GLITCHERS is a pioneering games studio using play to unlock insights into human cognition. At its helm is founder Maxwell Scott-Slade, who has spent more than a decade bridging science and games to reshape how we understand and extend human health. The company’s flagship project, Sea Hero Quest, created the world’s largest dataset on spatial navigation, a key early indicator of dementia, by engaging millions of players worldwide. Yet GLITCHERS is more than a research partner; its ambition is nothing less than to become the “Fitbit for your brain,” turning everyday play into preventative health action.
Maxwell and GLITCHERS have been a member of the Techscaler International Programme, specifically the Japan cohort, delivered by CodeBase on behalf of the Scottish Government. In early 2025, the programme brought eight of Scotland’s most exciting games companies to Tokyo and Osaka. The mission: build lasting international connections, showcase Scottish creativity, and learn from one of the world’s most dynamic markets. For GLITCHERS, the trip sharpened global perspective, provided cultural and commercial insight, and created new relationships, critical steps in shaping how to scale responsibly and ambitiously beyond Scotland.
This case study charts their journey from personal story to a lasting global ambition.
Maxwell’s path to founding GLITCHERS was shaped by both creativity and crisis. He began making playful, experimental games with his brother under the name Johnny Two Shoes, finding unexpected global success. But when his brother was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, everything changed. What had begun as light-hearted experimentation suddenly collided with the reality of how fragile and misunderstood brain health can be.
Games, he realised, could be more than entertainment; they could communicate science, health, and human experience in ways that resonate deeply. Early collaborations, like Channel 4’s Great Sperm Race, proved the potential for games to educate and engage. From those roots grew GLITCHERS, a studio built to connect science and society through play, tackling pressing issues like dementia, cognition, and even environmental resilience.
Before joining Techscaler, GLITCHERS had recognition, research partnerships, and millions of players—but clarity around positioning and scale was elusive. The team wrestled with how to articulate their broader vision beyond dementia, how to expand into international markets, and how to grow while staying true to their mission.
For Maxwell, the challenge was not ambition, but focus. Without external frameworks, it was easy to chase every opportunity and struggle to define a coherent growth path. Techscaler offered structure, mentorship, and global perspective to bridge these gaps.
Techscaler’s Japan cohort became a pivotal moment for GLITCHERS. Immersed in a country with both a deep gaming culture and an aging population, Maxwell saw first-hand how global markets could respond to his vision. “Japan and games are synonymous,” he reflects, “but they’re also facing high rates of Alzheimer’s.”
The experience reinforced that GLITCHERS’ products were not niche, but globally necessary. Beyond market insight, the trip created space for cohort connection, time spent with peers in games and adjacent industries strengthened a sense of shared purpose.
The result was a reframing of GLITCHERS’ ambition: not simply making games, but scaling meaningful impact.
Mentorship was another cornerstone. Maxwell credits Entrepreneurs in Residence, especially Andrew McGinley, with helping refine strategic priorities. “Andrew was so excited about what we’re doing, it opened loads of doors,” he says. Techscaler’s model encouraged flexibility: rotating mentors, peer learning, and structured reflection. The result was more than prescriptive advice. It was a founder-centred framework for decision-making.
GLITCHERS also benefited from exposure through competitions and pitch preparation, with Techscaler support contributing to their eventual Scottish Edge win.
The Japan trip also strengthened peer bonds, with weeks spent alongside other Scottish founders creating lasting networks and a sense of shared ambition. These connections provided camaraderie as well as practical collaboration, sparking ideas that might not have emerged in isolation.
Together, mentorship, community, and international immersion did not alter GLITCHERS’ mission but sharpened its trajectory, equipping the team with allies, strategies, and confidence for global execution.
Post-Techscaler, GLITCHERS has entered a period of rapid traction. The company secured £75,000 through Scottish Edge, a win achieved while Maxwell was still in Japan with the cohort. The recognition further reinforced their credibility and accelerated expansion plans.
GLITCHERS was also selected for TechCrunch Disrupt’s Startup Battlefield in San Francisco, joining the ranks of global companies that first emerged there.
Alongside recognition, their flagship game Sea Hero Quest continues to deliver unparalleled research value: over 4.3 million players, 31.5 million levels completed, nearly 600,000 hours of gameplay, and 29 scientific papers published from its dataset. For GLITCHERS, this momentum signals proof that games can be a cornerstone of global health innovation.
Techscaler, delivered by CodeBase, was a catalyst for clarity, focus, and global ambition for Maxwell. For GLITCHERS, the combination of international immersion, structured mentorship, and peer-driven community reframed what scaling from Scotland could look like.
For other founders, universities, corporates, and governments, this story demonstrates the impact of tailored, founder-led support. With Techscaler, CodeBase continues to shape resilient startups ready for global challenges. Learn more about GLITCHERS.
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