The founders of innovation-driven businesses in Scotland and Northern Ireland are set to benefit from a partnership to boost their entrepreneurial skills and drive growth.
Opportunity North East (ONE) is working with Scottish Enterprise and Northern Ireland-based Catalyst, an independent, non-profit science and technology hub, 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.
Opportunity North East (ONE) is working with Scottish Enterprise and Northern Ireland-based Catalyst, an independent, non-profit science and technology hub, to deliver go-to-market and entrepreneurial sales training to founders. Pictured left to right are Paula Douglas, Scottish Enterprise, Jen Scott, ONE, Adam Blake, Jennifer Craw, ONE, and Hannah Cummings, Catalyst.
Twenty-four founders and co-founders from Scotland and Northern Ireland, 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 their MIT learnings 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.
Jennifer Craw MBE, CEO of ONE, said: “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.”
Fiona Bennington, director of Entrepreneurship at Catalyst, said: “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."
Leah Pape, head of high growth services at Scottish Enterprise said: “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."