In a quiet orchard in Silicon Valley, Ian Houston reflects on the deep historical ties between Scotland and California—and how today’s tech-driven initiatives like Techscaler are forging new connections, opportunities, and global impact for Scottish innovators.

I rose early and walked into an old orchard, preserved for its historic value, in the heart of the city of Sunnyvale in Silicon Valley. Among the rows of trees, rooted in rich, dark soil, I sent a message to a friend in Scotland. The sun climbed slowly above the horizon, a rooster crowed in the distance, and birds stirred awake in chorus. In that quiet, gratitude for friendship filled me, and I was carried gently back to another era, yet fully present in this one — in the people, moments, and opportunities that make this place meaningful.

This orchard, like many corners of the Bay Area, is part of a larger story. The region’s valleys and hills were and still are shaped by the hands of diverse immigrant communities, each leaving its mark on the land and on local culture. Scottish immigrants were among them, bringing skills,........

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