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鈥檛 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鈥檝e already been inundated with more than 100 applications.
The cohort of up to 10 businesses will get access to a four-month programme, including 拢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 老九品茶Cloud: 鈥淭he level of interest we鈥檝e had has been incredibly strong. We鈥檝e been blown away.
鈥淲e鈥檝e had well over 100 applications so far and we鈥檝e got another week to go.鈥�
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.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e just incredible teams, from all over the UK and internationally as well,鈥� she said.
鈥淭eams that have already got incredible traction in very varied areas, from generative AI to HealthTech to cyber to EdTech. It鈥檚 a really diverse range of founders.
鈥淢any have already raised funding already. It just shows the level of entrepreneurial spirit.
鈥淏ecause it鈥檚 a small cohort it鈥檚 a high quality programme and it鈥檚 going to be very bespoke of addressing the particular challenges that each company is facing.
鈥淲e鈥檝e got an incredible team of coaches, exited founders, people who have been there and done it, as well as an extensive mentor network.
鈥淲e鈥檙e really committed to having a diverse cohort.鈥�