Catalyst and Opportunity North East Partner to Elevate Scotland and NI Startups

The founders of innovation-driven businesses in Northern Ireland and Scotland are set to benefit from a new partnership to boost their entrepreneurial skills and drive growth.

Catalyst, an independent, non-profit science and technology hub and Opportunity North East (ONE) is partnering with Scottish Enterprise to deliver go-to-market and entrepreneurial sales training to founders.

US-based founder and educator Adam Blake, who teaches go-to-market strategy and entrepreneurial sales at MIT, will lead the training. His expertise will help participants apply practical skills to accelerate business growth and market entry.

Twenty-four founders and co-founders from Northern Ireland and Scotland, all of whom participated in the intensive Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2024 and 2025, will be immersed in two days of hands-on workshops at ONE Tech Hub in Aberdeen. The training is part of an ongoing programme to support them in applying what they have learned at MIT to their businesses.

This collaboration is part of broader action and investment by ONE to build a world-class entrepreneurial ecosystem in the region. It leverages the 24-step disciplined entrepreneurship framework created at MIT, a proven methodology that helps founders identify and capitalise on venture opportunities, understand customer needs, and scale innovative businesses.

Since 2022, 67 founders, entrepreneurial amplifiers, and educators across four cohorts from north east Scotland have completed MIT’s EDP programme with support from ONE. Many more people benefit from in-region programmes delivered by ONE and partners.

Catalyst is honoured to be collaborating with Opportunity North East, a mission-driven organisation after our own heart, supporting ambitious and impactful entrepreneurs in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Both of our organisations are leaning into MIT’s entrepreneurship education principles and working in agile ways to provide what’s needed in both our ecosystems. This is just the beginning of what we hope will be a long and impactful partnership—one that will unlock new opportunities for entrepreneurs and drive innovation in both regions.

Fiona Bennington, Director of Entrepreneurship at Catalyst

This partnership with Scottish Enterprise and Catalyst is another step in building a world-class entrepreneurial ecosystem here in north east Scotland. By adopting the MIT disciplined entrepreneurship framework and working with delivery partners who share our ambition and focus on entrepreneurship and innovation ONE is equipping founders with the tools and expertise they need to succeed in competitive markets, drive growth, and build sustainable businesses.

Jennifer Craw MBE, CEO of ONE

We’re committed to building skills and knowledge within our most exciting and innovative start-up companies in Scotland.  Having supported our cohort of CEOs to undertake the Disciplined Entrepreneurship Programme, I’m delighted to see them furthering their learning, by bringing the MIT expertise to Scotland for this immersive experience.

Leah Pape, Head of High Growth Services at Scottish Enterprise

for more information contact:
Jamie Stinson, Head of Brand and Marketing, Catalyst – jamie.stinson@wearecatalyst.org