Support programme moves dial on tech entrepreneurship in Dundee – Scottish Business News

TECHSCALER, the Scottish Government’s support programme for tech startups, now has almost 100 members in Dundee and Tayside, and says it sees signs of “moving the dial on tech entrepreneurship in Dundee and the surrounding region”.  

Lara Findlay, CodeBase’s Head of Regional Engagement for Dundee, said: “Dundee has a strong track record in tech startups, with storied entrepreneurs who have gone on to global success.  At the same time, there is potential for the city to achieve even more.”  

CodeBase, which runs the Techscaler programme, sees Dundee evolving beyond the gaming sector with increasing numbers of tech startups in industries including healthcare, tourism, education, data analytics, and more.

Techscaler has recently partnered with the Flour Mill, the co-working and serviced office space at Commercial Street in Dundee.  Equipped with fast fibre lines and the latest technology, the Flour Mill says the partnership is primed to produce and support more tech entrepreneurs.

Rebecca Gee, Community Manager at Flour Mill Dundee said: “We share a keen focus on community with CodeBase and the Techscaler initiative, and we are excited about our collaboration and the part we can play together in growing startup activity.” 

While Flour Mill Dundee will now serve as Techscaler’s latest pop-up hub around Scotland, Techscaler’s dedicated hub in Dundee is located at the Abertay CyberQuarter, with the Dundee hub being one of 7 permanent hubs nationwide. 

Lara Findlay added: “Since launch in late 2022, we have organised activity across Dundee, Angus, and Perthshire from a base here, with over 60 events and over 1,000 attendees, where participants can learn about the opportunities for entrepreneurs in the region.”

John Hume is the CEO and founder of Bookr, a technology company which has developed a platform to help healthcare organisations streamline their clinical skills training and examinations, making it easy to book simulated patients for sessions.  Bookr was a participant on Techscaler’s ‘Startup Next Steps’ programme in 2023, and has a desk at the Flour Mill.

John Hume said: “It’s very noticeable that Dundee and the surrounding region has a growing tech ecosystem, and Techscaler and the Flour Mill are important constituents who have helped drive our own successes.  We like being here, the University of Dundee is one of our customers, and we have easy access to Scotland’s healthcare and NHS market.”  

Techscaler ran an ‘Unplugged Montrose’ event in the Angus town on 18th September, a ‘Dundee & Tayside Founders Mix’ on 19th September, and a ‘Breakfast and Networking at the Flour Mill’ event on Friday 27th September.  

Individuals from across Dundee and Tayside’s tech and business scene can sign up for ‘Breakfast and Networking at the Flour Mill’ at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/breakfast-networking-at-the-flour-mill-tickets-983901976297

Techscaler has a number of other partnerships in place across the city, including with The University of Dundee’s Centre for Entrepreneurship, and the Perth Creative Exchange.  

For more information about Flour Mill Dundee: https://flourmilldundee.co.uk/