Edinburgh software firm to scale up with UK's best

Training software outfit Administrate is to take part in an initiative aimed at helping start-ups accelerate their growth.

Administrate chief executive John Peebles

The Edinburgh-based firm, led by chief executive John Peebles, is one of 30 digital companies selected for the Upscale programme, organised by publicly-funded Tech City UK.

Those taking part in the scheme were picked following a judging process to find the “emerging digital businesses with the most potential for rapid scale and international growth”.

Administrate, based at Edinburgh’s CodeBase technology incubator, develops software to help clients such as PwC and the University of York run online training programmes. The firm, which employs about 35 people, last month secured £1.7 million in an oversubscribed funding round led by Scottish angel syndicate Archangels.

Glasgow-based laser technology specialist M Squared has also made the list of 30 firms chosen for Upscale. They will work with “scale coaches” – including Skype founder Niklas Zennström – who are to share their experiences to help address the challenges faced by fast-growing companies.

Silicon Valley Bank and law firm Cooley will also support the start-ups by offering financial and legal advice on scaling up and expanding into new markets such as China and the US.

Tech City UK chief executive Gerard Grech described the programme as a “grassroots initiative” to help coach the next generation of entrepreneurs. He added: “Upscale has been built from the ground up, using direct feedback from company founders, investors and ecosystem partners.”