Thirty-six university researchers from across Scotland are turning breakthrough innovations into businesses through the Venture Builder Incubator, a national programme delivered in partnership with Techscaler and the University of Edinburgh.
This is what real innovation looks like: AI that could prevent falls among older people. A system to detect counterfeit alcohol. An app supporting young people with brain tumours. An AI tool streamlining legal admin. These aren't just research projects, they're the foundation of Scotland's next generation of deep tech companies.
Since 2021, the Venture Builder Incubator has supported more than 130 academics at the University of Edinburgh, with past cohorts raising over £55 million in grants and investments. This year marks a significant expansion: for the first time, the programme is open to researchers from all of Scotland's universities, creating a truly national pipeline of university-born startups.
"Scotland is a nation of great inventors with many born out of our world class Universities. That's why we are delighted to be a main supporter of VBI - Scotland's University Deep Tech Incubator. Our focus is on supporting our amazing universities and founders to commercialise their innovations and grow our economy as a result. University founders supported through experienced entrepreneurs is a strategic priority and VBI is one way we can achieve commercial impact together." - Andrew Parfery, VP of University Partnerships, CodeBase
From Lab to Market
The Venture Builder Incubator provides exactly what academic founders need to bridge the gap between research and revenue: access to funding, office space at the Bayes Centre (the University of Edinburgh's innovation hub for AI and data science), and mentorship from people who've built and scaled companies before.
This year's cohort represents 10 universities across Scotland, bringing innovations spanning AI, health tech, and beyond. Among them is Nazia Gillani, a PhD researcher at the University of Edinburgh, who's developing a smart home system designed to help older adults avoid falls.
Working with 60 older adults, carers, and clinicians, Nazia is building a device that can sense subtle signs of frailty and use AI to predict decline, sending timely alerts to help prevent devastating falls before they happen.
"One third to half of older adults experience a gradual mobility decline, impacting around five million unpaid carers," Nazia explains. "This slow deterioration means it can go unnoticed until a serious event happens, such as a fall, which can be devastating. Support from the Venture Builder this year will be invaluable to helping my idea become a reality and tackle this major issue."
Why This Matters
Scotland's universities are a fertile ground for deep tech innovation. The challenge has always been helping researchers make the leap from academic success to commercial viability. That's exactly what the Venture Builder Incubator is designed to solve.
By providing structured support, practical resources, and connections to investors and industry, the programme empowers founders to build scalable, investment-ready companies. The goal is not just supporting individual startups but also strengthening Scotland's position as a global innovation hub.
Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said:
“Scotland’s universities are the engine rooms of Scottish innovation and invention. They are home to a conveyor belt of ideas, innovations and inventions that not only present enormous economic potential, but real solutions to global challenges. “In line with the Entrepreneurial Campus blueprint, the Scottish Government is working with our universities to create the right support and conditions to deliver on this potential. The University of Edinburgh’s partnership with Techscaler has helped turn the Venture Builder Incubator into a nationwide initiative, a major step forward in expanding support for transformative projects across the country’s universities.”
Professor Kim Graham, Provost of the University of Edinburgh, said:
"It is fantastic to welcome such a range of creative and inspiring founders from across Scotland, with projects that could make huge improvements to people's lives. This programme provides a transformational opportunity for the participants themselves and for the Scottish economy and is a fantastic example of the positive impact our universities have on the world."
Steven Drost, Vice Chairman of CodeBase, the delivery partner for Techscaler, added:
"Techscaler is proud to support Scotland's national university incubator. We need many more startups in Scotland—and universities are a fertile ground to find and educate new founders and innovative ideas. We are committed to empowering founders from academic institutions to create and scale world-class deep tech companies, while inviting local and global investors to be part of their growth journey."
The Venture Builder Incubator is delivered for Scottish universities in partnership with the Scottish Government's Techscaler and the University of Edinburgh. A cancer-specific UK-wide cohort of the Incubator is enabled by a partnership with Cancer Research Horizons.
Learn more about the Venture Builder Incubator cohort.
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