An Edinburgh-based company is being given up to £42m from the Scottish Government to create a network of tech industry hubs.
Codebase is being given the contract, which is described as one of the government’s largest ever investments in entrepreneurship.
The hubs are designed to allow start-up businesses to scale up and access advice from industry experts.
Nicola Sturgeon announced the Tech Scaler contract at the Barclays Eagle Lab campus in Glasgow on Wednesday evening.
The First Minister said: “Scottish tech start-ups and scale-ups are already a very significant success story and the Scottish Government wants to do even more to build on the sector’s current strength.
“Tech start-ups right across Scotland will have access to world-class education and mentoring and opportunities for peer learning and networking through the tech scalers.
“For new companies at all stages of their development, Scotland will provide one of the most supportive environments in Europe.”
Stephen Coleman, co-founder of Codebase, said: “We will continue to work closely with our partners - old and new, local and global - to make Scotland one of the most tech start-up friendly places in the world.
“We will be helping founders of all shapes and sizes from all backgrounds turn their ideas into businesses via education programmes, community building and networking.
“We will help to build more start-ups in Scotland and help them scale and access customers and investment globally.”
The creation of the Tech Scalers network delivers a commitment of the Programme for Government 2021-22 and a key recommendation from the 2020 Scottish Tech Ecosystem Review, carried out by former Skyscanner chief operating officer and recently-appointed chief entrepreneur, Mark Logan.
Logan said: “Tech Scalers provide Scottish start-ups with a world-class start-up environment in which to learn, grow and succeed - I’m looking forward to working with the team to continue to develop Scotland’s technology capability into the future.”
Courses will be hosted by Barclays Eagle Labs, Opportunity North East, several Scottish universities and Stirling Council. Upon reaching the advanced level, businesses will receive free access to Reforge – a Silicon Valley provider of education on scaling-up.
Barclays Eagle Labs director Jon Hope added: “The Glasgow Eagle Lab will be home to the city’s tech start-up community and will work with public and private partners to support their growth and develop skills in new emerging tech, innovation and entrepreneurship.”
The event at Barclays Eagle Lab Campus was hosted by Startup Grind Scotland.
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