A new Liverpool-based tech accelerator has had more than 100 applications for its first cohort.
Baltic Ventures is the brainchild of Carl Wong, co-founder of LivingLens, which was acquired by tech giant Medallia in 2020 for $26m.
Wong believes founders shouldn’t have to head to London to find a tech accelerator to help grow their business and hopes Baltic Ventures will find and help future Northern-based unicorns.
The closing date for the first Baltic Ventures accelerator doesn’t close until June 9 but organisers say they’ve already been inundated with more than 100 applications.
The cohort of up to 10 businesses will get access to a four-month programme, including £50k investment, weekly workshops, VC investor meetings, and mentorship.
Baltic Ventures is being run by experienced Claire Lewis and the first programme starts in September.
Lewis told BusinessCloud: “The level of interest we’ve had has been incredibly strong. We’ve been blown away.
“We’ve had well over 100 applications so far and we’ve got another week to go.”
The tech accelerator is specifically looking to work with early stage companies that already have a product and some traction so they have an MVP.
Lewis praised the quality and quantity of teams trying to join the cohort.
“They’re just incredible teams, from all over the UK and internationally as well,” she said.
“Teams that have already got incredible traction in very varied areas, from generative AI to HealthTech to cyber to EdTech. It’s a really diverse range of founders.
“Many have already raised funding already. It just shows the level of entrepreneurial spirit.
“Because it’s a small cohort it’s a high quality programme and it’s going to be very bespoke of addressing the particular challenges that each company is facing.
“We’ve got an incredible team of coaches, exited founders, people who have been there and done it, as well as an extensive mentor network.
“We’re really committed to having a diverse cohort.”