Tech startups seek opportunities in Silicon Valley – Daily Business

Startups based in Scotland will take part in next month’s Techscaler visit to Silicon Valley to engage with investors, existing and potential customers, and peers in the world’s most successful technology hub.  

The programme takes place between 12 and 31 May, including time based at the Mindspace coworking facility in downtown San Francisco, and attendance at the annual SaaStr conference.

SaaStr Annual is focused on software as a service (SaaS) startups, and is billed as the world’s number one cloud computing gathering, with over 800 venture capitalists and around 300 speakers from the world’s top SaaS and AI companies.  

To date, 25 tech leaders have participated in Techscaler Silicon Valley with some securing investment and contacts.  

Barry Leaper, CEO and founder of Aberdeen-based LiberEat, a startup automating error detection in the global food supply chain, participated in Techscaler Silicon Valley last year. He said: “The programme was hugely beneficial for us and directly led to investment from the US, as well as being an invaluable learning experience.” 

Anais Guillemaud, head of scaleup growth programmes at CodeBase, which runs the Scottish Government-funded Techscaler programme, said: “International connections are instrumental to startup growth, leading to economic development through inward investment and job creation.  

“In San Francisco and Silicon Valley, the ecosystem is at such a mature level, there is no language barrier, so meeting investors, customers, and peers happens very organically, supported by attending a world-class conference like SaaStr.  

“The immersive experience will be invaluable for our startups, understanding that if they want to compete internationally, they have to reach the same standard as the best startups worldwide.”  

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said: “From Singapore to Japan and now a third wave of companies travelling to Silicon Valley, the international Techscaler programme is providing Scotland’s start-up companies with considerable opportunities to unlock further investment, develop new commercial partnerships and drive and showcase their businesses on a global stage.”

She added: “The programme has already generated tangible, positive outcomes for past participants, and I know the companies visiting Silicon Valley next month will seize the opportunity to collaborate with some of the biggest names in industry and take their business to the next level.”

Now in its third year, Techscaler is aimed at creating, developing, and scaling tech startups.  The programme, run by CodeBase and funded by The Scottish Government, now supports around 1,000 startups, with member companies having raised almost £120 million during its first two years of operation. 

The companies selected for the third iteration of Techscaler Silicon Valley are Arc53, danceSing, Energy Mutual, ePass, Fyne Labs, LingoTeach, LumiAIres, MarktoMarket, NeuroCreate, Practest, Pure Purpose, Tethered, ThermaFY, and WITR – Who’s In The Room?