Accelerator programme welcomes new tech entrepreneurs.

Four more Scottish businesses are to be supported by a programme which aims to help tech entrepreneurs reach their full potential.

Registers of Scotland – the organisation responsible for Scotland’s land and property records – and mapping experts Ordnance Survey have welcomed a second set of start-ups to the Geovation Scotland Accelerator Programme.

The initiative – which launched in Scotland last year and has already provided support for three tech start-ups – offers the companies involved access to a wealth of data, mentoring and resources as well as funding to develop their business.

The following entrepreneurs will join this year’s programme:

James Cooper, founder of Doorstep Market

Doorstep Market is a guide to peoples’ local food scene with a focus on sustainability.

Doorstep Market connects independent producers and grocers making it just as easy to shop local as it is to shop at a supermarket, with one payment and checkout.

They also connect sellers to their local customers so that they can make use of a built-in audience in their community.

Zishan Ashraf, founder of Homey

Homey is a pre-sale property renovation company allowing homeowners to renovate today, sell their property for more money and then pay for those renovations when it comes to sale settlement.

Elaine Ford, founder of Planet Rewild

Planet Rewild is a start-up company developing a location-based gaming app to improve access to nature, adventure tourism and wildlife conservation.

It will improve the accessibility of the outdoors, wildlife and STEM space by enabling widening participation in outdoor exploration and local and national wildlife activities.

Mike McDonald, founder of ZIVA Robotics

ZIVA Robotics is a company with a mission to make data collection more accessible.

Their first product is a multi-terrain, shock-resistant computerised vehicle which can be used for inspection and surveillance purposes.

ZIVA can be rapidly deployed to conduct remote site inspections and gives owners peace of mind, knowing their property is safe and accounted for.

They have also started working with soft fruit growers to automate their data collection to help them predict and improve yields inside polytunnels.

Reaction

Public Finance Minister Ben Macpherson said:

“Today marks another significant milestone for the Geovation Scotland Accelerator programme and its ambition to help some of Scotland’s tech entrepreneurs reach their full potential.

“This is more important than ever in such challenging times. Our entrepreneurial spirit will play a key role in our economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The work being done by the companies taking part is both innovative and exciting and highlights Scotland as a leader in technology. I look forward to seeing how these businesses develop in the future.”

Jennifer Henderson, Keeper of the Registers of Scotland, said:

“This initiative supports some of Scotland’s brightest innovators in finding new ways for our data to be used to deliver economic and social benefits.

“We are delighted to welcome these new entrepreneurs to Geovation Scotland and hope that the programme will provide them with the support they need to grow their businesses, and ultimately play their part in supporting the wider Scottish economy.”

Geovation programmes have been running in London since 2009 where they have seen £77M+ startup funding raised and over 484 new jobs created.