A Manchester-based entrepreneur has sold his start-up printing business for a profit as he focuses on a successful new AI marketing firm.
Scott McNicol founded, and recently parted with, printing business Sastech for an undisclosed sum to a Yorkshire firm specialising in retail office equipment, Commerce Business Systems.
The 36-year-old expressed gratitude for the wealth of experience he gained from developing and running the firm but acknowledged that it was time to move into the future and focus on his AI marketing company, Harper.
He said: “When I launched Sastech in 2020, we were fighting an uphill battle in the chaos of Covid. Despite the many hurdles we faced, not only did we manage to stay the course, but we were able to become fully self-sustaining through the services we provided.
“Launching and managing Sastech helped me to develop into a well-rounded entrepreneur. Running the firm required a lot of effort, but the sense of achievement that came from seeing it grow was incredibly rewarding. I have no regrets.”
Since the sale, McNicol is directing his full attention to the next stage in his entrepreneurial journey: managing the AI digital marketing firm, Harper, which has seen huge success already.
Established only last year, Harper evolved at a rapid pace since its launch and to date the company has gained more than 20 clients from all over the world.
In August 2024, the firm announced partnerships with clients in Europe, America, and Australia within a variety of industries.
Scott added: “I’m eager to see what the future holds. With Harper, we see limitless potential of combining human expertise with cutting-edge AI technology to fundamentally alter how businesses approach lead generation.”
The entrepreneur admitted that while the growth of the business will present its own difficulties, the challenges he overcame while leading Sastech have served as the ideal training for this leap into the new space.
“Running both businesses has taught me that growth comes from stepping out of your comfort zone and trusting the process,” he said. “To anyone aspiring to launch and run their own company, I would say embrace the journey, knowing it will be full of challenges but also incredibly rewarding.
“If you’re passionate about what you’re building, the hard work will always pay off.”
