Johnston Carmichael, the Scottish-founded accountancy and advisory firm, has announced a strategic partnership with Glasgow’s Smart Things Accelerator Centre (STAC) to support the next generation of tech entrepreneurs in building viable businesses.

STAC, an industry‑led accelerator for product‑driven startups, runs an 18‑month programme that blends mentorship, investment readiness, and access to specialist facilities to help founders launch and scale competitive companies.

Under the new partnership, Johnston Carmichael will work with all thirty-five startups enrolled in STAC’s current programme, delivering hands‑on support across core business essentials, including guidance on finance, tax, and fundraising.

Johnston Carmichael said this will help businesses navigate complex financial landscapes and secure the capital they need to scale, while one-to-one mentoring will give STAC’s founders the confidence to address future operational challenges.

The deal will see the startups offered specialist workshops, covering critical topics for high- growth firms, such as investor tax reliefs and Enterprise Management Incentives, and access to Johnston Carmichael’s technology specialists, including Neil Wilson, a partner with extensive experience in high-growth businesses, and Stephen Oates, head of entrepreneurial taxes.

“Partnering with STAC allows us to build on our growing role in Scotland’s tech ecosystem,” said Calum Purdie, head of technology and life sciences at Johnston Carmichael. 

“By sharing our expertise in finance, tax, and growth strategies, we aim to empower these businesses to scale successfully and contribute to Scotland’s reputation as a hub for technology and innovation.”

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The partnership will help STAC in its ambition to position Glasgow as Europe’s leading hub for transformative technologies across IoT, robotics, AI, and advanced materials, with the organisation having backed almost ninety early-stage firms while bridging the commercialisation gap between academia and industry.

“Our mission has always been to create a centre of excellence for smart and connected technologies here in Scotland,” said Paul Wilson, CEO and co-founder of STAC.

“Collaborations like this accelerate that ambition by giving founders access to the financial and strategic expertise they need to compete globally. Together, we’re building companies that will define the next era of innovation.”