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Screaming into the Void

Why can’t most life science researchers access the advanced microscopy tools that already exist? The technology is there. It has been for decades. But it’s too expensive, too complicated, and built for the wrong people. Dr. Peter Tinning, an optical physicist at the University of Strathclyde, spent years embedded in life science labs and watched researchers revert to hundred-year-old methods the moment he left. That observation became the foundation for Northern Light Microscopy - a company developing modular, low-cost super-resolution imaging hardware that works within existing laboratory workflows. This episode follows Peter’s journey from postdoc to founder: 140 customer interviews across three continents during the Innovate UK ICURe programme, spinning out from a university with IP negotiations in real time, assembling a team of four with founders’ funds and grant money, and preparing to raise a pre-seed round of £850,000 while the runway counts down. An honest account of building hard tech in the UK. Key Topics Covered • Why optical physicists have been building microscopes for other physicists — and why that’s a problem for life science research • The ICURe programme: what 140 customer conversations across three continents actually revealed • Building a modular product platform that responds to market feedback rather than assumptions • The funding patchwork: Innovate UK grants, university commercialisation funds, convertible loan notes, and founders’ own cash • Why the Silicon Valley playbook fails for UK deep tech — and what to do instead • Approaching investors early, before you’re ready, and building those relationships over time • The emotional weight of leading a team: salaries, responsibility, and learning to put your foot down • Getting to market: trade shows, early adopters, UKCA/CE marking, and converting interest into revenue Guest Bio Peter Tinning is the co-founder and CEO of Northern Light Microscopy, a hard tech startup developing modular, accessible super-resolution imaging systems for life science research. An optical physicist by training, Peter has been at the University of Strathclyde since 2009, where he completed his undergraduate, master's, and PhD, and then worked as a postdoc embedded in life science laboratories. He co-founded Northern Light Microscopy with Ralph Bauer, a senior lecturer in electronic and electrical engineering at Strathclyde. The company spun out of the university following the Innovate UK ICURe programme and is supported by Innovate UK grant funding, Strathclyde commercialisation funds, and a university convertible loan note. Peter is a Royal Academy of Engineering Enterprise Fellow. The company is currently preparing for its first commercial product deployments with early-adopting customers and raising a £850,000 pre-seed round. Website: www.northernlightmicroscopy.com (http://www.northernlightmicroscopy.com) LinkedIn (Personal): Peter Tinning (  / petertinning  ) LinkedIn (Company): Northern Light Microscopy (  / northern-light-microscopy  )