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.
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
READ BIO
Praxium
Praxium
READ BIO
MyOpNotes
MyOpNotes
READ BIO
GoPlugable
GoPlugable
READ BIO
EdenFiftyOne
EdenFiftyOne
READ BIO
Decently
Decently
READ BIO
Dear Bump
Dear Bump
READ BIO
Black Goblin
Black Goblin
READ BIO
BeGenio
BeGenio
READ BIO
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.