You may have noticed that we recently opened applications for three of the UK’s most renowned growth programmes – Rising Stars, Upscale and Future Fifty.

They’re all designed to scale and grow the next generation of tech businesses based in the country, each offering tailored solutions to the biggest challenges facing UK companies – from access to networks and investors to hiring top talent, and expanding internationally.

If you would like to discuss anything about them – from applying to timescales and everything in-between –  your local Entrepreneur Engagement Manager Hazel Gibbens is happy to help.

Additionally, to better help you understand how appearing on a programme could benefit you and your scaleup, we’ve asked our alumni founders in Scotland to share their insight and experiences. Here’s what they had to say.

Rising Stars

Rising Stars is the UK’s most exciting competition for innovative, early-stage tech startups, designed to take your business to the next level. With a prize package built to significantly raise the profile and awareness of the winning companies on both a national and international level, you’ll also be given the opportunity to connect with top investors, influencers and corporates. Applications for Rising Stars 2.0 are now open. Apply today

Barry White, cofounder, GoRoadie

“Rising Stars impacted us the most by giving us a strong introduction to pitching in a competitive environment. If you think about going out and raising capital investment for your company, as we are, it really is competitive.

“We had lots of practice pitching before Rising Stars, but not in an environment where there were any real stakes, other than a bit of embarrassment from forgetting your next sentence! Tech Nation also helped us see where our story could be better told, something we continue to rely on today.

“Is it shallow to say that we also liked Rising Stars because it’s free? Tech Nation even paid for our hotel room! In all seriousness, bootstrapping a company is hard. Funds are limited and runway is tight. It seems that every other day someone is asking you to attend something that costs an absolute fortune.”

Upscale

Upscale helps the UK’s most promising tech companies to accelerate their growth and unlock the key to scaling successfully. Based on values of honesty, intimacy and trust, this established, curated programme is designed to reflect companies’ scaling journey. Companies explore fundamental growth challenges with peers and benefit from sessions delivered by expert scale coaches who have been through it all. Applications for Upscale 5.0 are now open. Apply today

Stuart Lunn, founder and CEO, LendingCrowd

“Working with Tech Nation was of huge benefit as we take the LendingCrowd platform to the next level. Being founder and CEO can be a tough and isolated experience, so the mentoring and networking opportunities available through the Upscale initiative were invaluable.”

Future Fifty

Future Fifty is the UK’s leading late-stage growth programme, bringing together the country’s most successful tech companies to build a powerful network and problem-solve with peers. With the help of the tech community, the programme supports these companies in achieving their global ambitions, creating jobs and opportunities across the UK, and inspiring the next generation of tech entrepreneurs, founders and businesses. Applications for Future Fifty 8.0 are now open. Apply today

Follow in the footsteps of fellow Scottish tech companies such as Skyscanner and M Squared Lasers, and apply now for Future Fifty.

Community, Scotland