Accelerator 2026

Secure up to £100,000 through our Accelerator 2026 programme.

Baltic Ventures is the UK’s leading regional venture platform. Based in the Baltic Triangle, Liverpool, we back tech founders before institutional capital arrives. We have deployed £1.08m through our angel syndicate and supported 50+ companies, with portfolio founders raising £14m+ in follow-on funding.

Accelerator 2026 is a 3-month in-person programme open to digital tech startups from anywhere in the UK and beyond. We will be looking to back up to 12 companies with an initial £25,000 investment, with an opportunity to secure an additional £75,000 in follow-on funding.

Applications close on 29 May 2026.

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This accelerator has genuinely transformed how we approach building Chest - from how we tell our story to how we experiment and grow. It's had a huge impact on us as founders, and Baltic Ventures have created something really special.

Ali Adam

Chest

The programme has opened my eyes to the areas I need to focus on in the business, our strengths and connected me with such amazing founders and coaches.

Daisy Harvey

Loom

The network that the Baltic Ventures team has also introduced us to is extraordinary

Josh Sinclair

MaestroAI

"Baltic Ventures is one of the best things I have ever done for my professional development, would highly recommend to any founder."

Olivia Cooley

ClassHoppa

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

Nothing short of life and business transforming

Kirstin Coughtrie

Founder, Gaia Learning

Accelerator 2025 Cohort

Our Companies

Aposto

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BreezeMove

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Chest

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ClassHoppa

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Future Greens

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Loom

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Maestro AI

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NestBox Live

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Plato

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What our cohort receives

In-person Programme

Funded programme with top tier team of coaches and advisors including exited founders

ASA Equity Investment

A £25,000 equity investment as an Advance Subscription Agreement (ASA), with the opportunity to secure an additional £75k from the Baltic Ventures Angel Syndicate

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

Highly curated investor dinners in Liverpool and London and a subsidised trip to Slush in Helsinki for you and your co-founder

Tech Perks

Tech platform perks from companies such as Google Cloud, 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

Who is Accelerator for?

Digital tech businesses with strong validation and early commercial traction who are ready to scale

You are planning to raise seed funding within the next 6-12 months

Teams of at least two 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 a transformative in-person programme in Liverpool to take your business to the next level

Companies that are incorporated as a company limited by shares

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 programme 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 to take part in Accelerator 2026

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 Minimum Financial Assistance (MFA) threshold of £315,000 over a three-year period. 

MFA replaces the legacy De Minimis state aid thresholds and regulations. Further guidance on MFA subsidy control can be accessed here

 

What investment terms do you offer for the £25k cash for equity?

Successful applicants will receive a £25k 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 £25k investment will convert to equity shares in your company at a pre-agreed backstop valuation. If your company raises at least £200k of 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 £975k 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. However, you will need to have it secured before the investment can take place.

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

Reach out to Programme Director Mo Aldalou at mo@balticventures.uk. We will also be organising two virtual drop-in sessions for founders to ask any questions about the programme.

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 1-2 days per week during the course of the 3-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 network 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 programme.

Accelerator 2026

A 3-month cohort programme, including an initial £25k investment, dedicated coaching support, interactive masterclasses and VC investor meetings. Companies will have the opportunity to secure an additional £75,000 in follow-on funding.