STRATEGY & COMMERCIALISATION SUPPORT
Good idea. What next?
Practical strategy and commercialisation support for businesses developing technology, hardware and engineered products.
Free-to-business support for 20 Scotland-based founders or founding teams. The programme is fully funded by the Scottish Governments Ecosystem fund.
From promising prototype to a clearer commercial plan.
Sound familiar?
01
Great tech. Which market?
A promising technology or prototype. Several possible applications. Which customers come first?
02
Client work. Your own product.
You solve technical challenges for clients. How do you make room to develop a product of your own?
03
Early traction. Now what?
Your product has pilots or early customers. Where should you focus your next round of effort?
Less head-scratching. More direction.
Each sucessful business will recive two kinds of support, all centred on your business.
01
One bespoke strategic insights report
A strategy diagnostic and individual analysis to clarify your position, opportunities and challenges.
02
Two one-to-one coaching sessions
Work through tricky decisions, tackle barriers and agree what to do next.
03
Three Podcasts and a tech founder playbook
Easy to digest overviews and analysis of challenges, opportunities and plays.
Bring a real business puzzle.
Our focus is technology and engineered products: hardware, physical products and things that get made. Bring an opportunity to develop or a commercial challenge to untangle. Other innovative businesses and specialist services are welcome too.
Formal eligibility
Geography: Scotland
Business stage: This is more about the stage of your idea, rather than your business. You might already be established, but have a fresh idea for a new offer, you might be thinking about commercialising research, or your might have a the foundations of something really exciting but minimal research and no formal company or backing.
Sector eligibility: Any sector. Our specialism is technology and engineered products, including hardware and manufactured products.
Other requirements: you must commit to completing the diagnostic questionnaire, attending two 60 minute coaching sessions and provding feedback on the support provided.
Here’s how it works.
01
Apply
02
Complete the diagnostic if selected
03
Join coaching and workshops
04
Use your insights report to agree next steps
A short application first. The full diagnostic comes later, if selected.
Programme dates
All coaching and diagnostics to be completed by March 2027.
Online or in-person delivery
All delivery will be online.
Total time commitment
The programme will require a minimum of 4 hours of your time.
Preparation and attendance expectations
You don’t need a polished business plan—just a real opportunity or challenge to work on.
Before your first coaching session, you’ll complete a strategy questionnaire to help us tailor the support to your business. Please plan to attend both one-to-one sessions and ,and allow some time between sessions to reflect and take practical next steps.
If you have access needs or anticipate difficulties attending, please get in touch so we can discuss what would help.
Selection process and response dates
Applications will be reviewed as they arrive, with places offered on a first-come, first-served basis to eligible businesses, subject to availability.
We will prioritise support for companies developing either:
A physical technology product that requires manufacturing; or
A service related to manufacturing or engineered products.
We want the programme to reach a diverse mix of founders. Alongside eligibility and application order, we’ll consider geographic spread, business type, and the gender and ethnicity of founders when allocating places.
We’ll contact you after reviewing your application to confirm the outcome or ask for any further information. Applications will remain open until all places are filled. You can expect to hear from us within 48 hours.
Meet Abi. Your outside perspective.
Dr Abi Hird founded Defankle Innovation. Drawing on product design and systems engineering, she helps engineering and technology businesses untangle complex challenges and turn strategy into practical action.
Over the years, she's helped 1000 + companies across sectors and technology areas with innovation and commercialisation strategy for hardware.
What others have said
“Defankle understands when to push back against the norm in our organisation, but importantly does it in a way that positively challenges and energises us, rather than rankles. “
Rosie Richardson, Strategy Director, Createc
“Our leadership team have been working with Defankle on our current strategic plan, seeking support for how we first scrutinise and then successfully narrate this piece of work. It has been a real pleasure. The process has been thorough, creative and ultimately successful as a result.”
Paul Sheerin, CEO, Scottish Engineering
“Defankle helped us organise our many (and slightly overwhelming) long-term ambitions into a focussed and manageable growth and development plan… We are excited about the future”
Ben Murcott, CEO, Murrcott Engineering
“Defankle helped me order and refine my business approach and tailor my strategy ready for the launch of a new product”
Joseph McDonald CEO, Easy rider
“As a scientist, it has been an eye-opening experience and is now central to how we’ll grow DZP Technologies. I now have a clear vision for the DZP brand. Instead of simply implementing processes and procedures, we’re designing them to align with our values, our customers, and our collaborators.”
Zlatka Stoeva CEO, DZP Technologies
“We’re doing deep-tech. It’s so easy to become absorbed by the scientific challenge. Abi encouraged us to think beyond the just the technology, to consider how we are building an innovative organisation and a clear, exciting narrative around what we are doing. Abi helped us leverage our innovative vision, early technology learnings and organisational culture to create a compelling narrative for early customers and investors”.
Andrew Raslin, COO, Pipeline Organics
Ready to untangle what’s next?
Bring your business puzzle. Let’s find a way forward.
Not sure it’s a fit?
Ask Abi: abi@defankle.com