New data, released by in the Liverpool City Region, has revealed how the region鈥檚 tech sector is booming.听听
Tech Climbers is an annual regional list听showcasing听the rising stars of the region鈥檚 tech sector.鈥�听
Now in its fourth year, 19 businesses made the Liverpool City Region Tech Climbers list this year, with 11 making the Ones to Watch list.听 听
The 2024 list of Tech Climbers was announced on Tuesday (February 20) to a sold-out room of the听region鈥檚听best companies and leading听tech talent听at PINS Social Club in Liverpool听city听centre.听
The research found all entrants are looking to hire new talent, projecting over 300 new jobs in the area鈥檚 tech sector, a 14 per cent increase on last year鈥檚 data. 听
A total of听79 per cent of entrants to this year鈥檚 list have听already raised funding, totalling 拢52.5m听– a 110.6 per cent increase on听last year鈥檚 data.听听
Analysis shows听80 per cent of tech companies in the region听are听actively seeking funding, a 7 per cent increase on last year鈥檚 data.听Of this, 89 per cent听of the sector is听looking for combined Seed and Series A Funding, whilst 58 per cent are looking for Seed funding only.听听听
The city鈥檚 startups are also thriving, with Tech Climbers data showing a 125 per cent increase in revenue compared to last year, and 93 per cent of startups on the hunt for funding.听听听
The impressive maturity of Liverpool City Region鈥檚 tech sector comes as research from Dealroom said the city is becoming increasingly attractive to venture capital investors, with a 657 per cent increase in VC investment since 2019 鈥� comparatively, Manchester saw a -44 per cent drop and London only a 4 per cent increase over the same time.听
Anna Heyes, CEO at Active听Profile听and founder of Tech Climbers said:听鈥淲hat a year听it鈥檚听been for Liverpool City Region鈥檚 tech sector!听We鈥檝e听seen fantastic new听initiatives听like Baltic Ventures welcome their first cohort, we came together at the inaugural Liverpool听Slush鈥檇听and now,听we鈥檝e听celebrated the cream of the crop at this year鈥檚 Tech Climbers list reveal.
鈥淥ur data shows an impressive level of maturity for Liverpool City Region鈥檚 tech businesses, with a continued drive to raise investment, create new jobs and听establish听sophisticated products.听We’re delighted to play a part in it, and we look forward to taking stock next year and seeing just how far听we鈥檝e听come once again.鈥澨�听
Ben Sweeney, founder of , which made the main list, added:听鈥淲ithin the tech space, you see a lot of 鈥榲anity鈥� awards, in which you basically pay for a mention. Tech Climbers isn鈥檛 like that, it鈥檚 free to enter and is looking to naturally profile the businesses that are looking for investment and growth opportunities.听
鈥淲e entered Tech Climbers and Tech Nation around the same time, and making both lists听ultimately put听VidiVet, and me as a founder, on the map in Liverpool, drawing the interest of River Capital who invested in us in September. There are many amazing tech businesses in the Liverpool City Region, so going out and gaining that exposure has been so important.鈥澨�听
The data also found more companies are working on their diversity and inclusion policies (89 per cent, +14 per cent from 2023).听Innovation and creating product-led solutions is also top of the agenda, with 79 per cent of entrants owning/using IP rights, and over half having copyright.听听听
The list is judged by the project partners, and looks at investment, impact,听and innovation. Entrants听submit听a snapshot of their data which is also used to chart growth and insight into the businesses and their challenges. Tech Climbers also runs in Greater Manchester and Yorkshire and is set to launch in another region later this year.听听
LCR Tech Climbers 2024 was sponsored by听BDO;鈥疊altic Ventures;鈥疊rabners; Marks & Clerk;鈥疶D Synnex and; Rathbones.
The ecosystem partners were 听LCR Angels; Startup Grind; Growth Platform and; Gather while the national partners were Data City;鈥疕ubSpot;鈥痶echUK;鈥痑nd InnovateHER.
Tech Climbers is organised by Active Profile and 老九品茶Cloud and TechBlast are the proud media sponsors.