Techscaler Catalyst

Master the building blocks of everything from problem, market, and customer discovery to building and launching your product and raising investment.

What is Techscaler Catalyst?

Techscaler Catalyst is an intensive 10-week accelerator, delivered by founders and industry experts. Applications for the Spring ‘26  cohort are now open until 12 noon, 17th February!

Who is Techscaler Catalyst for?

Catalyst is for early stage tech founders of all ambitions, looking to make progress and accelerate through the phases of building an early stage tech startup. 

This accelerator isn’t about learning theories that you might apply later. It’s about making meaningful progress every week and mastering the fundamentals to build a better company, now. 

Founders participating will access leading playbooks and pre-read materials, get hands-on in the problem space, build a prototype, launch it to potential customers for feedback, and make actionable progress on growth and investment strategies. Catalyst isn’t about figuring out what to do next; it’s about building your company every week. 

Techscaler Catalyst outcomes

Your outcomes will depend on what you are working on and how you want to build your company.

  • Articulate a clear startup ambition aligned to a compelling vision and mission.
  • Deeply understand customer needs by applying the Jobs-to-Be-Done methodology to real discovery work.
  • Design and run evidence-based, low-cost experiments to validate early assumptions.
  • Create a tangible product prototype, ranging from early concepts and wireframes to a minimum viable product.
  • Learn how to acquire and grow early customers using practical, repeatable acquisition strategies.
  • Develop a viable business and commercial model using structured strategic frameworks.
  • Leverage AI tools to optimise early-stage processes, experimentation, and decision-making.
  • Understand the role and impact of AI in building and scaling early-stage companies.

Accelerator Structure

Build

The programme begins with a core block of sessions designed to guide founders through the essential first steps of building a startup. Participants will learn how to identify real problems, understand their customers and market, and develop solutions that genuinely meet user needs. This foundational stage ensures all founders start with a clear vision, shared understanding and validated direction.

Grow

After completing Build, founders will submit evidence of their progress in order to continue on to the Grow track. Grow is designed for founders who are making tangible progress and are either pursuing sustainable growth or actively experimenting with how to grow their business.

Refine

Founders who do not progress to Grow will continue to receive support through 1:1 coaching with Visiting Entrepreneurs. This pathway also supports founders who choose to pivot or who need more time to develop their idea before progressing.

Raise

Designed for founders aiming to raise significant early-stage capital to accelerate growth. Acceptance onto the track is based on ambition, traction, and alignment between the business model and funding strategy. Applications for Raise open in early April for founders on the Grow track and eligible Catalyst alumni. Selected founders will access advanced workshops and tailored support to strengthen their investment proposition, refine investor materials, and prepare for engagement with potential funders. Successful applicants from Grow are expected to continue attending Grow workshops alongside Raise sessions.

*Applying to Raise does not guarantee acceptance. Founders must demonstrate meaningful traction and clear potential to scale as a venture-backed business.

Who is eligible for Techscaler Catalyst?

To participate, you must be an early stage member (or later) of Techscaler. This means you are a founder and you are:

  • Working on your startup for more than 8 hours per week

AND

  • Developed a clickable prototype, product demo, minimum viable product (MVP), or a more developed version that has been  shared with potential customers  for feedback, OR
  • Registered your company

In addition to meeting stage requirements, completion of Techscaler Discovery, our self-paced online course, is strongly advised in advance of joining Catalyst. This is to ensure all participants joining the course have the same baseline knowledge. You can complete the course in your own time.

Want to apply for Techscaler Catalyst Spring '26?

The accelerator is funded for early-stage Techscaler members. Register your interest here, and we'll guide you through the next steps.

Not a Techscaler member yet? You'll be prompted to apply.
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Already a member? You'll be invited to apply for Techscaler Catalyst Spring '26.

Techscaler Catalyst Activity & Support

  • Interactive, online workshops

    Eight interactive online workshops, led by founders and industry experts. Workshops are bolstered by pre-session material to ensure the sessions are  a space to discuss and take action, as well as to discover practical frameworks.

  • Founder Community & Engagement

    Founders will engage in regular in-person touchpoints, including networking days and cohort mixers, providing opportunities to connect, learn from peers, and become part of a community of like-minded entrepreneurs.

  • Catalyst Visiting Entrepreneurs

    Talking through challenges and blockers with founders who have built companies before can be incredibly valuable at the early stages. The Visiting Entrepreneurs will support founders throughout the programme by offering practical feedback, sharing real-world experience, and providing advice during in-person touchpoints and as 1:1 support throughout the 10 weeks.

  • Partner drop-ins

    Tap into the support from the wider ecosystem, from legal to grant funders, through optional partner drop-ins and office hours.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the duration of the programme?
    10 weeks, the current cohort runs between 3rd March and 5th May 2026.

  • What are workshop times?
    Regular programme workshops take place Tuesdays, 10am - 1pm. Between Weeks 7 and 10, the Raise Track adds extra workshops on Thursdays, 10am - 1pm, running alongside the standard sessions.

  • What is the time commitment?
    Participating founders should expect to dedicate at least 8 hours per week to the accelerator and progressing their startup, and going up to an expected 16 hours per week for Raise track founders.

  • What is the criteria for completion?
    Founders will be asked to attend at least 4 sessions in order to be considered as having completed Catalyst.

  • What if I’ve completed a Techscaler programme before?
    You are welcome to apply if you think it will be a valuable use of your startup’s time - but please be aware there will be repetition across various workshops.

  • Do you take equity or offer funding?
    Catalyst has no cost or equity stake involved, funded by the Scottish Government. See state aid info. Equally, there is no funding provided by Catalyst.

  • Will it be recorded?
    Workshops will be recorded for founders to access and refer to through a private cohort page, which will be shared once enrolments have closed.

What happened to Startup Basics, Startup First Steps and Startup Next Steps?

After two years of providing Techscaler educational support in the form of Startup Basics, Startup First Steps and Startup Next Steps, the Techscaler team have used the extensive feedback from members to design a refreshed educational offering to ideation and early stage members. Startup First Steps and Startup Next Steps, and the feedback from those courses, is the basis of the design of Catalyst. There will be no more cohorts of Startup First Steps and Startup Next Steps.

What have we learned?

A lot! A few topline learnings:

  • Prospective founders at the very beginning of their startup journey want a more focused learning tool that guides them through the tangible steps required to develop their idea and get a prototype in front of customers. 
  • Some founders want to build a venture funded business, whilst others want to bootstrap and grow more steadily. Both are valid. We need to support both personas.
  • Founders love meeting other other founders, community is vital in the early stages.
  • Growth stage companies struggle to justify the time required to take part in a course, they seek more flexible learning methods on specific topics.

You can see an overview of the learnings behind the redesign in the Techscaler Annual Report 2024 (see pages 23 and 24).