Five Scottish companies are joining a pilot scheme designed to accelerate sales in the US market.

The MarketBooster programme run by Scottish Enterprise is part of a new missions-based approach launched a year ago to double the number of scaling companies in Scotland over the next ten years.   

Those taking part are artificial intelligence financial services specialist Aveni, software business Cloudsoft, medical marketing data company Talking Medicines and the cybersecurity firms LastingAsset and Lupovis.

Companies will undertake an eight weeks ‘discovery’ phase in Scotland, where they will work with US and Scottish business experts to ensure there is a strong fit between their products and the market they intend to enter.  

A second eight weeks phase is spent in Silicon Valley, working closely with SE’s US-based team, industry networks and partners, to build the strategy, data and skills to compete for customers and investment in the US market.

Founders will be based in a co-working space and have the opportunity to network with and learn from the other Scottish, US and global entrepreneurs and the local investor community

The aim is for these companies to get to US revenue 6-12 months faster than companies entering the market without this support.  

Reuben Aitken, managing director international at Scottish Enterprise, said: “To scale up, Scottish businesses need to go global.

“The US is our top export market and this US MarketBooster Programme is an exciting new way of working. With targeted, wraparound support here in Scotland, followed by immersion in Silicon Valley, these innovative companies will have the best opportunity to grow faster.

“This programme is about giving companies access to our expertise, advice and networks rather than direct funding, because we know how highly valued this is by them.”