Applications have opened for Scottish startups and scaleups to receive a funded trip to San Francisco to attend a global networking event.

Entrepreneurship community organisation Startup Grind Scotland will host a cohort of twenty founders, directors, and c-suite executives for the two-day 2022 Startup Grind Global Conference in Silicon Valley in April.

Successful applicants will have flights, accommodation, conference tickets and travel costs covered thanks to finance received from the Scottish Technology Ecosystem Fund.

During the week-long visit, delegates will also visit leading tech companies and Scottish success stories in the area.

Startup Grind Scotland Director Dec McLaughlin said: “We are so grateful to the Scottish Technology Ecosystem Fund for providing us with the opportunity to take some of the most promising startup and scaleup leaders from across the country to our Global Conference.

“It will allow them to dive into the international startup ecosystem, get inspired by industry leaders and create new connections with founders and business leaders from all over the world – all in the startup mecca that is Silicon Valley.

“Taking the first step towards becoming a global business on a bootstrapped budget is no easy task, so this support will be vital for many young businesses. We hope that this experience will help showcase Scotland’s world-class startup ecosystem on the international stage.”

Startup Grind Global CMO Karlie Krieger Valine said: “So often we know that there are financial barriers to early-stage businesses accessing support.

“It’s incredible to see the Scottish Government helping founders to reach a global stage in this way, enabling them to plug into the power of community that Startup Grind provides.”

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The Scottish Government’s Technology Ecosystem Fund launched in 2020 following the landmark Logan Report.

Amongst its recommendations to develop Scotland’s technology sector, the report called for greater investment in activities that assist peer learning, networking and more connected, community-led initiatives to support entrepreneurs in Scotland.

Mark Logan, author of the Scottish Technology Ecosystem Review, said: “Fostering a greater sense of community and connection amongst our entrepreneurial talent is essential to strengthening Scotland’s tech sector.

“I’m delighted that the new Technology Ecosystem Fund is able to support Startup Grind to deliver this excellent programme. It’s a great opportunity for a diverse cohort of business leaders to access new networks, opportunities and inspiration on a global stage.”

With applications for Scottish startups currently open, companies have until Wednesday the 16th of February to apply. Successful applicants will fly from Edinburgh to San Francisco on April 9th, 2022, and return on April 15th, 2022.

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