Techscaler Dundee & Tay Cities Tech Meetup

Scaling regional digital tech through expert connections. Showcasing founders & linking them with mentors, investors & professional support.

Event Overview: Building a Digital Tech Unicorn From Dundee

From Spinout to the Nasdaq: Scaling AI, Investment, and TechBio Empires

How do you take an idea conceived in Dundee and scale it into a global, multi-million-pound digital tech unicorn? Join us for an exclusive fireside chat with Richard Bickerton, the co-founder of Exscientia (one of the world's first AI-Drug Discovery businesses) as we look at the business model, tech infrastructure, and grit required to build a world-class platform company.

We’ll explore the reality of scaling from Scotland, how to separate real AI value from hype, and what it takes to attract investment whilst scaling globally.

Dr. Richard Bickerton

Co-Founder, Exscientia

Richard Bickerton is a pioneer in the TechBio space, best known as a co-founder of Exscientia - one of Dundee’s most iconic tech success stories. Richard masterminded the architecture of Exscientia's AI-first platform, fundamentally shifting the way the sector addresses its biggest pain points: efficiency, cost, and predictive accuracy.

From a University of Dundee spinout to a milestone NASDAQ listing and landmark merger with Recursion, Richard has lived the entire scaling pipeline. A specialist in machine learning systems and large-scale data infrastructure, he brings unparalleled insights into building high-performing engineering teams, navigating the application of technology to drug discovery, and deploying AI that delivers value for patients.

The Host

Professor Sir Mike Ferguson

Regius Professor of Life Sciences, University of Dundee

Stepping into the interviewer’s chair for the evening is Professor Sir Mike Ferguson, one of the drivers behind Dundee’s emergence as a global hub for life sciences and innovation. He co-founded the University's world-renowned Drug Discovery Unit (DDU) and has co-lead the Growing the Tay Cities Biomedical Cluster initiative.

With one foot in groundbreaking research and the other firmly in regional economic development and commercial spin-outs, Mike knows exactly what makes the Dundee ecosystem tick. Mike will delve into the following insights from Richard's entrepreneurial journey to date:

• The Dundee Advantage (and Hurdles): The unique benefits and hidden challenges of building a world-class tech company outside of Silicon Valley or the Golden Triangle.
• AI Beyond the Hype: Moving past the buzzwords - how the Exscientia platform solved systemic industry pain points.
• The Scaling Blueprint: What happens when a local tech team scales to a global operation?
• Chasing the Capital: Strategies for raising significant international venture capital from a Scottish base.
• The 2026 Reset: If Richard were starting from scratch today with zero code written, what technologies, data strategies, and funding landscapes have shifted?

Registration

We ask everyone to sign up individually, so we can have an estimate of how many people want to attend. We will also check-in each person on Eventbrite as they join the event so make sure you've signed up to the event in order to attend!

Tickets are limited so be sure to register!

What is Techscaler?

Techscaler is a Scottish Government funded programme, delivered by CodeBase, and offers tailored support for everyone in Scotland who wants to build a startup, whether they are considering a career in startups or are developing, building and scaling an idea.

We offer Community and Member access to world-class education, a peer-led online and offline community, and flexible workspaces.

Techscaler membership is for any prospective or current startup founder, startup employees, or more broadly anyone who is involved in the Scottish tech ecosystem. Membership offers tailored support depending on your goals. When someone applies to become a Techscaler member, our team can direct applicants to the most suitable Techscaler support.

To join for free, visit https://www.techscaler.co.uk.

Code of Conduct

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Please see the full code of conduct on our website: https://www.thisiscodebase.com/code-of-conduct

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Photographs

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