Helping businesses start, scale and flourish
Businesswoman and investor Ana Stewart has been appointed the Scottish Government’s new Chief Entrepreneur.
Ms Stewart, who also co-authored a landmark “Pathways” report on supporting women in entrepreneurship in 2023, will take up the role until July 2026.
The Chief Entrepreneur’s remit includes:
- acting as the chief advisor to Government on growing the start-up and scale-up economy. This includes key priorities such as implementing the Pathways report, optimising existing programmes and initiatives, growing Scotland’s risk capital market and working with universities to increase the number of spinout companies who reach scale.
- engaging closely with investors and entrepreneurs, ensuring that Government policy and delivery is shaped by business.
- making sure entrepreneurship is instilled in the education and skills systems, with clear routes established to setting up a business
Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes and Ms Stewart visited the offices of Inspirent, a social enterprise based in Hamilton, to mark the appointment and launch a new round of the Scottish Government’s Ecosystem Fund.
Inspirent will be the delivery partner of this year’s £700,000 fund, which is focused on developing the strength and impact of Scotland’s start-up community by funding organisations and programmes that support new companies to start and grow.
The application process is being fully digitised from this year through a dedicated online portal, enabling faster funding decisions and expanding opportunities for grassroots initiatives and community-led projects across Scotland.
£2.6 million has been awarded to 75 innovative projects through the Ecosystem Fund since it launched in 2021-22.
Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said: “It is vital to Scotland’s economic resilience that we support our business community – particularly those taking their first steps. Ana Stewart is an exceptional talent with deep experience of starting, scaling and investing in some of Scotland’s best companies, and will ensure we are well-placed to deliver this support.
“Scotland is home to some of the world’s brightest business minds, ideas and innovators. The Scottish Government is committed to helping deliver an end-to-end support network that nurtures this talent and helps this and future generations of business founders to thrive.
“To deliver truly meaningful, strategic support, it is vital we continue to listen to and learn from entrepreneurs and the wider business community. Ana Stewart brings the insight, lived experience and connections needed to shape and accelerate our policies and deliver for Scotland’s start-up talent.”
The Scottish Government’s Chief Entrepreneur Ana Stewart said: “Leveraging my own lived experience as an entrepreneur and investor, I am looking forward to contributing to the development and optimisation of the Scottish Government’s entrepreneurship strategy.
“Entrepreneurship is the engine room for economic growth and it’s essential that we provide more pathways, increased access and accelerated funding to current and future founders, whilst ensuring private and public sector are aligned in making that happen.”
Founder of Ecosystem Builders Network, a previous Ecosystem Fund recipient, Bruce Walker said: “The Ecosystem Fund has been a vital catalyst for Scotland’s entrepreneurial community, enabling grassroots organisations to provide meaningful support to founders.
“It has allowed us to deliver targeted programmes to help entrepreneurs build resilient businesses, scale their impact and connect with global networks, as well as strengthen ecosystem builders across Scotland.
“For many early-stage founders, this support comes at a critical time, bridging the gap between ambition and action. Beyond individual ventures, the fund has helped strengthen the connective tissue of the wider ecosystem, empowering local leaders to foster inclusive, sustainable growth across sectors.
“Its impact continues to ripple through the community, creating a more collaborative, vibrant entrepreneurial landscape in Scotland.”
Applications for the 2025-26 Ecosystem Fund are open until Monday 20 May. The application portal and further information can be found on a new dedicated Ecosystem Fund website: www.ecosystemfund.co.uk