Techscaler officially opened its Dundee Hub at Water’s Edge on Thursday 5 March, marking an important step in the continued expansion of Scotland’s national startup infrastructure. Delivered by CodeBase on behalf of the Scottish Government, the programme has steadily built a network of hubs and support systems that give founders access to expertise, community, and pathways to growth across the country. Dundee now joins that national network with a dedicated base designed to support the region’s growing community of technology businesses.
The First Minister of Scotland, John Swinney, joined guests at the launch and reflected on the growing momentum within Scotland’s technology ecosystem. During the evening he met the first cohort of companies taking residency at the hub, speaking directly with founders and viewing demonstrations of the products and platforms they are building from Dundee.
The event also included an early preview of the Techscaler Annual Report 2025 ahead of its public release the following morning. The report signposted key progress markers across the programme, with more than 1,500 companies and nearly 2,100 founders now engaged and Techscaler member companies raising £257 million in investment since launch..
Building on Dundee’s established strengths
Dundee has long held a reputation as one of the United Kingdom’s most influential centres for digital creativity and technology. A combination of academic expertise, industry heritage and entrepreneurial ambition has created a strong base for companies building in games, creative technology and emerging digital sectors. Techscaler presence at Water’s Edge is designed to build on those strengths by giving founders direct access to national resources and networks.
The new Techscaler hub at Water’s Edge builds on those foundations by connecting local founders with the national infrastructure that supports startup growth across Scotland. Founders will have access to structured education programmes, experienced mentors, guidance from Entrepreneurs in Residence, investor networks and international connections that help translate strong ideas into scalable businesses.
“We’re delighted to be collaborating with Water's Edge to build on the strong foundations and exceptional work already underway in the region. Together, we’re doubling down on its world-leading strengths to fast-track high-growth businesses toward global success. From our Water's Edge office, we’ll be proud to support cohorts of early-stage, growth, and scale-up companies, providing access to local and national expertise including Entrepreneurs in Residence, experienced mentors, investor networks, and international connections.”
-Jon Hope, Interim CEO at CodeBase
The evening also featured a fireside conversation between the First Minister and Chris van der Kuyl CBE, Chairperson of 4J Studios, who spoke about Dundee’s longstanding contribution to the games industry and the opportunity to build on that reputation as the next generation of companies emerges from the region.
“The Techscaler Hub for the Tay Cities Region opening at Water’s Edge represents a significant commitment to Dundee and a recognition of its status as one of the country’s key centres for technology scale ups. Surrounded by some of our nations best companies and brightest talent and supported by a mature and dynamic ecosystem I believe the members of this programme will have a distinct advantage and an increased chance of success.”
-Chris van der Kuyl, Chairperson of 4J Studios
Founders already partaking in what Techscaler offers at the Dundee hub
The inaugural set of companies taking residency at the Dundee hub reflect the region’s strong connection to creative technology and game development, with teams building new intellectual property and exploring innovative approaches to digital storytelling, simulation and interactive media.
The founding residency companies include:
• Umbra Dynamics founded by Marc Williamson, focused on remastering classic games for modern platforms while preserving the original design intent of cult titles.
• Fochram Arts founded by Christopher Fotheringham, an independent studio developing original games and interactive media tools with a focus on system design and experimentation.
• Shouty Knot founded by Ivana Rodrigues and Ellen Dunsmore, a creative games studio drawing on Dundee’s vibrant development community and the storytelling traditions of modern gaming.
• JBSB Studios founded by Steven Brison and John Bradley, whose debut title explores renewable energy through interactive simulation and game mechanics.
• Fish Tin Games founded by Jamie Steele and James Rodgers, a studio producing premium horror games following the success of their debut release The Zhukov Line.
During the launch the First Minister met each of these companies for short introductions and demonstrations, providing an opportunity to showcase the innovation already emerging from the hub.
Strengthening the national ecosystem
The opening of the new Dundee hub at Water’s Edge builds on Techscaler’s existing presence in the city and reflects the continued evolution of Scotland’s technology landscape. Dundee has already been part of the national Techscaler network in recent years, with founders engaging through the CyberQuarter hub and the wider programme community. This new partnership strengthens that foundation and creates further opportunities for founders in the Tay Cities region to grow within a connected national ecosystem.
Sustainable economic growth rarely emerges from a single programme or a single success story. It develops when founders, investors, government and industry work together to strengthen the infrastructure that supports innovation and entrepreneurship.
Techscaler was designed with that principle in mind. By connecting regional hubs across Scotland and linking founders with expertise, mentorship and networks that extend beyond local boundaries, the programme helps ensure that promising companies can access the support they need wherever they begin their journey.
With this new strategic hub at Water’s Edge, Dundee enters its next chapter with renewed momentum. Building on the work already underway in the region, the partnership strengthens the local ecosystem while connecting founders more deeply into the national Techscaler network, creating stronger conditions for companies to grow, attract investment and contribute to Scotland’s long term economic future.
Techscaler is delivered by CodeBase on behalf of the Scottish Government, connecting founders across Scotland to the resources, networks, and expertise they need to succeed. Become a Techscaler member for free today.
