AccelerateHER Showcase 2026

Main sponsors: Scottish National Investment Bank and Scottish Government

Supporting sponsors Techscaler and Aberdeen Audio Visual

You are invited to join AccelerateHER and ecosystem partners, alongside 16 exceptional female founders for an unforgettable showcase designed to celebrate innovation and champion the next generation of female leaders. 

An exciting programme features quick-fire pitching and your chance to select the day's standout pitch, incredible guest speakers and plenty of opportunities to network with colleagues. 

We’ll be joined by Claire Mitchell KC and Zoe Venditozzi, founders of WITCHES of SCOTLAND, for a special guest speaker session during the Showcase.

Founded on International Women’s Day in 2020, WITCHES of SCOTLAND began as a campaign seeking justice for the nearly 4,000 people, predominantly women, accused of witchcraft in Scotland between 1563 and 1736. The campaign has called for a legal pardon, a formal apology and a national memorial for those who suffered as a result of Scotland’s witch trials.

Since then, Claire and Zoe have built a growing platform and international community through their podcast, events, writing, book, How to Kill a Witch and the WITCHES of SCOTLAND tartan.

Their story has strong parallels with many founder journeys. They saw something they believed needed to change, built a community around that purpose, found an audience and created something with both social impact and commercial potential.

Claire and Zoe will join us for a conversation about women, visibility, ambition, taking up space and what Zoe calls harnessing your inner “quarrelsome dame”.

Agenda

12:00 Arrival | Lunch

13:00 Welcome: Elizabeth Pirrie, CEO, AccelerateHER

13:05 Scottish National Investment Bank 

13:15 Introducing the Showcase and our panel guests

13:20 Founders Showcase Part 1

13:40  Claire Mitchell KC and Zoe Venditozzi, Founders, Witches of Scotland

14:00 Founders Showcase Part 2

14:20 Comfort break and feedback

14:35 Founders Showcase Part 3 – Quick Fire Pitches

15:00 Closing remarks

15:05 Reception

16:00 Close

Privacy

Use of Your Personal Data at Events

To support networking and help you get the most out of our event, we may provide those coming with a list of the names and organisational affiliation of those attending.

Furthermore, we typically take photographs of proceedings in order to highlight or showcase AccelerateHER's activities.

Please let us know if you do not wish to provide consent for the use of your personal data in this way. To see how we use and take care of your information, please see our privacy notice.