£4m Scottish fund looks to support the entrepreneurs of the future

Backed by £4 million, the Scottish CAN DO Unlocking Ambition Challenge, will link established and successful entrepreneurs with high potential individuals who can demonstrate that their ideas can be a success, create jobs and benefit Scottish society.

Open for entry early in the New Year, the programme will recruit candidates from anywhere in the world – on the basis that they relocate or establish their business in Scotland. The successful cohort will be mentored and funded as they develop their ideas, receiving bespoke support by partner organisations from the public and private sectors.

The Unlocking Ambition Challenge will be delivered as part of Scotland CAN DO, the programme to support Scotland becoming a world-leading entrepreneurial nation.

The cohort will receive 12 months of funding, mentoring, and incubation with one of the partner organisations. Those demonstrating the most progress will receive support for a further 12 months.

The entrepreneurial mentors, who will select the candidates, include:

• James Watt, co-founder of BrewDog
• Leah Hutcheon, founder of online scheduling business Appointedd
• Cally Russell, founder of multi-retailer shopping app Mallzee
• Chris van der Kuyl, co-founder of videogame developer 4J Studios
• Amy Livingstone, co-founder of baby products company Cheeky Chompers

The fund was launched at the WeAreTheFuture facilitated Startup Summit – a fab annual event to help new businesses in Scotland to grow and thrive. 

WeAreTheFuture is a global youth entrepreneurship organisation, which organise global summits across the world to inspire and connect entrepreneurs and is the brainchild of friend of Startacus Bruce Walker, a leading young Scottish entrepreneur.