Start a high tech business

We offer a range of support to help get your high-tech idea off the ground

Proof of Concept Programme

The Proof of Concept Programme helps researchers from Scotland's universities, research institutes and NHS Boards export their ideas and inventions from the lab to the global marketplace.

Find out more about the Proof of Concept Programme

Enterprise Fellowships

Enterprise Fellowships help researchers, post-graduate or recently graduated students spin-out their business ideas. The Fellowship offers a year’s salary, business training to help you take your idea forward, a business development fund to help you get things moving and access to networks of mentors, business experts and professional advisers.

Find out more about Enterprise Fellowships

High Growth Start-ups

The High Growth Start-up team provides intensive support to pre-start companies with high-tech ideas and high-growth potential, to ensure they have the best opportunity to maximise their ambitious growth potential.

Find out more about our high growth support

Investment opportunities

Our Scottish Seed Fund (SSF) aims to improve the availability of finance for start-up and young growing companies in Scotland. Funding of between £20,000 and £100,000 is available to companies:

  • on an equity basis - making Scottish Enterprise an investor in the company by acquiring shares;
  • as a loan - normally undertaken in exceptional circumstances. For example, when the external private equity investor decides to invest via a loan; or
  • a combination of equity and loan funding.

Find out more about the Scottish Seed Fund