Scottish Enterprise is launching the next phase of its US MarketBooster programme, with six new Scottish businesses selected to take part.

Among the latest cohort set to head out for America are video-game-cum-health-research company Glitchers, driverless vehicle firm Halodrive, and ticketing platform Fanbase. 

Also headed for distant shores are ESG data firm ESG360, digital licensing platform EPass, and deep tech semiconductor company Neuranics, which has already had a bumper year after raising $8 million for its global growth agenda. 

The US MarketBooster scheme, designed to help Scots firms enter and scale in the world’s largest tech market, will see each of these businesses spend time in Silicon Valley, gaining first-hand exposure to US customers, as well as benefit from strategic guidance and mentoring.

“The second group of companies joining our US MarketBooster programme reflect the ambition and innovation we see across Scotland’s tech and science sectors,” said Reuben Aitken, managing director international at Scottish Enterprise.

“By combining targeted support at home with immersion in the US ecosystem, we’re equipping these companies with the tools, insights and connections they need to scale internationally.”

Scottish Enterprise said that the programme is a chance for business leaders to make valuable connections with potential partners, customers, and investors.

Rather than offering direct funding, the programme provides tailored support, with participants able to draw on a US-based panel of experts to help with investor readiness, regulatory compliance, and business development.

The aim is for these companies to build the strategy, data and skills to compete in the US market, with the project forming a major part of Scottish Enterprise’s mission to double the number of scaling companies in Scotland over the next decade.

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Building on the success of the pilot cohort (with those firms reportedly forecasting £23.4 million in new sales over the next three years and the creation of more than 60 new jobs), Scottish Enterprise said this new cohort could reach revenue in the US six to twelve months faster than companies entering without this level of support.

Ross Gray, CEO of Cloudsoft, who joined the pilot programme earlier this year, added: “Being a part of the US MarketBooster programme gave us invaluable focus and momentum – it clarified our value proposition, boosted our sales pipeline, secured the business an excellent strategic advisor, and led directly to us winning an ideal customer.

“The US MarketBooster programme was a really valuable experience for us at Cloudsoft and is a great opportunity for Scottish firms targeting the US market.”