The partnership between AccelerateHER and Techscaler strengthens Scotland's tech ecosystem by creating dedicated spaces and opportunities for female founders to access the support they need to grow their businesses. AccelerateHER, a network of female founders and partners, works to accelerate the growth, visibility and backing of talented female business leaders and entrepreneurs.
Why This Partnership Matters
As partners of the Pathways Pledge, supporting the Scottish Government's mission of empowering female entrepreneurs, both AccelerateHER and Techscaler recognise that gender equity isn't an afterthought in Scotland's tech landscape - it needs to be built in from the start. This collaboration creates more opportunities for female founders to access relevant support when they need it, fostering a more equitable and inclusive tech ecosystem.
Together, we're not just creating opportunities for individual founders; we're helping to shift the culture and create space for a more representative and resilient ecosystem that benefits all of Scotland's entrepreneurial community.
Shared Goals, Real Impact
The partnership's core objectives centre on supporting female founders throughout their entrepreneurial journey while removing systemic barriers that traditionally impact women and non-binary entrepreneurs.
Key focus areas include:
• Access to Networks & Support: Creating safe spaces for knowledge sharing and peer learning where founders can ask questions that might otherwise go unspoken
• Technical Expertise & Mentorship: Providing hands-on support through hackathons and events featuring successful female entrepreneurs
• Regional Expansion: Ensuring female founders across all Scottish regions have access to targeted support and inspiration
The partnership aims to accelerate the growth trajectories of female founders while contributing to cultural shifts that make entrepreneurial success accessible regardless of gender.
What That Looks Like in Practice
The partnership delivers tangible value through integrated initiatives spanning Techscaler regions.
• Regional Meetups: Joint events across Techscaler locations create dedicated spaces for female entrepreneurs to connect and learn from inspirational speakers who share authentic insights about building businesses while navigating societal challenges.
• Collaborative Hackathons: Technical expertise sessions bringing together female founders with industry experts and mentors, providing hands-on support for developing solutions in collaborative environments.
• Expansion to Underserved Areas: Plans to deliver the first hackathon to the South of Scotland and additional meetups in Aberdeen, ensuring comprehensive national coverage.
Signs of Success
The partnership has driven strong engagement across Scotland’s regions, earning consistent positive feedback from participants and setting out a clear path for continued growth.
Since early 2024, AccelerateHER and Techscaler have delivered 10 meetups and 3 hackathons, supporting 47 participants through events already in 2025.
Looking ahead, the partnership will expand its reach by bringing collaborative hackathons to new regions and enhancing meetup programming, ensuring that female founders in traditionally underserved areas have equal access to high-quality support and vibrant community connections.
AccelerateHER's Take
We asked AccelerateHER to provide their perspective on our partnership.
Why did AccelerateHER choose to work with Techscaler?
At AccelerateHER, our mission is to accelerate the growth, backing, and visibility of female founders. We believe that true ecosystem change happens when the right partners come together around a shared purpose. That’s exactly why we chose to work with Techscaler. Their commitment to building an inclusive, innovation-driven ecosystem across Scotland is perfectly aligned with our own values.
How does this collaboration fit into your broader goals?
We know that the journey to investment and scale is different for every founder and even more so for women and non-binary founders, who continue to face systemic barriers. Partnering with Techscaler allows us to ensure that gender equity isn’t an afterthought in Scotland’s tech and innovation landscape, it’s built in from the start. Together, we’re not just creating opportunities for individual founders; we’re helping to shift the culture and make space for a more representative and resilient ecosystem.
Final Say
"Techscaler has been a brilliant partner – collaborative, open-minded, and genuinely committed to building a more inclusive tech scene in Scotland. They're not just talking about change; they're investing in it, alongside organisations like ours. That makes a real difference, and we're proud to stand alongside them." - Elizabeth Pirrie, CEO, AccelerateHER
"Working with AccelerateHER is a joy and a pleasure. The meetups we deliver in partnership are always well received and really open up discussions for women, providing a safe space for questions that are often not asked. The speakers are always amazing women who are building successful businesses despite societal challenges. We're looking forward to continuing our partnership to deliver more for female tech founders and creating a diverse tech ecosystem in Scotland." - SJ Burns, Head of Regional Partnerships, Techscaler
“How the likes of Techscaler, AccelerateHER and Strathclyde Inspire partner, collaborate and co host encourages me to open more doors and feel completely comfortable utilising events, education and mentoring from a number of sources. I need to do what is right for me and my business and knowing the ecosystem works collaboratively rather than competitively makes it easy to navigate and get the most out of my time and network. Looking back, I can’t believe the journey I have been on for the past 10 months and the growth I’ve seen in myself and my business. I’m on the right path now. I can’t wait to see what happens next. ” - Genna Masterton, Programme Participant
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