Baltic Ventures Accelerator

Baltic Ventures is an early-stage digital tech accelerator based in the Baltic Triangle, Liverpool that supports game-changing founding teams who are building the solutions and businesses of tomorrow.

Baltic Ventures Accelerator offers a 4-month cohort programme, including £30k investment, dedicated coaching support, interactive masterclasses and VC investor meetings.

Applications for Accelerator 2025 will open in May ‘25.

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Who is Accelerator for?

Early-stage tech businesses with a product, or prototype, and have achieved some traction with your initial product or service offer

You are considering raising seed funding within the next 6-12 months

Teams of at least 2 co-founders (although we will consider applications from sole founders)

Founders with relevant experience in your product area or target market

Teams ready to commit to the 4 month (part-time) transformative in-person programme in Liverpool to take your business to the next level

Companies that are incorporated as a company limited by shares

We are particularly interested in applications from diverse founder teams

What our cohort receives

4 Month Programme

4-month free programme with top tier team of coaches and advisors

£30k Equity Investment

£30k equity investment as an Advance Subscription Agreement (ASA)

Masterclasses

Interactive and practical masterclasses with industry leaders and mentors

Personal Coaches

Your own personal expert coaching team to help tackle your most pressing challenges

Investment support

Dedicated support and networking opportunities designed to help you in securing potential investment

Networking Trips

Subsidised trips to Sifted Summit in London and Slush in Helsinki

Talent Program

Access to Baltic Ventures’ funded talent programme to support teams with emerging Liverpool City Region talent

Tech Perks

Tech platform perks from companies such as AWS, HubSpot, Scaleway, Notion and Miro

Office Space

Up to 9 months use of our office space in Liverpool’s Baltic Triangle

Access to Partners

Introduction and fast track connection to a range of corporate and regional partners

The Application Process

Application

Your application to Accelerator begins with an application form, this includes information about you, your founding team, your eligibility for the programme, your commitment to sustainable growth and your finances.

Online Interview

Human connection is important, for us to get to know you and your motivations for joining the programme. The next stage is a 40 minute interview with a member of the Baltic Ventures team.

Investor Pitch Day

If successful you will be invited to the final stage- an in person investor pitch day. This is a chance for you to meet the team and for the Baltic Ventures Angel Syndicate to decide what businesses they want to invest in.

Offer

If selected to take part in the accelerator you will receive a written offer and next steps via email, we will then move into the due diligence stage and legals for your ASA equity investment.

Timeline

Applications
Accelerator 2025

01

May

Applications Open

31

May

Application Deadline

In Person Investor Shortlist Day

June 2025

Accelerator kick off

September 2025

Masterclass #1

Masterclass #2

Masterclass #3

Masterclass #4

Masterclass #5

Masterclass #6

Slush Trip

November 2025

Masterclass #7

Masterclass #8

Masterclass #9

Investor Dinner- North

December 2025

Demo day

January 2026

Investor Dinner- South

January 2026

Our Companies

SoSquared

SoSquared

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Praxium

Praxium

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MyOpNotes

MyOpNotes

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GoPlugable

GoPlugable

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EdenFiftyOne

EdenFiftyOne

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Decently

Decently

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Dear Bump

Dear Bump

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Black Goblin

Black Goblin

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BeGenio

BeGenio

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Nothing short of life and business transforming

Kirstin Coughtrie

Founder, Gaia Learning

What an incredible experience this accelerator has been. We have learnt so much, honed new skills and grown faster and bigger as a business over these last 6 months. Heatio is stronger, more agile and more dynamic than ever!

Thomas Farquhar

Co-Founder, Heatio

I've benefitted from the combination of friendly competition pushing us, real expertise being shared, and having a group of people who truly understand the founder journey.

Paul Williams

Founder, Ittybit

FAQs

How many companies take part in each Accelerator programme?

Up to 12 companies

Does my company need to be based in the Liverpool City Region to apply ?

Companies can apply from anywhere in the world to Accelerator, as long as you are able to attend the programmed activities in-person in the UK. If you are applying from outside of the UK you may be required to secure a UK visa. More information on the visa process can be found here.

Where does the Accelerator programme take place?

The majority of the Accelerator program takes place at our space in the Baltic Triangle, Liverpool. Additionally there will be coaching & mentoring online as well as exclusive networking events and dinners in locations such as London and Helsinki. 

Are there any fees or charges for Accelerator?

There are no cash fees or charges for the Baltic Ventures Accelerator programme.

What is the Accelerator programme worth and does it count towards our State Aid / de minimis threshold?

The Accelerator programme is provided cash free and is worth £40,000. This value is separate from the cash investment offered from our angel syndicate.

This £40,000 counts towards your subsidy threshold of £315,000 over a three-year period. 

For more information on how a De Minimis Subsidy affects an SEIS allowance please read the Seedlegals guidance here

What investment terms do you offer for the £30k cash for equity?

Successful applicants will receive a £30k equity investment from our angel syndicate who will invest via a nominee company, keeping cap tables nice and clean.

Investments are made as an Advanced Subscription Agreement (ASA) with a 20% discount for Baltic Ventures Angels on the next raise your company may makes. If your company raises no equity finance within 6 months of the ASA date then the £30k investment will convert to equity shares in your company at a pre-agreed backstop valuation. If your company does raise equity funding within 6 months of the ASA date then the ASA will convert to shares at 20% of the pre-money valuation used in this round with your new investors. 

How is the pre-agreed backstop valuation decided?

If you have raised equity finance (£100k+), or received a bona fide term sheet from a reputable equity investor,  in the past 12 months, this pre-money valuation will be taken as your backstop valuation in our ASA. If you have not raised equity finance then a backstop valuation of £970k pre-money will be used.  

Why do the ASAs convert after 6 months?

This 6 month time period is set by HMRC. By converting to shares within 6 months, it means that our angel investors can benefit from SEIS or EIS tax credits on their ASA investment.

Do I need to have SEIS or EIS Assurance in place when I apply to Baltic Ventures?

No, you do not need to have already applied for SEIS and/or EIS Advanced Assurance when you apply to Baltic Ventures. If you are successful in your application to Baltic Ventures we, alongside our partner Seedlegals, will be on hand to support you through the (S)EIS application process.

I’m interested- how can I find out more?

We run a series of drop in sessions when applications open each year in May. Sign up to our waitlist and newsletter to stay in the loop

I’ve applied - how likely am I to receive a place?

Places on our Accelerator programme are highly competitive. We interview an initial list of applicants and will then invite a shortlist to an investor pitch day at the end of June. The successful companies will be notified soon after so we can arrange for you to receive your investment and hand pick your coaching and mentoring teams ready for Accelerator’s kick off in September.

Who from my team can take part in the program with me?

Accelerator is focused on co-founding teams but the programme includes bespoke workstreams to ensure we serve the specific needs of each of our selected early-stage companies. We can include elements to suit founders wishing to involve other members of their team. 

What weekly time commitment does the program require?

The time commitment required varies from week to week and by team, as we tailor the programme to your needs, but expect to commit around a day a week during the course of the 4-month programme.

What happens when Accelerator ends?

Community is central to Baltic Ventures. Once the Accelerator programme completes in January you become part of our Alumni and you will always find a home, support and a team that has your back. From office hours to mentor and investor connections to invites to exclusive events, the relationship doesn’t end here, it is just beginning……

Do you only invest into companies that take part in Accelerator?

Yes, the Baltic Ventures Angel Syndicate currently only invests into companies that take part in our Accelerator program.

Accelerator 2025

Accelerator 2025 is a 4-month cohort programme, including a £30k investment, dedicated coaching support, interactive masterclasses and VC investor meetings.