West coast entrepreneur prepares to launch Scotland’s first yerba mate drinks brand

A west coast entrepreneur is preparing to launch what is believed to be the first yerba mate drink to be produced in Scotland, after developing a new health-focused drinks brand alongside his university studies.

His business support highlights how flexible, entrepreneurial education can turn business ideas into reality beyond Scotland’s cities.

Kane Edwards, 28, who lives in Greenock, Inverclyde, is the founder of SPOT. Drinks, a new drinks business focused on clean ingredients, balance and everyday energy. The company has been developed over the past year and will launch commercially in early 2026.

Kane was supported by The Open University in Scotland through its enterprise and start-up support schemes, including its microfinance competition which provides equity-free funding to help students take early-stage business ideas forward. The support allowed him to invest in essential equipment, refine his product and move from concept to production.

SPOT. Drinks blends botanicals with the authentic South American caffeinated beverage yerba mate. The drink is made without additives, focusing instead on clean energy, hydration and a crisp flavour. Each small batch using traceable botanicals from local partners with an emphasis on careful sourcing and environmental consideration.

Originally from Aberdeen, Kane has spent more than a decade working in food and drink, including running his own café and managing hospitality businesses. The flexibility of studying with The Open University in Scotland made it possible to build a business alongside working and other commitments.

Our model is designed to support people to develop skills and ideas alongside work and life, and to turn ambition into action wherever they are based."

Jane Grant
OU in Scotland

Kane Edwards explains: “I tried university a few times when I was younger and it just didn’t work for me. What appealed to me about The Open University was the flexibility and the fact I can study on my own terms. Being able to fit learning around work makes all the difference.”

Having access to early financial support and expert advice was a critical step in helping him to fulfil his entrepreneurial ambitions.  

He continues: “That initial funding is crucial. A lot of people have ideas, but life gets in the way and the risk keeps pushing it to the back burner. Funding and enterprise support from The Open University reduced that risk and gave me the confidence to start.  

“It meant I could build the business plan, buy the right equipment, test properly, refine the recipe and get to a point where I had a product that I really believed in.”

Now based in Greenock, Kane plans to launch SPOT. Drinks initially through independent cafés and retailers, alongside direct-to-consumer sales, before scaling production in Scotland. Being able to live, work and study outside a major city has shaped how he has approached the business.

Kane said: “There is a strong culture of small independent businesses here in Greenock. Being able to live here, study remotely and build a business at the same time is something I couldn’t have done with a traditional university education.”

Open Enterprise Network

The Open University in Scotland is increasingly supporting entrepreneurs who are building businesses alongside work, caring responsibilities and life commitments, often outside Scotland’s main cities. Its flexible model enables students of all ages and backgrounds to study and apply learning in real time, while remaining rooted in their own communities.  

Funding and enterprise support from The Open University reduced that risk and gave me the confidence to start."

Kane Edwards
SPOT. Drinks

Offering a strong package of support, students and recent graduates can access a wide programme of events, resources and competitions designed to help turn ideas into viable businesses. This includes hands-on enterprise bootcamps, funding competitions such as the Open Enterprise Network Converge Microfinance Competition and a rich library of free online learning covering entrepreneurship, leadership, finance, marketing and digital skills.  

Supported by expert guidance and an active peer community, the Open Enterprise Network gives entrepreneurs the tools, confidence and connections to build and grow businesses wherever they are based in Scotland.

In Greenock and Inverclyde, The Open University is supporting 195 students, 66% of whom are in employment and 20% don’t have traditional university entrance qualifications. Through its initiatives The Open University in Scotland is helping students move from idea to trading in a practical and sustainable way. 

Jane Grant, Depute Director of External Engagement and Partnerships at The Open University in Scotland, said Kane’s experience reflected the university’s unique approach to entrepreneurship.

She said: “The Open University in Scotland is working with entrepreneurial students across the country, including in rural, coastal and community-based settings, who may not be able to access traditional campus-based education. Our model is designed to support people to develop skills and ideas alongside work and life, and to turn ambition into action wherever they are based.

“Entrepreneurship does not have to be limited to cities and large urban areas. By supporting students like Kane, we are helping to nurture businesses that are rooted in their communities and which contribute to local economies across Scotland.”

SPOT. Drinks is expected to complete its first commercial production run in early 2026, with a phased launch focused on independent outlets and sustainable growth.

16 February 2026