Tech Climbers, the initiative profiling fast-growing tech businesses in scaling ecosystems across the UK, recently unveiled the best performing product-led tech businesses making an impact in the Liverpool City Region. The list was announced at a gathering of founders, investors, and ecosystem supporters held at Scale in Liverpool city centre, hosted by Oyinkansola Adebayo. The event celebrated 17 companies that made the official Tech Climbers list and 10 up-and-coming businesses recognised as ‘Ones to Watch’.
The Selection Process
Businesses were nominated or self-entered for assessment by an expert panel of judges, who evaluated the strongest examples of impact, innovation, and investment across the Liverpool City Region. The rigorous evaluation process focused on criteria such as revenue growth, scalability, social impact, and technological innovation. This year saw an influx of new entrants, with 66% entering Tech Climbers for the first time, showcasing the initiative's growing reputation as a platform for talent and ambition.
Key Findings: A Mission-Driven Ecosystem
Alongside the businesses that made the list, the 2024 Liverpool City Region Tech Climbers report also told the story of Liverpool's growing maturity as a mission-driven tech ecosystem. Just under two-thirds (57%) of the companies were leveraging ‘tech for good’ across key sub-sectors including health, education, accessibility, and sustainability. Notably, 83% were actively seeking investment, and 66% had already received some level of investment, demonstrating a clear ambition to scale. The data also forecast the creation of around 236 new jobs in the region, reflecting the sector's contribution to economic growth.
AI and MedTech Dominance
This year's Tech Climbers list continued to demonstrate the strength of Liverpool's growing MedTech and Life Sciences sector. An impressive 85% of entrants were using artificial intelligence (AI) to address real-world challenges across health, sustainability, accessibility, and more. This concentration of AI-driven health tech underscores Liverpool’s emergence as a hub for digital health innovation, leveraging its strong university base, such as the University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores University, as well as the presence of the Royal Liverpool University Hospital and other NHS trusts. The integration of AI with biomedicine is enabling breakthroughs in diagnostics, drug discovery, and patient monitoring, attracting investment from both public and private sources.
Case Studies: From Ones to Watch to Climbers
Two of the Climbers – Sum Vivas, a creator of digital employees, and workplace wellbeing firm The Wellbeing Doctors – moved from last year’s Ones to Watch list to this year’s Main List, highlighting a period of rapid growth. Sum Vivas provides AI-powered digital employees that automate routine tasks for businesses, enabling them to focus on higher-value work. The company has seen strong demand from sectors such as logistics, customer service, and finance, and its expansion reflects the broader shift towards AI-driven automation. The Wellbeing Doctors, meanwhile, offers comprehensive wellbeing services, including mental health support, physical health assessments, and nutritional advice, through a digital platform. The company has grown its client base significantly, supporting employers across the UK and Ireland.
Awards and Recognitions
Alongside the main list, three companies were recognised in individual categories. The Impressive Innovator award went to Guilford Street Laboratories, a university spinout combining biomarker science with AI-powered analytics. The company develops advanced diagnostic tools for early detection of diseases such as cancer and neurodegenerative disorders, leveraging proprietary algorithms to analyse biological samples with high accuracy. The Relentless Raiser category, awarded to those demonstrating remarkable business ideas on track to secure investment, went to Evove, a deeptech company accelerating the transition to a new energy economy through precision membrane technology. Evove’s membranes are used in water purification, energy storage, and carbon capture, offering a scalable solution to environmental challenges. Finally, the Innovating with Impact award went to MyCardium AI, a returning Tech Climber utilising AI to measure heart function. Since its launch four years ago, MyCardium AI has grown to 30 staff and achieved a multi-million-pound turnover, with its technology being used by cardiologists to improve diagnosis of heart failure and other conditions.
Investment and Support Infrastructure
The event also highlighted the support infrastructure available to tech businesses in the Liverpool City Region. Each business that made the list gains national recognition and joins a network of advisors and investors, as well as access to an exclusive prize package including investment readiness workshops by Brabners and strategy sessions to test growth plans with RSM UK. The campaign is powered by Tangerine Communications, with headline partners including Brabners, Marks & Clerk, Rathbones, and RSM. Ecosystem partners include Tech North Advocates, UK Tech Week, NatWest, Sciontec, Growth Platform, PXN Ventures, and LYVA Labs. National partners are HubSpot, TechUK, The Data City, and Innovate Her. This collaborative ecosystem provides founders with mentorship, funding opportunities, and market access, fuelling further growth.
Broader Context: Liverpool’s Tech Maturity
The Tech Climbers event was not only a celebration of Liverpool’s tech community but also an opportunity to reflect on how the City Region has matured as a place to raise investment, increase the number of jobs, and nurture fast-growing sectors contributing to economic growth. The region has seen a steady rise in venture capital investment, with startups like Evove and MyCardium AI attracting significant rounds. The presence of organisations such as LYVA Labs, which provides early-stage funding for deeptech, and Growth Platform, which supports business development, has been instrumental. Moreover, the increasing number of AI and MedTech companies is creating a virtuous cycle, attracting talent from universities and other tech hubs. The city’s relatively lower cost of living compared to London and the South East makes it an attractive location for scaling businesses.
Tech for Good: A Growing Trend
The ‘tech for good’ emphasis among 57% of entrants reflects a broader societal shift towards purpose-led business models. Companies like The Wellbeing Doctors and Guilford Street Laboratories are not only profitable but also address pressing social and environmental issues. This trend is supported by impact investors and public funding programmes, such as the UK Government’s Innovation Accelerator and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s innovation grants. The Tech Climbers list thus serves as a barometer for the region’s commitment to building a sustainable and inclusive digital economy.
Uncover all the fast-growing businesses innovating with impact by reading this year’s Liverpool City Region Tech Climbers list. The event concluded with a special mention of the headline, ecosystem, national, and event partners that make Tech Climbers possible. With a mission to profile fast-growing tech businesses in scaling tech ecosystems across the UK, Tech Climbers offers plenty of opportunities to support tech scaleups. Reach out to the team if you would like to extend your support in a region near you. Get in touch.
Source: UKTN News