Top Scots tech unicorns sign up to Leaders Exchange

Two of Scotland’s top tech entrepreneurial leaders – and chief executives of Scotland’s only “unicorn” companies (start-ups valued at $1bn+) have signed up to be part of an ambitious global network that aims to “make Scotland the most entrepreneurial society in the world”.

Gareth Williams, co-founder and chief executive of Skyscanner, the global travel search engine, and Nigel Eccles, co-founder and chief executive of the online fantasy sports company, FanDuel, will took to the stage at Dynamic Earth last night to share their experiences before joining Entrepreneurial Scotland’s Leaders Exchange (formerly Entrepreneurial Exchange).

The event, hosted by Entrepreneurial Scotland chairman, Chris van der Kuyl was held in front of an audience of 300 other members of the Leaders Exchange.

After providing exclusive insights into how they built Skyscanner and FanDuel into global success stories, the high tech duo signed-up to join exchange in a high profile endorsement of the peer to peer network.

Leaders Exchange is a community of ambitious entrepreneurial leaders from diverse backgrounds and provides a platform for them to connect, learn from one another, share experiences, gain knowledge and grow their organisations.

Entrepreneurial Scotland was formed by the coming together of the Saltire Foundation and Entrepreneurial Exchange to create an organisation with the capacity and connections to help make Scotland the most entrepreneurial society in the world.

Chris van der Kuyl, chairman of Entrepreneurial Scotland, said: “Our members value more than anything else being able to access advice from fellow entrepreneurial leaders. Through our Leaders Exchange and Future Leaders networks, members can discover how to attract and manage a talented team, develop leadership, exercise astute financial planning, adapt their business model or develop robust exit strategies. With today’s pace of change, support from those who have been there and done it before is more important than ever.

“As part of Entrepreneurial Scotland, we are bigger and stronger than ever before and even better positioned to attract such high profile entrepreneurial leaders as Gareth and Nigel to join us. So, while it’s our 20th year of events, it’s just the beginning of an ambitious new stage for our members, our networks and for Scotland.”

Nigel Eccles, co-founder and Chief Executive of FanDuel, said: “I’m really looking forward to being part of Entrepreneurial Scotland’s Leaders Exchange. In my opinion, peers can be one of the most valuable sources of information and advice when building a company. I hope that by sharing my experiences, including the challenges I’ve faced, I can help others with their own entrepreneurial ambitions.”

Gareth Williams, co-founder and Chief Executive of Skyscanner, said: “As a business made up of over 700 people and nine offices across the world, Skyscanner can attest that there’s every opportunity to build a global business headquartered here in Scotland – and Entrepreneurial Scotland’s Leaders Exchange will no doubt help build even more internet economy businesses of scale in the future.

“Regardless of what stage a business is at, support and input from others who share your ambition is invaluable. As such, I’d encourage others to join the Leaders Exchange network, whether as a way to build their own teams, as we have, or to share vital experience and knowledge.”