• Swindon & Wiltshire Education, training and skills
• Friday February 21 2025
• Author Name: Peter Davison

Reach for the stars – astrophysics student spins out business recycling tech

He went to university to study astrophysics but left with a fledgling business. Now his tech recycling company employs 17 people.

At school, entrepreneur Casey Sather (pictured second left) developed a knack for fixing friends’ and teachers’ smashed phone screens.

By the time he got to the University of Bristol his services were so in demand that he had to employ fellow students to help.

FixMyTek now repairs hundreds of devices a month.

And the company is pitching its services at the business world, too – by helping firms recycle their e-waste, providing them with refurbished devices to reduce costs, helping them meet their green targets, and offering other eco-friendly IT solutions.

Part of its profits are used to run free community workshops on extending the lifespan of devices.

Casey, now 27, said: “I started this business to learn about running a company and to offer quality repairs to my friends and fellow students. It was a chance for us to work together and grow along the way.

“Now that the business has expanded, I’m excited to move into the B2B space.

“Tech has a big environmental impact, and I’m eager to offer businesses more sustainable solutions that help them save money and be eco-friendly.

“My passion for entrepreneurship has always been about growth, and it’s been amazing to show that you can run a business with the right use of modern software and marketing while being a student.”

FixMyTek’s commitment to its roots remains strong. As a business born out of the University of Bristol, it continues to prioritise employing skilled young people, with a team of seven full-time and ten part-time staff.

The company runs repair hubs at the University of Bristol, UWE Bristol and the sustainable department store Sparks Bristol, all while staying dedicated to supporting students and the local community.

“I was shocked to learn that the UK is the second-biggest producer of e-waste per capita in the world. To address this, we started working with local businesses to tackle their e-waste, refurbishing laptops and responsibly recycling those beyond repair,” said Casey.

“A lot of organisations have ambitious green targets, and we’re proud to help them achieve those goals.

“In addition, we use some of our profits to run workshops teaching people how to fix, repair, and upgrade their own devices.

Casey’s journey began with funding from the University of Bristol’s start-up competition.

Stuart Johnson, director of careers and skills at the University of Bristol, said: “When Casey first presented his business idea to us, we saw its huge potential.

“It’s fantastic to see FixMyTek thriving while also championing a sustainable business model that nurtures young talent.”