elements where you develop skills and learn lessons you will need further on up the road.

These smaller elements are your Missions.

Everything you focus on, everything you do, every resource you commit, they are all based on getting you closer to the goal. Are you learning something?

That's the Moonshot Method. It worked for NASA, it worked for Elon Musk.

#Moonshot #NASA #Strategy #Business

What are the opportunities for your competitors?

A small exercise we did yesterday at my workshop on Market Research. 

Step into the shoes of the CEO of your competitor for 10 minutes. What are your opportunities? From the perspective of your competition.

Understanding your competition is one of the puzzle pieces that make up your strategic understanding of the market.

This little exercise always gets the same response. "How do you mean opportunity?"

We are conditioned to see our own opportunities and to see the competition as out of date, monolithic, slow, expensive, etc.

Always good to open the mind and look at things from a different perspective.

What are the opportunities for your competitor? What would you do if you were the CEO at Competitor Inc?

Taplio

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