Edinburgh-based remote working platform SWURF has secured a £200,000 investment round as it accelerates plans to transform the Scottish capital into one of the world’s most flexible working-friendly cities.
The funding will support the rollout of SWURF Pods, the company’s on-demand private meeting spaces designed for professionals who need secure and quiet environments for calls, meetings and focused work while on the move.
The investment round includes backing from prominent industry figures such as Gareth Williams, one of Scotland’s most successful tech entrepreneurs, alongside hospitality investor Anna Lagerqvist Christopherson, who owns several well-known venues in the city including Boda BV, the Green Room and the Victoria Bar.
SWURF’s strategy centres on creating a network of high-tech, bookable private pods located across busy urban locations. These compact meeting spaces are designed to give remote workers immediate access to private environments without needing a traditional office.
Each pod includes advanced soundproofing technology, private WiFi networks with encrypted connections, ergonomic seating, air filtration systems and adaptive LED lighting to provide a professional environment for business calls or focused work.
The pods are already installed at Edinburgh Airport and at the YOTEL Edinburgh, and the company plans to expand the network rapidly across the city.
SWURF’s long-term ambition is to ensure that every worker in Edinburgh is within 15 minutes of a SWURF Pod location, effectively turning cafés, hotels and hospitality venues into a distributed workplace network.
Alongside the pods, SWURF operates a mobile platform that connects remote workers with venues across the city that welcome flexible working.
Through the SWURF app, users can discover participating venues, check in digitally and access secure WiFi networks. The system also unlocks perks and incentives at partner venues, creating a mutually beneficial ecosystem between workers and hospitality businesses.
The platform currently lists more than 450 venues across Edinburgh, including locations such as the The Hoxton Edinburgh, Crowne Plaza Edinburgh Royal Terrace, and the Royal Scots Club.
More than 14,000 users, known as “Swurfers”, are now registered on the platform, with the community continuing to grow as hybrid and remote working patterns become increasingly embedded across the UK workforce.
SWURF says its model is not only designed to support remote workers but also to generate new revenue streams for hospitality businesses.
By encouraging professionals to use cafés, hotels and bars as temporary workplaces during quieter hours, the company estimates it has already contributed around £2 million to the local Edinburgh economy.
For venues, the model allows underutilised spaces to generate income during off-peak periods, while for workers it provides a wider range of flexible workspace options across the city.
Margaret Auld, general manager of YOTEL Edinburgh, said the pods have helped bring new visitors into the hotel while also enhancing the services available to guests.
“The SWURF Pod is an excellent service that we can provide to our hotel guests, and it also brings new people into our hotel,” she said.
SWURF was founded by CEO Nikki Gibson, a hospitality industry specialist who saw an opportunity to connect remote professionals with existing city venues rather than relying solely on traditional coworking offices.
Gibson said the company’s mission goes beyond simply providing desks or meeting spaces.
“People want more than just somewhere to sit with a laptop,” she said. “They need flexibility, security and inspiring environments that help them be productive.”
“Our goal is to make Edinburgh the global gold standard for flexible working. By expanding our host venue network and rolling out SWURF Pods across the city, we are turning Edinburgh itself into a distributed office.”
The latest funding round follows a six-figure investment secured in 2025, which helped the company expand its venue network and grow its user base.
SWURF has also strengthened its leadership team with several high-profile industry figures joining the board.
The board is chaired by Alison Grieve, an entrepreneur known for scaling global technology businesses.
She is joined by Scott Leckie, who transitioned from a fractional chief technology officer role into a permanent board position, and Daniel Rodgers, the founder of Scottish hospitality technology company QikServe.
The strengthened leadership team is expected to help SWURF scale its model beyond Edinburgh in the coming years.
The company’s expansion comes amid a continued shift in working habits across the UK.
Hybrid working arrangements have become the norm across many sectors, creating growing demand for flexible meeting spaces, quiet work environments and secure connectivity outside traditional offices.
Cities with strong digital infrastructure and vibrant hospitality sectors are increasingly positioning themselves as hubs for this new working model.
By combining technology, hospitality partnerships and purpose-built micro workspaces, SWURF is aiming to place Edinburgh at the centre of that global shift.
With new funding secured and additional pod locations planned, the company believes the Scottish capital could soon become a benchmark city for flexible, location-independent working.
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Scottish startup SWURF secures £200k funding to make Edinburgh the world’s flexible working capital