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DIGIT Deal Roundup | September 2025
Check out this month’s latest funding, investments, deals, and acquisitions news from across the Scottish tech sector.
Welcome to the September 2025 edition of the DIGIT Deal Roundup.
It’s been another blockbuster month for Scottish tech, with billions flowing into new data centre projects on the West Coast, and millions being doled out to innovative healthtech spinouts and well-positioned AI startups.
Over the last few weeks we’ve seen fresh capital flow into clean energy, laser systems, rocket manufacturing, and even an AI tool that promises to root out cheating students.
All that, and more, coming up.
Funding
North Ayrshire To Become AI Powerhouse With £15Bn Investment
West Scotland is poised to host one of Europe’s largest AI infrastructure hubs, backed by a £15 billion investment from a leading AI firm as part of a mission to deliver up to 2GW of sovereign AI supercomputing capacity in the UK.
As part of its long-term vision, AI Pathfinder plans to make an initial investment next year that will see the start of operations at its North Ayrshire site in the i3 area of Irvine.
Up to 6,400 GPUs will be deployed during the initial phase, with the 1GW site expected to become a key player in Europe’s AI infrastructure landscape, with potential to scale to 1.5GW.
North Ayrshire Council said that AI Pathfinder’s investment will create substantial employment opportunities, both through the delivery of the site’s construction and in the range of skilled roles that will support its long-term operation.
“We stand ready to become Scotland’s leading innovation and industrial investment region, delivering high-value AI at pace,” said Councillor Tony Gurney, cabinet member for green environment and economy
Read more here.
US AI Firm Invests £1.15BN in Scottish Data Centre
Scottish data centre solutions firm DataVita is partnering with AI tech giant CoreWeave in a £1.15 billion investment for sustainable AI infrastructure.
With this investment, CoreWeave is aiming to maximise access to Scotland’s renewable energy market, with the site to be powered by renewable energy while setting a new standard for water conservation. The funding will also power the next wave of AI innovation, with the selection of DataVita’s Scottish facilities marking a strategic decision to prioritise sustainability and environmental responsibility.
The deal is thought to be one of the largest technology investments made in Scotland, resulting in one of the most carbon-efficient AI deployments in the UK, located at its Lanarkshire data centre campus.
“We are proud that our investment in green infrastructure has enabled a partnership with CoreWeave that will deliver the UK’s most sustainable and powerful AI platform,” said Danny Quinn, managing director at DataVita.
Read more here.
Willo Raises £3M To Boost US Expansion and AI Tool
Glasgow AI recruitment technology firm Willo has announced a £3 million investment from Peter Bauer, the founder of cybersecurity firm Mimecast.
The deal marks the largest single investment in the platform to date, with the scale-up’s total funding now standing at more than £5.9 million, of which £3.7 million has been investment by Bauer in just the past eighteen months.
Though Willo already generates over half of its revenue in North America, the firm plans to use its latest cash injection to expand further in the market, as well as speed up the launch of Willo Verified Profiles, which will serve as a new credential verification tool to help employers sift through AI-generated CVs and profiles.
“Willo is firmly established as one of the most progressive and exciting platforms in recruitment technology. It simplifies hiring for employers, improves access for candidates, and puts trust back into the process,” said Bauer.
“The team has built a solution that is ready for the challenges of today’s market – and I’m fully behind their vision for the next stage of growth.”
Read more here.
Edinburgh Firm Skylark Lasers Secures Significant Investment
Skylark Lasers, a designer and manufacturer of single frequency, diode-pumped solid-state (DPSS) lasers, has secured a fresh tranche of funding to drive its international expansion and advance product development.
The investment, led by long-term partners at Par Equity and Scottish Enterprise, will provide working capital to expand Skylark Lasers’ commercial team and strengthen its international presence, including the appointment of a Global Sales Manager and and engagement with market specialists in China and the United States.
Following the investment, Christopher Madin was appointed as CEO during a period of commercial expansion and innovation across the company’s core product portfolio, technology which underpins advanced applications across a range of high-growth sectors.
“This investment is a pivotal moment for Skylark Lasers,” said Madin. “With this investment, Skylark Lasers is set to strengthen its role as a key Scottish photonics exporter and a trusted partner for advanced laser systems across the globe.”
Read more here.
Edinburgh-based User Vision Secures Six-figure Investment
User Vision, a Scottish consumer behaviour consultancy, has secured a six-figure equity investment from the British Business Bank’s Investment Fund for Scotland through fund manager Maven Capital Partners.
The funding will support the Edinburgh company’s next phase of growth, including the appointment of financial services and technology veteran Martin Dempsey as chief executive, and Adrian Astley Jones, a private equity executive and board adviser, as chair.
User Vision was one of the first UK consultancies focused on user experience and accessibility across both digital and physical products and services. It applies research methods such as surveys, interviews, focus groups and behavioural studies to give organisations a clear understanding of customer needs, pain points and motivations.
“From day one we have believed in research-led, evidence-driven inclusive design, and this new partnership with Maven will help us amplify our impact, enabling more organisations to deliver experiences that are not only exceptional, but accessible to all,” said Chris Rourke, founder and executive director at User Vision.
Read more here.
Scottish Space Firm Lands £525K Rocket Avionics Agreement
Aurora Avionics has signed a £525,000 agreement with Barcelona-based Pangea Propulsion, under which the Edinburgh firm will supply space-ready avionics systems, essentially the rocket’s nervous system, for Pangea’s ARCOS engine.
The deal marks a key moment for the firm, which earlier this year secured a £500,000 investment led by Kelvin Capital, alongside Gabriel and Scottish Enterprise, to support its next phase of growth.
Most recently, the company also celebrated the appointment of commercial lead Myles Bax, who will play a key role in driving international engagement and supporting the next stage of fast-paced growth.
“This deal is a real inflection point for our business,” said Bax. “Aurora Avionics has gone from strength to strength since we launched in 2023. Securing a partnership with a market leader like Pangea is a huge achievement for our team and a clear signal of the opportunities ahead.”
Read more here.
Dundee Healthtech Spinout Secures £3M Investment
University of Dundee spinout MyWay Digital Health (MWDH) has announced a multimillion-pound deal with private investment firm Foresight.
Focusing on data-driven technology to support the management of long-term health conditions, with a particular focus on diabetes, Foresight’s investment will accelerate the Scottish healthtech’s development of new AI-enabled products.
Initial plans include work in predictive analytics and personalised care pathways, though the company will also expand its commercial footprint to meet growing global demand for scalable digital health solutions.
MWDH’s flagship platform, MyWay Diabetes, has already been adopted across multiple NHS regions and internationally, demonstrating measurable improvements in patient engagement and health outcomes.
“We are delighted to have secured investment from Foresight, marking a significant milestone in MWDH’s journey,” said Debbie Wake, CEO and co-founder of MWDH.
“Their support will enable us to accelerate our growth strategy, broaden our product offering, and further expand our global footprint.”
Read more here.
Scottish Startup Wins £250K to Tackle AI Cheating
A Scottish start-up which aims to tackle the sharp rise in academic misuse of artificial intelligence has secured £250,000 in funding from UK Research and Innovation.
Cyberhare Solutions, a University of the West of Scotland (UWS) venture, has developed IntegraGuard, an academic integrity platform designed to help universities detect and manage AI misconduct using ‘evidence-based insights’.
According to Cyberhare, the tool has been developed to work alongside teaching staff, allowing lecturers to look at the evidence and overrule any suggestions the system may make, which it said would provide students with a fair marking process.
The firm claims that the platform has already reduced staff time on misconduct cases by up to 90% in trials at UWS, with the UKRI award earmarked to help Cyberhare finalise product development for commercial launch next year, potentially extending its platform beyond universities into corporate HR, compliance, healthcare and financial services.
“This grant from UKRI is a game-changer for us, allowing us to bring a credible solution to the market when it’s most needed,” said Dr Stephen Langston, founder and CEO of Cyberhare Solutions.
Read more here.
South of Scotland Launches £100K Space Tech Fund
A new £100,000 challenge fund has been launched to help Scottish space tech firms develop cutting-edge solutions that boost natural capital in the country’s southern reaches.
The Satellite Data Challenge for Natural Capital Enhancement aims to foster collaboration between space tech enterprises and partners in the South of Scotland, while unlocking more economic business opportunities.
With the fresh investment, which will allow for grants of up to £30,000 South of Scotland Enterprise said it wants to encourage the use of Earth observation data to provide Scottish space tech firms with new market opportunities, drive socio-economic growth, and support long-term sustainability.
“The new Satellite Data Challenge fund builds on the South of Scotland Space Strategy, which aims to awaken entrepreneurial opportunities, inspire new thinking, and create space jobs in the region,” said Jane Morrison-Ross, chief executive of South of Scotland Enterprise.
Read more here.
Six Scots Unis Win Funding for Inward Investment Projects
A host of Scottish universities have received funding to collaborate with businesses outside of Scotland in the latest round of the Scottish Inward Investment Catalyst Fund.
Providing awards of up to £10,000, the fund has been developed by Interface and the Scottish Government to attract and support businesses not yet located in Scotland but with an interest in developing a presence in the country.
Among the initiatives awarded funding are Alta Vision and Robert Gordon University’s project to develop an AI-powered mini-grid system designed to provide electricity in remote communities, as well as a collaboration between Tattva Bio and Edinburgh Uni looking into eco-friendly materials that can absorb CO₂.
“Inward investment plays an important role in ensuring Scotland’s economy grows and prospers, and the Scottish Government is committed to helping ensure the country remains the UK’s top location for inward investment outside of London and a destination of choice for global investment,” said Richard Lochhead, Scotland’s minister for business.
Read more here.
Scottish Government Unveils £5m of Fresh Innovation Investment
A near-£5 million investment package is to be rolled out across Scotland to accelerate growth in the country’s high-growth, high-innovation industries, including AI, life sciences, space, robotics and quantum technologies.
With the funding package, more than £2 million of support will be earmarked for key new market clusters set out in Scotland’s Innovation Strategy, including Space, Robotics and Critical Technologies like semiconductors and quantum systems, while around £2.4 million will be invested in supporting projects across Artificial Intelligence and Life Sciences.
Individual funding elements will be announced in due course, with early investment including an additional £500,000 of funding for Fraunhofer Centre for Applied Photonics (FhCAP) in Glasgow – the only facility of its kind in the UK.
“This investment reflects the Scottish Government’s confidence in the incredible, innovative work being undertaken across these critical sectors and a firm belief that they are vital to building a resilient, thriving economy,” said business minister Richard Lochhead.
Read more here.
Scot Gov Invests £8.5m in North East Clean Energy Transition
The Scottish Government is investing £8.5 million in new funding to the North East of Scotland to support the shift to clean energy careers in the region, marking the start of Climate Week.
Four projects are receiving funding through this year’s Just Transition Fund, which will focus on offshore wind infrastructure and supply chain development, demonstrating the Scottish Government’s commitment to economic development and supporting communities through the energy transition.
The investment targets areas that have provided energy security through oil and gas for generations, ensuring these communities remain at the centre of Scotland’s energy future as the country accelerates towards net zero.
“The North East has long been a titan of the oil and gas industries and we must move forward together towards a cleaner, more sustainable world,” said John Swinney, first minister. “This new round of funding responds to the immediate priorities of energy businesses in the North East.”
Read more here.
Scots University Projects Receive Gov Funding to Go Commercial
Eighteen university-led projects will share £2.95 million from the Scottish Government’s Proof of Concept Fund, aimed at turning academic research into commercial ventures.
The pilot Proof of Concept Fund is aimed at funding ventures that address significant global challenges across critical sectors like life sciences, quantum, photonics, aerospace, AI and fintech.
Among the projects awarded funding are an anti-cancer drug from the University of Edinburgh that researchers believe may be up to 500 times more effective than current treatments, along with a non-invasive, radiation-free ultrasound to detect breast cancer from the University of Dundee.
Projects have been chosen due to their largely untapped economic opportunities, with funding allowing researchers to demonstrate the feasibility through developing prototypes, exploring the market and achieving regulatory approval.
“This new Proof of Concept Fund will help bridge the gap between theory and practice, translating research into real-world impact which in turn drives Scotland’s economic transformation,” said the deputy first minister, Kate Forbes.
Read more here.
Clyde Hydrogen powers ahead with Ecotricity investment
Clyde Hydrogen, a University of Glasgow spinout, has secured strategic investment from green energy pioneer Ecotricity to fast-track development of its revolutionary hydrogen technology.
The deal, which closes Clyde Hydrogen’s Pre-Seed2 funding round, will see the company test its prototype energy storage system at one of Ecotricity’s renewable energy sites in the UK.
Based in Glasgow, Clyde Hydrogen is developing a system designed to be simpler, safer and more cost-effective than conventional technologies, with the company already testing an advanced prototype and beginning to scale up to a larger, fully integrated system to prove its commercial potential.
“This partnership with Ecotricity is a fantastic achievement for Clyde,” said James Peck, CEO of Clyde Hydrogen.
“By bringing in a strategic investor who can provide valuable support beyond the financial investment we can accelerate the delivery of our game changing decoupled electrolysis technology to the market.”
Acquisitions
Strategem joins tbh Ventures in First Deal
Newly formed Glasgow-based investment group tbh Ventures has announced its first acquisition with the purchase of independent management consultancy Strategem.
Strategem has been the sole framework holder with Scottish Enterprise for more than a decade, and exclusively operates the award-winning ‘Preparing to Export Framework Programme’, a Scotland wide initiative focused on early stage exporting experience that supports over 100 companies a year.
The business has also partnered with Scottish Development International, Glasgow City Council, East Lothian Council, and South of Scotland Enterprise to support businesses across a range of challenges including leadership, growth, internationalisation and sales.
“Strategem’s expertise and long-standing impact on Scotland’s business community align closely with our vision to back ambitious companies that have a strong track record and show continued opportunity for growth,” said Dylan Harper, partner at tbh Ventures and incoming CEO at Strategem.
“Looking ahead at the next phase of Strategem, our focus is on growing the business strategically in Scotland and beyond, helping even more companies achieve international growth.”
