The cohort will spend three weeks in San Francisco and the wider Bay Area engaging with investors, potential customers, and industry peers within the world-renowned tech hub.

The companies selected for the third iteration of Techscaler Silicon Valley are: 

• Arc53 delivers tailored machine learning solutions for enterprises, helping businesses optimise operations, insights, and efficiencies. 
• danceSing is a digital wellness platform delivering music and wellbeing expertise to older adults and care home residents. 
• Energy Mutual is an energy software company helping owners of distributed energy assets maximise performance and reduce downtime. 
• ePass is a cloud-based platform enabling the public and private sectors to digitise licenses, certifications, and identity passes. 
• Fyne Labs enables app development and deployment across desktop and mobile platforms without the need for coding expertise. 
• LingoTeach allows teachers to complete one hour workloads in 90 seconds.
• LumiAIres develops photonic processors designed to cut energy use by up to 90%. 
• MarktoMarket is a data platform built to provide world-class intelligence and connections to advisers, investors, and corporates operating in SME markets.
• NeuroCreate integrates the Future of Work and healthcare by building neuroscience-informed AI-augmented workflow tools. 
• Practest automates administrative tasks for NHS GPs in the UK.
• Pure Purpose utilises AI and gaming technology to develop digital therapeutics to support neurodiverse individuals. 
• Tethered is a mindfulness app aimed at escapism, relaxation, and sleep, inspired by “the serenity of Scotland”. 
• ThermaFY develops heating efficiency software to help people reduce energy bills. 
• WITR - Who’s In The Room? is developing a lightweight in-person networking tool.

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 between 13 and 15 of May. 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.

Twenty-five tech leaders have participated in Techscaler Silicon Valley to date, in February 2024 and August/September 2024, with some already going onto secure investment and contacts stemming from the programme.  

Barry Leaper, CEO and founder of Aberdeen-based LiberEat, a startup automating error detection in the global food supply chain who participated in Techscaler Silicon Valley last year, 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.