Expanding into a market as big and crucial as the United States is rarely defined by a single moment. It is shaped by how quickly founders can move from initial conversations to real engagement within the market.
In June 2026, a cohort of Techscaler founders will spend two weeks(30th May to 20th June) in New York and New Jersey, stepping into one of the most concentrated and influential technology ecosystems globally. The timing aligns with a16z Tech Week, where thousands of operators, investors, and companies come together across a dense schedule of events, meetings, and introductions.
For founders who have already begun engaging with the US market, this is a shift in gear. It moves the focus from early exploration towards building a presence that is credible and grounded in how business is actually done on the East Coast.
Why New York and New Jersey
The New York and New Jersey region brings together a unique combination of scale, sector depth, and accessibility. It offers direct access to investors, corporates, and industry specialists across fintech, health, climate, and enterprise software, while maintaining close links to European markets.
What makes this environment particularly valuable is the proximity to decision makers. There is also a growing openness to UK and European companies within the ecosystem. Founders entering this market are not starting from zero, but they are expected to demonstrate a strong understanding of how the region operates, both commercially and culturally.
During their time in New York and New Jersey, participants will focus on:
• Understanding how East Coast investors evaluate international startups and early commercial traction
• Building relationships with corporates and partners across key sectors
• Developing a clearer view of regulatory expectations and operational realities in the US
• Navigating the cultural and commercial dynamics that shape partnerships and deal progression
Meet the June cohort
The June 2026 cohort brings together founders who are already engaging with the US market and are now looking to deepen that engagement through direct, on-the-ground experience. While they operate across different sectors, each company shares a clear focus on building commercially viable products and scaling them beyond domestic markets.
• Graeme Kerr, Co-Founder, Tethered: Tethered is a sleep and relaxation platform combining human storytelling with intelligent technology to deliver deeply personalised audio experiences. With strong traction across consumer and travel markets, Graeme brings over 20 years of experience in digital product and commercial strategy as the company scales internationally.
• Natalie Garry, Founder, danceSing: danceSing is an evidence-based digital wellbeing platform improving health, independence, and quality of life for older adults through music-led movement and mindfulness. Natalie has built strong traction across care environments, with measurable outcomes, and is now expanding into the US market. Read more about Natalie's journey here.
• Nagu Gopalakrishnan, Co-Founder, Vidai UK: Vidai provides enterprise-grade AI infrastructure that enables organisations to move from experimentation to production with full control and visibility. With over 20 years of engineering experience across Amazon, Tata, and GE, Nagu is focused on building high-performance systems that support scalable AI adoption.
• Ivan Tryskyba, CEO, Lexidesk: Lexidesk is an AI-powered client intake platform for law firms, automating calls, lead qualification, and case routing. Built from Ivan’s first-hand experience navigating legal services, the platform replaces manual processes with fast, consistent AI-driven workflows across high-volume practice areas.
• Luis Ibarra, CEO, eCERTO: eCERTO develops INTEGRATI®, an enterprise AI platform for capital project modelling in the energy sector. With two decades of experience at companies including Shell and SLB, Luis is focused on helping developers and investors deliver complex projects with greater certainty, speed, and efficiency.
• Barry Leaper, CEO, LiberEat: LiberEat’s technology automates the detection of dangerous errors in food data, preventing risks that traditional safety processes miss. The platform is already used by major airlines, retailers, and food service brands, with Barry leading its expansion into global markets. Read more about Barry's journey here.
• Alasdair Crawley, CEO, Fanbase: Fanbase provides a commerce and identity platform for sports organisations, enabling teams and leagues to manage fan relationships and monetise engagement more effectively. With over 600,000 fans and hundreds of teams on the platform, Alasdair is scaling the business across international markets.
• Moray Melhuish, Co-Founder, ScotAi: ScotAi develops AI platforms that improve how engineers and technicians access knowledge, test competency, and manage assets across complex industries. With a background spanning oil and gas, defence, and renewables, Moray is leading the company’s commercial expansion into global markets.
Following the journey
International expansion is a process that unfolds over time. What happens during these two weeks is often the starting point for longer term relationships, market entry decisions, and strategic direction.
As the cohort moves through New York and New Jersey, we will be sharing insights, reflections, and learnings from the ground.
For founders considering similar pathways, this offers a view into how international expansion develops in practice, and what it takes to engage new markets with intent.
Interested in future international programmes? Join Techscaler today to access opportunities like this and connect with Scotland's most ambitious tech community.
