The event, titled Is This a Safe House?, aimed to break down barriers and spark honest debate about the rental sector in Scotland.
It was co-organised by Tomisin “Tom Tom” Osinubi and Blessing Owolade, two young entrepreneurs who are working to reshape the housing landscape through technology and compliance.
Both entrepreneurs were part of the First Minister of Scotland’s Start-Up Challenge and were selected from around 120 submissions.
Tomisin Osinubi, founder of housing technology venture Léri, said: “Too often, the people involved in renting are talked about separately.
“We wanted to create a room where key players could hear each other directly, explore the challenges honestly and help shape ideas that work better in practice.
“We heard that a housing innovation has to offer more than a new way to connect.
“It must be accountable, address risk, work within the wider housing ecosystem and create clear value for the people using it.
“That feedback will help shape Léri as we build a more thoughtful way for renters and landlords to find a suitable connection.”
Blessing Owolade, founder of B.A.O Compliance and a former Glasgow Caledonian University Students’ Association president, previously campaigned on student housing and contributed to the development of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2025.
Her focus through B.A.O Compliance is on helping renters, especially young people, understand housing standards and hold landlords accountable.
Through Léri, she aims to create more efficient ways for renters and landlords to connect while understanding each other’s needs.
Blessing said: “I am passionate about helping young people see that property is an opportunity they can explore, not an industry they should feel intimidated by.
“I want people to understand their rights, know what to expect when renting and feel confident speaking up when something isn’t right.
“Through B.A.O Compliance, I hope to make property information easier to understand and help rebuild trust between renters and landlords.”
Martin Onogu, software developer and founding team member at Léri, said: “Building Léri has been about more than developing a platform.
“It’s about using technology to solve real challenges in the rental experience.
“Demonstrating Léri publicly for the first time was an exciting milestone, particularly because we got to hear directly from renters, landlords and industry professionals.”
The event included the first public demonstration of Léri, with live feedback from attendees helping to shape the future of the platform.
It also featured a panel discussion with property investor Gemma Guarin, Homes for Good CEO Dr Susan Aktemel, Glasgow councillor Graham Campbell, NUS Scotland president Justine Pedusel, and Ola Olaleye, founder of Facit and an Innovate UK leader.
Topics included affordability, access to housing, responsible letting, and innovation.
A session on Awaab’s Law, delivered by B.A.O Compliance, prompted discussion on damp and mould, safe living conditions, and renters’ rights.
Ola Olaleye said: “The panel discussions brought together a range of insightful perspectives, with great energy throughout the event.
“Most importantly, Leri is building a compelling solution for landlords and tenants, with significant potential to deliver positive outcomes across the housing sector.”
The event began with remarks from John Taylor, director of Glasgow Caledonian University’s Entrepreneurial Hub.
Taylor said: “At Glasgow Caledonian University, we are passionate about creating opportunities for our students and graduates to turn innovative ideas into ventures that can make a real difference.
“Events like Is This a Safe House? demonstrate the power of bringing together entrepreneurs, industry professionals, policymakers and communities to tackle complex challenges through open discussion and fresh thinking.
“It has been fantastic to see Tom Tom and Blessing take ideas developed through entrepreneurial support and transform them into initiatives that are driving important conversations and exploring practical solutions for Scotland’s housing sector.”
