THE growth of online bullying has been an unfortunate bi-product of the Twitter, Facebook and Instagram phenomenon. So when you hear of a business harnessing the power of social media technology to meet a genuine societal need, it is extremely heartening.

Storiicare, the Scottish tech start-up, has developed software which promises to make a profound difference to people in care homes and their loved ones. It is building a presence in the healthcare sector, both here and now in the US, with software dubbed the “Facebook for care”, helping care home residents keep in touch with their families and sharing information on their activities and well-being. There are benefits to care workers, too, with the platform allowing staff to share information and save time by keeping digital instead of physical records.

Founder Cameron Graham launched a crowdfunding campaign in July to raise £300,000 to fund the company’s development. Now he is pursuing a more ambitious target. Having pitched directly to leading venture capitalists in Silicon Valley, Mr Graham is looking to raise up to £5 million to move into the US healthcare market.

During such uncertain times, it is encouraging to see a Scottish business with the conviction to export its innovation, while underpinning the burgeoning reputation of the country’s tech sector.