Richard James MacCowan

Captain
DISC Type : DS

Jury pool at European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA)

York, England, United Kingdom

Overview

Richard James MacCowan is the Founder of Biomimicry Innovation Lab and a Jury Member for the European Innovation Council. He specializes in determining the manufacturing feasibility of nature-inspired deep-tech for sectors like agriculture and urbanism. He holds a Ph. D. from Leeds Beckett University and is described by colleagues as brilliant, diligent, and trustworthy.

Originally from Scotland, his interest in natural systems was sparked by his grandfathers agricultural background. In his free time, Richard enjoys running and cycling in the countryside near his home in York, England to recharge. He leverages his Scottish sense of storytelling in his professional speaking engagements, blending design, finance, and biomimicry.

Unique fact: Richard is the founder of the non-profit Biomimicry UK and an equine technology startup, Smart Stable Limited.

Personality Overview

Dynamic But Sincere

Output-Driven

Consummate Professional

They are very professional in their approach and can weigh multiple perspectives together.  Reading between the lines and seeing beyond your words comes naturally to them. They might take some time to make their mind up but once they do, they don't change it easily.

Topics They Care About

Manufacturing Feasibility
His core focus is evaluating if nature-inspired ideas are manufacturable at scale or merely 'theatre', a central theme in his professional introduction and work.
Nature-Inspired Innovation
As the Founder of Biomimicry Innovation Lab and a frequent speaker on the topic, he is a leading voice in applying lessons from nature to solve human challenges.
AI in Hardware
He has recently written about and is tracking the work of agencies like ARIA, focusing on using 'Nature Computing' to revolutionize AI hardware development.

Media Appearances

Richard has no verified media appearances

Work History

5-2025
Jury pool at European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA)
11-2020 - 12-2020
Visiting Lecturer at Royal College of Art
10-2020
Visiting Lecturer - Biomimicry at University of Westminster
12-2019
Founder + Lead Technical Advisor at Biomimicry Innovation Lab
12-2019
Professional Speaker + Workshop Facilitator at Biomimicry Innovation Lab

Education

BSc (Hons) from Heriot-Watt University
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) from Leeds Beckett University

More Information

Social Presence :

Prographics :

Exp : N/A Location : York, England, United Kingdom Job Level : N/A Designation : Jury pool at European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA)
URL has been copied!

Insights For Selling To Richard James

During A Call Or A Meeting

DO's

  • Stick to your standard pitch and qualifying script, don't try to wing it
  • Ask them at the end if they see a strong value prop in your product; expect an honest answer
  • Come across as a trustworthy professional and be respectful, they usually know their game

DONT's

  • Don't get into pricing discussions early on, steer conversation towards proven results
  • Don't shy away from asking hard questions, but be extra polite
  • Don't take their patience for granted, avoid long-winding sermons

When Cold Calling

When Writing An Email

While Negotiating & Closing

    The secret to closing fast with Richard James is

  • Strong proof of impact and their conviction will matter the most, but they wouldn't want to act unilaterally either
  • Will you ever get a clear answer from Richard James

  • They will say no if they are not convinced but you will have to prompt them.

Insights For Deal Planning

    How fast (or slow) will Richard James move?

  • They will want to understand things well but can move fast once they have a clear picture.
  • Can Richard James take some risk or not?

  • They have good risk tolerance but are likely to think it through once or twice.

You And Richard James

Personality Compatibility


More Profiles

Discover additional public profiles from our index.

Search more profiles

Looking for someone else? Search here for anyone.

Or visit Humantic AI to know more.