Techscaler

The launch of Techscaler at Water’s Edge Dundee also marked the release of our 2025 Annual Report, showcasing Scotland’s growing founder ecosystem and future opportunities. Watch the video here: youtu.be/MPkTW1NEicU?si…

Myriad Wind emerged from PhD research at the University of Strathclyde, where Adam Harris and his co-founders began developing a new approach to wind turbine design. Turning that research into a venture meant validating the technology, identifying early markets, and gradually building investor confidence. Through Techscaler, the team connected with the wider founder community and received targeted support. Adam credits the Techscaler team for helping introduce Myriad Wind to investors, including South East Angels. The journey from research to company building continues as the team prepares its first commercial prototype. Read the full case study: techscaler.co.uk/resources/from…

Read the full report ➡️techscaler.co.uk/resources/tech…

Founders often say that access to the right people can make all the difference when building a company. Through Techscaler, founders across Scotland connect with investors, mentors, and ecosystem leaders who help them move from early traction to growth and investment. Hear first-hand from some of the founders featured in the 2025 Techscaler Annual Report - people who have built relationships with angel networks, secured investment, and strengthened their fundraising journeys through the programme. Their experiences highlight the impact that the right connections and support can have at key moments in a startup’s journey. 📖 Read the full report below to explore more founder stories and insights from across the Techscaler community.

Breaking into a new market starts with understanding how it really works. For the first time, Techscaler will take a cohort of founders to New York—immersing them in one of the world’s most active tech ecosystems, including a16z Tech Week and visits to innovation hubs in New Jersey. Applications now open: techscaler.co.uk/education/new-…

Some of the most ambitious startups begin long before a company is formed. They begin in research labs, academic departments, and conversations where new discoveries start to reveal commercial potential. The Venture Builder Incubator 6.0 Showcase brought that journey into focus at the National Museum of Scotland, where founders from universities across Scotland pitched ventures tackling challenges across health-tech, climate innovation, AI and deep tech hardware. Over five months the cohort worked through the transition from research idea to early stage venture with support from mentors, ecosystem partners and the wider Techscaler community. Standout award winners included:  • Cadence Dx – Audience Award  • EarlyOn AI – Cancer Research Horizons Award  • Neon Guard – Judges Award The result was a powerful reminder of the depth of innovation emerging from Scotland’s universities and the role programmes like VBI play in helping founders turn research insight into real companies. Read the full recap via: techscaler.co.uk/resources/deep…

📊 The Techscaler Annual Report 2025 is now live, marking three years of building and strengthening Scotland’s founder-first tech ecosystem. It’s been another significant year for Scotland’s tech community, and this report captures the progress being made by the founders, mentors, partners and organisations helping shape it. Since launch, Techscaler has supported:  🚀 1,591 companies and 2,090 founders across Scotland  🚀 1,274 enrolments in education programmes  🚀 745 companies receiving mentorship across 3,458 sessions  🚀 £257.6m raised by member companies since 2022  🚀 80 founders supported through international missions across Silicon Valley, Japan, Singapore and beyond Take a look at the full report: techscaler.co.uk/resources/tech… #Techscaler

What drives a founder to tackle one of the hardest problems in maritime safety? Zelim’s journey began with a mariner determined to improve search and rescue at sea. Today, the company is developing AI-powered detection and recovery technologies while expanding internationally with support from Techscaler. Know more about Zelim's journey: techscaler.co.uk/resources/turn…

Techscaler’s 2026 international programme calendar is now confirmed. Selected companies will engage with innovation ecosystems across Japan, New York, Silicon Valley, Singapore, Hong Kong, and mainland China, building a trajectory for international growth. Know more: techscaler.co.uk/resources/prep…

Dundee’s role in Scotland’s tech ecosystem continues to grow. This week we were proud to launch the Techscaler Dundee Hub at Water’s Edge, strengthening the national network of spaces where founders can access mentorship, expertise, community and international connections. The launch brought together founders, investors, partners and leaders from across the ecosystem, with the First Minister John Swinney joining the evening to meet the first companies taking residency in the hub and reflect on the programme’s growing impact. The event also marked the launch of the Techscaler Annual Report 2025, highlighting the continued progress of the programme and the growing momentum of Scotland’s startup ecosystem. The First Minister rightly captured the aim with which we continue to operate: “Techscaler was created to strengthen Scotland’s entrepreneurial environment by giving founders the skills, support and connections needed to build globally competitive companies. I’m proud to be here in Dundee to launch Techscaler’s new home at Water’s Edge, which will be a vibrant hub for entrepreneurs in the city.” The launch also introduced the first companies taking residency in the hub: • Umbra Dynamics • Fochram Arts • Shouty Knot • JBSB Studios • Fish Tin Games Together they represent the creativity, ambition and technical depth that has long defined Dundee’s role within Scotland’s technology sector. We look forward to welcoming founders, partners and ecosystem leaders to mark the beginning of this next chapter for the Tay Cities region. Read the full story via: techscaler.co.uk/resources/a-ne… Photo credit: Graeme Peacock

Scaling in health and medtech is rarely about speed these days. It has expanded to be focused on sequence, evidence, and market alignment. At the Techscaler Health & Medtech Innovation Summit, we heard candid insight from Charlotte Keeley, Jennifer Zelinsky, Gillian Henderson, Amirah Aslam, Jane Crowley, Ben Reasbeck, Helen Tate, Debbie Wake, Chris Helson, Andrew Parfrey, and Aidan MacMillan on what actually moves innovation forward. Across NHS engagement, validation strategy, manufacturing readiness, capital raises, and international expansion, these themes stood out: • Intended use must be precise and rooted in the care pathway • Health economics is a commercial discipline, not an optional extra • Pilots succeed when governance and funding are structured upfront • Investors look for credible progress toward regulatory and reimbursement milestones For founders building in this space, understanding these mechanics early can completely change your trajectory. Read the full recap: techscaler.co.uk/resources/desi…

Building a startup is hard. Scaling one is harder. But Scottish founders shouldn't have to piece together support from disconnected places. That's why Techscaler and Scottish Enterprise have built something different. A joined-up ecosystem where founder-focused programmes, funding, and world-class networks work together seamlessly, so you can focus on what matters: building your business. Through this partnership, founders are accessing: ▶️ MVP R&D Grants to accelerate early-stage development ▶️ One-to-one support to access funding and widen networks ▶️ International market engagement to help Scottish startups compete globally ▶️ A dedicated "one team" approach, where Techscaler and Scottish Enterprise advisors work together around you - not in silos The results speak for themselves. 44 grants issued, £1.25M invested, and founders like Andrew Conkie of Red Star and Steven Clarke of Nuuri using that support to hire faster, build better products, and open doors to new markets. Read the full partnership spotlight to find out how to get involved: techscaler.co.uk/resources/part… #Techscaler #ScottishEnterprise #ScottishStartups #TechScotland #StartupSupport

Read the full roundup: techscaler.co.uk/resources/open…

Last week, Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes MSP joined six founders for a candid roundtable about what's really working: mentorship that doesn't run on bureaucracy, international trips that turn into transactions, and a community that catches red flags before they become costly mistakes. Within a month of joining, Ayub Shoaib (NOMW Health) was on stage with a chief science officer. Four months in, Chris Helson (Tiny Air) demoed to hospitals across Singapore and Abu Dhabi at 5am via iPhone - and had a purchase commitment two days later. Eva Steele (Amytis) found matched investment through a newsletter that arrived the day she signed up. "Before, my conversations with investors were really difficult. Now they're easy." — Dr Giulia Marcucci, LumiAIres Read the full recap to hear what founders wish they'd known earlier, why mentorship has to be personal to work, and what Kate Forbes says about creating the conditions for Scotland's startup ecosystem to compete globally. Link in the comments 👇 #Techscaler #StartupCommunity #ScottishTech #FounderJourney

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There are parts of scaling a company that nobody really talks about, and they hit differently when you're a woman or non-binary founder. This International Women's Day, we're hosting an intimate online conversation with people who have raised funds and scaled their companies, and they're going to speak openly about the stuff that usually stays behind closed doors. The barriers that aren't often named. The hard lessons. The boundaries that needed setting. The support networks that made the difference. This event won't be recorded (intentionally) so that everyone in the room can speak freely and honestly. It's a space to listen, ask questions, and connect with people who genuinely get it. 📆 Thursday 5th March 🕙 10am 💻 Online via Zoom Places are limited - grab yours through the link in the comments. #InternationalWomensDay #WomenFounders #Techscaler #ScottishStartups #CodeBase #WomenInTech

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We're one week away from the Techscaler Health & Medtech Innovation Summit, and we couldn't be more excited about what this afternoon is going to look like. On Tuesday 24th February at the Edinburgh Futures Institute, we're bringing together founders, investors, and ecosystem partners from across Scotland's health and medtech space for an afternoon of real conversation and practical learning. The format is designed to be interactive and founder-focused - founder and partner panels, and investor insights on funding and growth. Founders will share their experiences openly, with space for questions and discussion from the floor. Partners will be on hand to talk through how they support medtech businesses at every stage. And we're especially looking forward to the networking at the end of the day - because some of the most valuable conversations at events like this happen informally, over a drink, after the panels wrap up. Scotland's health and medtech ecosystem is thriving. Tuesday is a chance to see that up close. Sign up for the waitlist below. See you there. 🏥 #Techscaler #MedTech #HealthTech #ScottishStartups #CodeBase

What if you could measure and access flow state - that magical feeling when you're completely absorbed, performing at your peak, and time disappears? Dr Shama Rahman, neuroscientist and founder of NeuroCreate, identified the brain signature for flow during her PhD. Now she's building technology to make it accessible to everyone, through brain-sensing wearables and playful AI. Incorporated in 2017 when AI wasn't fashionable, she was too far ahead. Then the world caught up. Swipe for the story of building at the intersection of neuroscience, creativity, and everyday brain health #Neuroscience #HealthTech #FlowState #Techscaler

Today we were delighted to welcome DFM Kate Forbes to a special roundtable celebrating individual founder journeys and their progress through the Techscaler programme. We were joined by an exceptional group of founders - Ayub Shoaib (NOMW Health), Chris Helson (Tiny Air), Dr Eva Steele (Amytis), Dr Giulia Marcucci (LumiAIres), Gus Laing (All Trade Link), and Sam Mayall (Zelim) - representing different stages of the start-up journey. The roundtable explored three critical themes: building the conditions for investable startups by strengthening founder skills and confidence; creating robust social infrastructure through trusted networks and peer communities; and connecting Scotland to international investors and markets. Over three years, Techscaler has supported ambitious Scottish founders to scale sustainably and compete globally. Today's discussion offered candid insights into what works, what's needed, and how we continue strengthening Scotland's innovation ecosystem. #Techscaler #ScottishStartups #Innovation #Entrepreneurship