Originally published in DIGIT.FYI 12 December, 2025
Spanning femtech, food sustainability, AI, gaming, biotech, and digital trust, the lineup offered a snapshot of where Scotland’s innovation ecosystem is heading next.
TecTonic Night Summit, the relative new kid on the block when it comes to Scotland’s tech/IT conference scene, lives up to its promise of vibrant, experimental gatherings that celebrate our creative ecosystem – and almost miraculously, it does so without any guise of replacing or subsuming more traditional IT conferences (otherwise we wouldn’t be writing about them).
It’s a welcome addition to Scotland’s conference oeuvre as it’s clearly gone to great lengths to differentiate itself. There’s a fluency to Tectonics offerings that will be familiar with the more traditionally configurated tech/IT events but it’s a completely different animal.
Networking, creating connections and providing a space and entertainment that enables meetings with positive outcomes is clearly what drives Tectonic.
Its last outing of the year, the Year-End Summit, continues the organisation’s upward trajectory with the event representing a third consecutive sellout for Tectonic.
Hosted at The Dockyard Social in Finnieston, the warehouse space is certainly refreshing (not that there’s anything wrong with the tried-and-true) – it had all the trappings of well… not an IT conference. Hosts selling street food, Viking hall-style benches (that’s definitely not what they’re called) and a decent attempt to create a natural way of moving through the event without being overly railroaded was commendable, but there was still definitely some bottle-necking.
So now that we’ve established that it’s cool (or, if you prefer, bodacious). What is the year-end meeting providing apart from a space for all us in Tech to feel like we’re part of the zeitgeist again?
Mentors and industry coaches offered bookable one-on-one sessions, live entertainment wove through the crowd: circus performers and walkabout acts from Delighters Theatre, face painting games and a genuinely really good magician – he elicited a gasp from me – acted as conversation icebreakers and provided a bit of visual participatory flair to proceedings.
Beyond this, some stunning digital art installations provided nuance and colour that added to the aesthetic in a way that felt appropriate and well considered.
Even little-known technologies like AI got a look-in by way of a matchmaking tool which used genAI to recommend connections and “engineer serendipity” – and we just so happen to prefer our serendipity engineered.
That’s a sparse vertical slice of what was going on, but describing what Tectonic is and what it’s trying to achieve, director Nick Murray said: “TecTonic was inspired by experiencing events like SLUSH in Helsinki and Web Summit in Lisbon – places where innovation, creativity, and community collide in a way that’s colourful, bright, and full of energy, but still deeply valuable for founders and industry leaders.
“Those trips showed me that meaningful ecosystem events don’t have to be dry or transactional; when you create the right environment, real connection and real business value flourish naturally.
“It’s easy to talk about the challenges Scotland’s tech ecosystem faces, and much of my career has been about helping address those gaps by collaborating on initiatives that support founders. But TecTonic is about something different: it’s about celebrating what is working. It’s about recognising the 60+ community partners and the sponsors who work year-round designing programmes, running events, building communities, educating, inspiring, and showcasing the innovation emerging across the country.
“TecTonic is a place where all of that energy converges – a space where diverse people, ideas, and disciplines can cross-pollinate in an eclectic, joyful melting pot. It’s a reminder that Scotland’s innovation ecosystem is vibrant, ambitious, and full of brilliance worth celebrating.”
One highlight of the Year-End Exchange programme was the “Founders’ Forecast” segment, which shone a spotlight on 10 startup founders from across Scotland’s tech and creative sectors. Each founder – selected as a community exemplar – shared reflections on their journey and gave a glimpse into what excites them for 2026.
Let’s take a look at them.
Lucy Isles – Sablière (Edinburgh)
Isles is co-founder of Sablière, a Scottish venture creating alcohol-free fine sparkling wine alternatives. Unlike traditional de-alcoholised wine, Sablière’s Cuvée Sablé is made from scratch using culinary techniques like – and brace yourself for this – ultrasonic tea extraction and verjus blending to replicate the structure and elegance of champagne – minus the alcohol.
After a limited preview in 2025, the brand plans a public launch in February 2026, focusing on upscale venues such as boutique hotels and Michelin-starred restaurants.
Natalie Smith – Seed2Plate Highland & Receipt2Plate (Inverness)
Smith leads two ventures advancing food sustainability. Seed2Plate Highland develops PlantElix, biodegradable gel sheets made from food waste that nourish soil and retain moisture.
Meanwhile, Receipt2Plate (via Shop2Plate) offers personalised tools for consumers to reduce food waste using grocery data. In 2026, Smith will pilot PlantElix in real-world agricultural settings and seek investment for a Highlands-based production hub.
Simultaneously, Shop2Plate aims to expand to schools and councils to help cut waste and gather insights for future innovation. Together, the platforms form a feedback loop: preventing food waste, regenerating soil, and informing new circular economy strategies from seed to plate.
James Buchan – ePass (Edinburgh)
ePass is streamlining business licensing with AI. Founded by James Buchan, the platform automates license applications for regulated industries – handling paperwork, verifications, and renewals through AI agents and a secure digital wallet.
For regulators, it simplifies oversight and reduces backlogs. In 2026, ePass will expand across 125 license types in Scotland and begin pilots in the US. James is also preparing a £2.5M funding round to grow the team and scale infrastructure.
Gareth Sandler – ORRJO (Glasgow)
Sandler’s agency ORRJO blends creative marketing with data-driven performance, helping B2B companies generate measurable growth.
In 2026, the Glasgow-based firm will expand into the US with its first overseas office, aiming to scale both its client base and team. Expect more AI-powered campaign tools, workshops, and thought leadership.
Rebecca Warner-Perry – GLITCHERS (Edinburgh)
The game studio behind Sea Hero Quest, GLITCHERS is now evolving into a cognitive health platform.
In 2026, the team will launch a science-backed app that tracks brain health through daily play, helping users understand memory, focus, and cognition over time. The app also generates anonymised data to support Alzheimer’s research.
2026 is going to be a big year for the startup as GLITCHERS plans to scale regionally, integrate with health organisations, and turn cognitive tracking into a mainstream wellness habit. It’s brain health for the masses – delivered through games.
Christina Rode – Hulk Bio (Scottish Borders)
Rode co-founded Hulk Bio to produce human milk bioactives via cell culture, aiming to improve infant formula and adult nutrition.
Unlike donor milk or engineered yeast, Hulk Bio uses mammary cell lines to replicate breast milk’s functional components—immunoglobulins, HMOs, and more.
In 2026, the startup will open its first lab, develop scalable production processes, and seek B2B partnerships with formula or wellness brands. The year ahead will be key for technical validation, pilot deals, and building a scientific team committed to redefining nutrition through biotechnology.
Bayile Adeoti – BobbAI (Glasgow)
BobbAI, founded by Bayile Adeoti, delivers AI-powered business support to underrepresented entrepreneurs. The platform provides personalised weekly insights—like funding alerts or relevant events—and includes a chatbot assistant for real-time advice.
In 2026, Bayile aims to refine the recommendation engine, grow partnerships with universities and councils, and expand BobbAI’s reach across Scotland and beyond.
With inclusivity at its core, the platform ensures founders don’t miss opportunities due to lack of information—turning business support into something smart, scalable, and accessible.
Jamie Culpan – STAX Innovative Feed (Glasgow)
STAX, founded by Jamie Culpan, is creating circular livestock feed by combining insect farming, vertical hydroponics, and pellet processing. The system turns organic waste into high-protein feed while reducing reliance on soy and fishmeal.
In 2026, STAX will expand to California, launching a pilot facility and adapting its tech to local waste streams.
Back in Glasgow, the team will scale operations, pursue regulatory approvals, and test product efficacy on farms. With sustainability at its core, STAX aims to redefine global feed systems from the ground up.
Alex Gordon-Furse – Playmaker/PhaseFit (Stealth, Scotland)
PhaseFit, founded by Alex Gordon-Furse, is an AI fitness app designed for women’s hormonal cycles.
Instead of generic workouts, it offers cycle-aware coaching—adjusting training, nutrition, and recovery based on daily physiology.
In 2026, PhaseFit plans a public launch, aiming to integrate with wearables and expand into corporate wellness. As femtech gains traction, PhaseFit hopes to empower users with smarter, personalised fitness that treats cycles as a strength, not a barrier.
Chelsea Jarvie – Neon Guard (Glasgow)
Neon Guard, founded by Chelsea Jarvie, is building privacy-preserving, real-time age assurance for the internet.
Unlike static ID checks or facial scans, Neon Guard’s AI uses behavioural signals to estimate age dynamically—without storing personal data.
In 2026, Chelsea plans to release a developer-friendly MVP and integrate with youth-focused platforms. With rising regulation and demand for safer digital spaces, Neon Guard is well-positioned to become the age-tech layer underpinning online trust.