Techscaler

Rethink Carbon started with a CivTech challenge and a clear purpose: use technology to help land managers make better decisions. Five years later, the picture is more complex and more interesting. 🔍️ The market didn't scale the way anyone expected. Customers were hard to find. Revenue was tight. Zoe and Mark kept iterating anyway, and the company has grown into something that sits at the centre of UK carbon infrastructure. Figuring out the real problem, for the real customer, took a long time. That's not a failure; that's just how early-stage works in a niche market most people have never heard of. Techscaler's international programme to Singapore gave Zoe something most founders rarely get: dedicated time away from delivery to research properly and think strategically. She spent weeks before the trip mapping organisations, reading up on carbon standards and reaching out cold to people working in the sector. People in Singapore were open in a way that's different from home turf. Zoe came back with a sharper sense of where Rethink Carbon fits internationally. In the UK, a large peatland project runs 20 to 100 hectares. In Indonesia, nothing starts below 5,000. That's the scale Rethink Codes, their upcoming platform for managing and validating UK carbon projects, is being built to eventually meet. Access the full story via: techscaler.co.uk/resources/how-…

Applications are now open for Techscaler members to join us at London Tech Week 2026. 🏙️ This is one of Europe's most significant tech gatherings, drawing over 30,000 attendees, 8,000+ startups and 1,500 investors to Olympia London. We've secured a dedicated space in the heart of it, and we're taking up to 15 founders there with tickets covered. Three days to demo your product, meet investors, grow your network and have the kinds of conversations that move things forward. The opportunity to connect with global investors, enterprise buyers and ecosystem leaders from across the UK and beyond. ▶️ Applications close Wednesday, 27 May. Places are limited and open to Techscaler members only. Full details and the application link are in the comments.

🔭 Techscaler Ones to Watch: Neon Guard Our Ones to Watch report highlights startups building ambitious solutions with global potential - and Neon Guard is one we’re incredibly excited about 🚀 How do you verify someone’s age online without asking them to hand over their identity? That’s the challenge Neon Guard is tackling. Founded by Dr Chelsea Jarvie and built from peer-reviewed PhD research, Neon Guard sits at the intersection of cybersecurity, AI and online safety - one of the fastest-growing and most important areas in tech right now. Through Techscaler Silicon Valley, the company gained exposure to global markets, refined its investor messaging and built valuable connections with advisors and investors 🇺🇸 Already building momentum through funding wins, partnerships and MVP development, Neon Guard is definitely one to watch 👀 Read more here: techscaler.co.uk/resources/ones…

Getting investor-ready is one of the hardest shifts a founder makes. Traction. A working product. Customers who believe in you. And still struggling to answer: why back you, right now? Enter Techscaler's Raise Track. Our third Cohort under Catalyst featured: 12 founders across Scotland, three intensive sessions, and live pitch feedback from both sides of the table. Turning solid foundations into raise-ready propositions. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Know more about the cohort: techscaler.co.uk/resources/meet…

🇯🇵 Techscaler Japan was about helping founders build meaningful relationships in one of the world’s most exciting innovation markets. For Myles Bax from Aurora Avionics, the trip was a chance to meet contacts established ahead of time, and building those relationships face-to-face 🤝 Across the programme, founders spent two weeks connecting with corporates, investors and ecosystem partners while exploring opportunities in a completely new market. Sometimes, being there in person is what moves things forward. Read the full recap here: techscaler.co.uk/resources/two-…

One of the biggest challenges for Eva Steele, PhD has been transitioning from academic research into startup life. During her PhD at the University of Edinburgh, Eva and her co-founder Freddy experienced firsthand how fragmented and time-consuming life science research data management can be - leading them to build Amytis. But building the product also meant adapting from the world of theory and controlled environments into one shaped by users, feedback and constant iteration. “As a scientist, you’re working in theory and controlled environments,” Eva says. “As a founder, you’re in the real world. It’s about what users need, not what you think should work.” Since going full-time, Amytis has secured £160k in early funding, launched an initial product with 300+ downloads and joined Techscaler’s Silicon Valley cohort to better understand what scaling globally would require. Now raising a £600k pre-seed round, the team is focused on helping biotech and R&D teams better connect and extract value from their research data. Read more about Amytis’ journey here: techscaler.co.uk/resources/how-…

The current model for engaging the NHS wasn't built with founders in mind. It's time to change that. CodeBase are partnering with NHS Forth Valley to host a focus group designed to shape a new engagement model. If you're navigating the NHS as a potential client or pilot partner in Scotland, we need you in the room. This is your chance to bring your experience directly to the table and influence how that relationship is built. 📅 Tuesday May 19 🕙 10am – 12pm 📍Forth Valley Royal Hospital, Larbert, Stirling Register here: eventbrite.co.uk/e/nhs-forth-va…

“I think I’ve developed a thick skin working in cybersecurity and across different parts of my career, but the level of rejection is unreal.” Building a startup isn’t straightforward. Rejection is constant and relentless, but so is Chelsea Jarvie’s conviction in what she’s creating. Chelsea is building Neon Guard, turning her PhD research into technology designed to make the internet safer, while navigating investor scepticism around adoption and its place in a regulated space. Through Techscaler, Chelsea pressure-tested her thinking on a global stage, refining her pitch and expanding what the business could become. Through Venture Builder Incubator (VBI), she built the foundations, from financial modelling to communicating a complex deep tech product. Two different programmes, one shared outcome: progress. Read Chelsea’s full story: techscaler.co.uk/resources/how-… 👉 If you’re a founder looking to turn your research into real impact, VBI applications are opening soon: hub.bayes.ed.ac.uk/programmes/vbi

There’s a different kind of energy when a space starts to form around founders ⚡️ The Techscaler launch at Water’s Edge in Dundee captured that perfectly. From the moment you walked in, conversations were already flowing - no awkward warm-ups, just founders connecting, sharing, and building momentum together. What really stood out was the mix in the room. Local entrepreneurs with a global mindset. Early-stage startups finding their feet. Different journeys, but a shared ambition and a willingness to learn from each other. That’s what Techscaler is all about 🚀 If you want to dive deeper, the Techscaler Annual Report (launched alongside the hub) gives a clear picture of where things stand and where it’s all heading next 📊 Access the full Annual Report: techscaler.co.uk/resources/tech…

Deeptech rarely follows a clean path. It often starts in research, where the problem is clear, but everything that comes after is not. For Giulia Marcucci, building LumiAIres meant stepping out of academia and into a world where progress depends on decisions about markets, funding, and timing as much as the technology itself. The idea was strong. Turning it into a company was the harder part. There were moments of uncertainty, shifts in direction, and the need to keep showing up, even when the path forward was not obvious. What helped was finding the right environment, people who understood the journey, and spaces where those conversations could happen. 🤝 This is what that transition really looks like. From research to company, and everything in between. Read the full case study: techscaler.co.uk/resources/buil…

Some companies move quietly until they don’t. That’s often where the real signal sits. 🚀 The newest edition of Ones to Watch 2026 captures those early signals across Scotland’s tech ecosystem. We are excited to bring this edition, spotlighting startups building across deeptech, AI, health and infrastructure, each showing real momentum. Built from direct work with founders through Techscaler, this report is grounded in what’s actually unfolding across the ecosystem. It also tracks how companies featured in previous editions have progressed over time, offering insight into what early traction can turn into when backed by the right conditions. Whether you’re: • an investor looking to understand where momentum is building • a founder benchmarking against the wider ecosystem • or simply interested in where Scotland’s next breakout companies may emerge this report offers a practical, data-informed view of what’s starting to scale. Download the full report: techscaler.co.uk/resources/ones…

Next stop: New York. 🗽 This June, for the first time ever, Techscaler is taking a cohort of founders to New York and New Jersey for two weeks during a16z Tech Week. They’ll be immersing themselves in one of the world’s most dynamic tech ecosystems, gaining first-hand insight into what it takes to build and scale in the US market. These companies are already building momentum stateside and are now taking the next step: testing their positioning, building relationships, and learning on the ground. From AI and enterprise infrastructure to health, energy, and consumer platforms, this cohort reflects the breadth of Scottish startups scaling internationally. We’re excited to see what they learn, who they meet, and how their US journey develops. Meet the full cohort and know more: techscaler.co.uk/resources/tech…

What does real impact look like for founders across Scotland? The Techscaler Annual Report is a snapshot of it. It shows founders turning ideas into companies and scaling faster - supported by operators who’ve done it before, and the networks that help them grow. From early-stage exploration to international expansion, the impact of Techscaler is being felt across the ecosystem. Take a look 👇 Melissa Gray | Brian McNicoll

Growth is often shaped by access to the right environment at the right time, where conversations move quickly and opportunities take form through the people in the room. Dublin Tech Summit brings together founders, investors and operators from across global markets, creating that kind of setting over two focused days in Dublin. Through Techscaler, we are offering a select number of member companies free tickets to attend and engage directly with this environment. For companies exploring international growth beyond the UK, or preparing for investor conversations over the next 6 to 12 months, this is a strong opportunity to step into a wider market context. There is also the option to take this further through the Accelerate programme, including discounted exhibitor space for those looking to increase visibility and engage more directly. If you are building with that level of intent, we would encourage you to apply. Apply to join Techscaler at the Dublin Tech Summit 2026: techscaler.co.uk/resources/tech…

Every founder recognises the moment when progress starts to compound in their journey. What once felt uncertain begins to take shape through customers, capital and capability. Across Techscaler in 2025, that shift became visible. More founders building. More companies growing. More capital flowing. Not isolated wins, but a system strengthening over time, with the conditions for progress becoming more connected and repeatable. Read the full Annual Report to explore the data and stories behind this progress: techscaler.co.uk/resources/tech…

Myriad Wind began with three PhD researchers exploring a new way to design wind turbines. Turning that research into a company meant validating the technology, identifying early markets, and building credibility with investors. As the company began raising capital, introductions through Techscaler helped open the right doors. Founder Adam Harris credits James Trotman from Techscaler’s investor relations team with helping connect Myriad Wind to investors including South East Angels, who joined the company’s recent funding round. Know more about Myriad Wind’s journey: techscaler.co.uk/resources/from…

Founders often say that building a company can feel isolating, especially in the early stages. Through Techscaler’s hubs, events, and partner network, founders connect with peers, mentors and operators who understand the realities of starting and scaling, offering the guidance, motivation, and perspective that help them keep moving forward. The quotes below capture how founders across Scotland describe that experience. 📖 Read the full report to explore more founder stories and insights from across the Techscaler community: techscaler.co.uk/resources/tech…

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

Building a startup means learning constantly - but more importantly, it means learning the right things at the right time. Hear from the founders and mentors featured in the 2025 Techscaler Annual Report.

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…