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Building and scaling a tech startup can be a rollercoaster ride, filled with highs and lows. Navigating through the challenges of entrepreneurship is tough, and countless mistakes will inevitably be made. Having a solid support network can be a game-changer.
Baltic Ventures’ first annual Accelerator programme has proven to be a great source of support for numerous startups, providing them with hands-on coaching, profile-raising opportunities and the chance to network with investors. Now, let’s dive into the real stories of some of the programme’s alumni and how the impact it has left on them.
“The best decision”
For Kate Longworth, the CEO of Gaia Learning, the accelerator was a pivotal point in her entrepreneurial journey. She says: “The accelerator has supported me and my business by giving us the most fantastic cohort of individuals, the best learning experiences from people who’ve been there and done it, and a network of people who are professionals who we’ll be working with and be friends with for life.”
Gaia Learning is an online education ecosystem helping neurodivergent children thrive. Through small personalised classes, 1:1 tuition and a world first ‘whole child view’ learner dashboard Gaia Learning helps children with ADHD, Autism and additional needs have equal access to a quality education online to improve learning and life outcomes.
Kate emphasises the profound impact the accelerator had on both her professional and personal life: “It’ll be the best decision you’ve ever made for your professional career and your personal friendships through work.”
“Phenomenal”
Rebeca Garcia, CEO of Cubode, echoes Kate’s sentiments, describing her experience on the Baltic Ventures accelerator as “nothing short of phenomenal.”
Together with co-founders Ben McLoughlin and David Garcia, the team at Cubode are working towards a world where everyone can leverage AI to harness data, no code required. Just like Canva has democratised design, without having to hire a full creative team, Cubode is democratising data harnessing, without having to hire a team of coders.
She highlights the support they received, saying, “The accelerator has supported our business by introducing us to investors and giving us 1-2-1 coaching in the areas where we needed it most.”
The personalised coaching and networking opportunities have been instrumental in Cubode’s growth and success, making Rebeca a staunch advocate for the programme.
“We wouldn’t be where we are without it”
Thomas Faraquhar, co-founder of Liverpool-based greentech scaleup Heatio, emphasises the invaluable experience and coaching he received during the accelerator programme. He says, “The experience was invaluable and the coaching was incredible, so was being part of a cohort of like-minded individuals supporting each other.”
For aspiring founders, Thomas has some encouraging words: “What I’d say to founders looking to apply, definitely do so, whether you’ve been in business before or you’re new. What you’ll get in terms of skills, knowledge, and coaching is amazing. It’ll accelerate you beyond what you could possibly do yourself, and we wouldn’t be where we are without it.”
Laura Pomfret, co-founder of financial empowerment and education app Financielle, points to the practical, authentic, and knowledgeable advice and support they received from the Baltic Ventures team.
“They’ve given us practical, authentic and knowledgeable advice and support, which is really hard to come by in the business world,” she stressed.
“Just do it”
Laura also appreciates the emphasis the team placed on connecting startups with investors, a crucial aspect for early-stage businesses.
She encourages future founders to take the leap without hesitation, stating, “For founders considering applying for future cohorts: Don’t consider it, just do it because in the time you might have spent overthinking, you could have accelerated your business much more quickly.”
The Baltic Ventures Accelerator Programme has proven to be a launchpad for numerous startups, providing them with the resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities needed to thrive.
These success stories stand as a testament to the programme’s effectiveness in accelerating the growth and success of early-stage businesses.
Applications for our September 2024 programme are now open. Visit our Accelerator page to find out more.