The Baltic Triangle in Liverpool is known for providing a home to innovative and entrepreneurial businesses. At the heart of this community is Baltic Ventures, a dynamic tech accelerator on a mission to empower pioneering founders and emerging technology companies. From their base in Digital House, one of Baltic Creative’s flagship buildings, Baltic Ventures accelerates early-stage tech businesses with global ambitions. Their mission is to support game-changing teams that are building the solutions and businesses of tomorrow, all while helping them grow right here in the Liverpool City Region.

Breaking the London-centric pattern

In the UK, many early-stage tech companies often feel the pressure to relocate to London to secure funding, gain visibility, or access a robust network of venture capitalists. Baltic Ventures seeks to address this imbalance by offering a world-class tech accelerator programme outside of the capital. By doing so, they are proving that Liverpool and the wider city region are fertile grounds for growing globally significant tech companies.

Their accelerator focuses on founders who might struggle to get the recognition and support they need in more competitive or traditional tech environments. Baltic Ventures creates an inclusive platform where location is not a barrier to success, allowing founders from diverse backgrounds to scale their companies with the guidance, mentorship, and investment opportunities they need.

Supporting founders from the ground up

Baltic Ventures’ Accelerator programme is a 4-month cohort-based programme designed to give early-stage tech businesses the tools they need to thrive. The accelerator offers not only £30k in investment but also dedicated coaching, tailored masterclasses, and access to a wide network of investors.

Last year’s alumni include startups like Cubode, a platform working to reduce barriers to coding; Financielle, helping women take control of their financial future; Gaia Learning, an online education ecosystem designed for neurodivergent children; and Heatio, revolutionising home energy management through smart technology.

The latter mentioned above, Heatio, recently secured a £2m investment from leading investors such as Ascension, Conduit Connect, and The Syndicate Room, with support from Baltic Ventures, LYVA Labs, and deep tech investor Neil Norman. For more success stories from the 2023 cohort, you can read about them here.

Based at Digital House in Liverpool, Baltic Ventures runs a 4-month cohort-based programme designed to give early-stage tech businesses the tools they need to thrive. The accelerator offers not only £30k in investment but also dedicated coaching, tailored masterclasses, and access to a wide network of investors.

The people behind Baltic Ventures

Baltic Ventures is led by a small team, headed by Claire Lewis, CEO and founder, whose vision and leadership have shaped the organisation into a leading tech accelerator in the region. The team also includes Mo, who oversees the programme; Rachel, who manages operations; and Becca, who ensures a strong sense of community amongst participants. Together, they provide hands-on support to founders at every stage of the process, from initial development to pitching for investment.

Their efforts are backed by a board of directors, which includes two names familiar to Baltic Creative – Carl Wong and David Woods, former tenants and co-founders of LivingLens, a business acquired by global insights company Medallia in 2020. Both Carl and David offer their wealth of experience as coaches and mentors to Baltic Ventures’ cohorts, alongside a host of experts providing guidance on technology, growth marketing, performance strategy, finances, and securing investment.

Collaboration and community at the core

Baltic Ventures is built on a foundation of collaboration. Established as a not-for-profit, its mission is to leverage the expertise and networks of local organisations to create something transformative for the region’s tech sector. It is supported by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority as a key partner, with early-stage backing from Baltic Creative CIC.

With property and community knowledge, we helped get Baltic Ventures off the ground and facilitated critical conversations between partners and stakeholders. In 2023, Baltic Ventures moved into Digital House, a fitting location for their base, surrounded by other tech-focused businesses and resources.

Speaking about the origins of Baltic Ventures, Claire Lewis shared:

“Baltic Ventures emerged from conversations between Baltic Creative CIC and their former tenants, Carl Wong and David Woods. After scaling and exiting their tech company, they asked, ‘What if there was a tech accelerator based in Liverpool?’ This idea was rooted in the belief that ambitious entrepreneurs from the city region shouldn’t need to move to London for scaling, funding, and acceleration support. Fast forward three years, and Baltic Ventures was born.”

“We’re a not-for-profit, based at Digital House, and our existence is an example of what happens when businesses and organisations in the community collaborate together.”

What’s next for Baltic Ventures?

The new group of startups is ready to embark on their four-month journey with Baltic Ventures, receiving the same level of expert coaching and mentorship as previous cohorts. 

The 2024 cohort showcases a diverse group of startups, each solving unique challenges through innovation. This year’s companies include:

These startups are joining the exciting alumni of Baltic Ventures for 2024, building solutions that range from tech-driven platforms to transformative products.

You can find out more about these companies, their founders, and their missions in the Accelerator 2024 Lookbook.

Baltic Ventures is just one of the many reasons the Baltic Triangle remains a hotspot for digital and tech innovation and is proving that world-class innovation doesn’t need to come out of London – it can thrive in Liverpool.