New Year, New…Startup? Liverpool startup factory, Nova, opens applications to find ‘The North West’s Best Entrepreneurial Talent’

Liverpool, UK - 16 Jan, 2020: The startup cofoundery that’s launched over 70 successful tech businesses, including a Dungeons & Dragons inventory app, a hand hygiene improvement system for hospitals and a foetal monitoring wearable for expectant mums, have opened applications to a 2020 startup programme that plans to uncover latent entrepreneurial talent from across the North West region.

In a bid to further prove the North West’s credentials as a tech and business innovation hub, in what is an increasingly London centric market, Nova has pledged to launch a further 30 businesses from their Liverpool HQ during the 2020 calendar year. The programme’s application form calls for people with “ambition, resilience, inner drive and the ability to problem solve” to transform their startup ideas into high growth businesses.

Having already raised over £10m in investment capital, creating over £72m in shareholder value and over 200 jobs, the programme to date has positively impacted the North West’s economic development efforts. Nova’s success is credited to their provision of finance, experience and support to guide start-ups through what can be a challenging journey to market and scale.

Backed by notable investor Sir Terry Leahy, Nova’s startup programme has grown in popularity since it’s launch in 2014. With last year's programme receiving over 2500 applications, of which 27 fledgeling startup founders went on to form new businesses with Nova. Successful applicants join the fee-free programme, alongside their day job, to develop, launch and grow their business over a twelve month period.

Andy Dean, Head of Partnerships at Nova, said: "We know that there are many barriers facing people who want to start a business, often the risks involved are high, including the financial requirement, the time, and the diverse skills needed. The prospect of doing this alone, all whilst supporting their family without any existing employment, can kill many brilliant businesses before they even begin.

We all know someone who believes they are sitting on that brilliant tech business idea, and probably have been for years, but does nothing about it. We have a programme that allows those people to actually prove if it is a great tech idea and then supports them to realise their ambition to build and launch it.

We truly believe our region is a hotbed for entrepreneurial talent and our plans for the next 12 months will further cement the North West’s position as a thriving technology and startup location, with ecosystems as strong as anywhere in the UK”

Further information about the programme and application process can be found at https://www.wearenova.co.uk/new-year-new-startup


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