Ones to watch 2026: Signals shaping Scotland’s next wave
Reports like this exist for a simple reason: founders do not operate in isolation, and neither does momentum.
When you are building, it is often difficult to see what is happening just beyond your own company. Where capital is flowing, what kinds of technologies are gaining traction, and how others at a similar stage are progressing are not always visible from the inside. Ones to Watch is designed to close that gap.
Each edition is built from direct engagement with founders through Techscaler. It draws on what we are seeing day to day across conversations, programmes and company progress. The aim is to surface signals early, in a way that is useful for founders navigating their own path.
The shortlist is shaped by CodeBase Entrepreneurs in Residence who have built and scaled companies themselves. Their perspective comes from operating in real conditions, raising capital, entering new markets and making decisions under pressure. This allows them to identify momentum in a way that goes beyond headline metrics.
Meet the team behind this year's report:
Former founder and advisor, supporting leadership teams through fundraising, expansion and organisational change.
Over 20 years across defence, space and industrial technologies. Former CEO who raised £8M and brought a deeptech product to market.
Founder of DragonflAI with a background in AI and image recognition, working closely with early and growth stage teams.
Founder of Care Sourcer, which raised £9M and exited in 2023. Now building Hosel while supporting founders through scaling.
This pool of experience is what underpins the report. It is grounded in observation, backed by pattern recognition built over years of building and supporting companies.
The 2026 edition reflects a noticeable shift in where activity is concentrating. Deeptech is becoming a more visible part of the ecosystem, with founders building across AI, robotics, quantum systems and life sciences. These are areas where the barriers to entry are higher, but so is the potential for long-term impact and defensibility.
Companies featured this year include Frontier Robotics, Vidai UK, Synqronicity, Radana, Weeteq, North Light Microscopy, Touchlab, Neon Guard, Ridescan and Iniotech. They span different sectors, but share common characteristics: strong technical foundations, clear market opportunities, experienced teams and visible momentum. In many cases, they are already raising or preparing to scale.
Alongside the current watchlist, this edition also looks back. Companies featured in previous reports have moved forward across product development, commercial traction and funding. Tracking that progress matters. It helps validate whether early signals translate into meaningful outcomes and gives founders a more realistic view of how journeys unfold over time.
Taken together, this creates a more complete picture of the ecosystem. Of who is emerging, how they are progressing and where the direction of travel is becoming clearer.
For founders, the clear value sits in context. It offers a way to step outside your own company and understand the wider environment you are building within.
Click here to download the full report to explore the full report.
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