Building What Matters: How Buildathons Are Redefining Startup Growth

At CodeBase, we believe startup ecosystems grow stronger when ideas don’t just stay as ideas. They need to be tested, challenged, and brought into the real world as quickly as possible. That’s why we’ve reimagined what was once called the “Hackathon” into something far more aligned with our mission: the Buildathon.

This change in name represents a shift in structure and thought behind the offering. Hackathons can often be about novelty or quick wins. Buildathons are about building something real: fast, focused, and validated. They’re part of how we design Scotland’s startup ecosystem: lowering barriers for new founders, reducing risk for early-stage ventures, and showing that building an MVP doesn’t need to take months or cost thousands.

By embedding the Buildathon into Techscaler’s Catalyst programme, and opening it to the wider community where possible, we’re shaping an ecosystem intervention that helps more founders take the crucial first step from idea to execution.

‍

What problem are Buildathons solving for founders?

Across Scotland, and globally, early-stage founders often hit the same wall. They’re convinced they need to raise funds, hire developers, and commit months of work before knowing whether their product has a market. It’s an expensive gamble, and one that too often doesn’t pay off.

The questions they wrestle with are familiar:

• How much should I spend before I even know if my product works?
• Do I need to code before I can test my idea?
• What if I spend my savings building something no one wants?

At CodeBase, we see these not as resource problems, but as validation problems. Buildathons challenge the assumption that you need scale before you need proof. Instead, they show founders that the right first move is not a big launch, it’s a small build.

By equipping founders with no-code tools, AI, and lean validation approaches, we help them test customer needs quickly and cheaply. That way, they can make smarter decisions before committing significant time or money.

‍

How does a Buildathon work in practice?

A Buildathon is a hands-on, highly collaborative day where founders move from concept to prototype in hours, not months. The experience is intentionally structured to mirror the build–measure–learn loop that drives resilient startups.

• Ideas are pitched: Catalyst participants get first access, then Techscaler members, and finally the wider community if space allows.
• Teams are formed: Founders join forces, bringing diverse perspectives into the process.
• Facilitators guide the build: Experts in no-code, low-code, and AI help strip away complexity and focus on practical solutions.
• Something tangible emerges: By the end of the day, every founder has an MVP, a landing page, a prototype, or a basic product that can be put in front of customers immediately.

‍

What does success look like after a Buildathon?

The impact of a Buildathon goes beyond what’s built on the day. Success is measured in confidence gained, risks avoided, and networks formed. It could look different for different people: a founder could realise they don’t need to spend six figures to test their idea, or a team could discover a faster route to customer feedback, or two participants may meet and begin a collaboration that extends far beyond the event.

We’ve seen MVPs as simple as a landing page provide crucial validation. We’ve seen non-technical founders leave with the knowledge that they can build. And we’ve seen how that confidence ripples through the community, helping founders apply lean, validated approaches at every stage of growth.

‍

What makes this different from other startup events?

The Buildathon isn’t limited to networking, nor does it promote learning concepts in isolation. The focus is building side by side, where the process itself generates community and confidence. One founder might validate demand with a simple sign-up page, whereas another could test a chatbot prototype using no-code, while a third might work on a climate-tech solution with input from a local partner.

By watching each other’s approaches, founders absorb lessons they wouldn’t have uncovered alone. Peer learning happens naturally, with breakthroughs often sparked by seeing how another team tackled a different problem.

This is what sets Buildathons apart: they create not just MVPs, but also ecosystem connections, the kind of trust, shared knowledge, and practical collaboration that continues to snowball and fuel Scotland’s tech community long after the event.

‍

Why do Buildathons matter for Scotland’s tech startup ecosystem?

Scotland is working to position itself as one of the most resilient and ambitious startup nations in the world. That vision depends on more than the success of individual founders. It requires an ecosystem where ideas can be tested quickly, where barriers to entry are lowered, and where support systems help founders move from concept to growth with confidence.

The Buildathon is one of the ways we contribute to that vision. Within the Catalyst programme, it acts as a milestone that ensures founders are not only learning but applying. Beyond Catalyst, it serves as a gathering point where members of the wider Techscaler community can connect through the act of building. Real-world challenges are brought into the room, and founders are given the tools and guidance to respond to them.

What emerges is a strong set of MVPs and a culture of experimentation, collaboration, and shared learning that strengthens the foundation of Scotland’s tech startup economy. By creating spaces like the Buildathon, CodeBase is shaping conditions where startups can validate faster, investors can back stronger opportunities, and partners across government, academia, and industry can see direct evidence of entrepreneurial capacity in action.

For us, the Buildathon represents what ecosystem building looks like in practice: a practical intervention that reduces risk for founders, widens participation, and connects the many moving parts of Scotland’s innovation economy. It is a small but vital step in building a healthier, wealthier, and more sustainable society through entrepreneurship.

Ready to turn your idea into something real? Join the next Techscaler Catalyst cohort to ensure your place at a Buildathon.

‍

^“Today was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity – when else would I get the chance to have my problem talked about over six hours with like-minded people who helped me look at different solutions, with EiRs there on hand to answer any questions.
_{Previous Buildathon Participant}