Start-up tech firms in Liverpool city region could get access to a Silicon Valley-based accelerator support programme. Tony McDonough reports

Tech entrepreneurs in Liverpool city region could get access to a business support accelerator programme being run out of Silicon Valley in California.

Earlier in April, LBN reported how Liverpool tech entrepreneur Jonny Clark has flown to the US to represent more than 100 Mersey start-ups at the Startup Grind Global Conference in Redwood in California.

As well as being the co-founder of digital venture GDPR Defender, Jonny is also director of the Liverpool chapter of the Startup Grind community, comprising more than 100 early-stage businesses.

Startup Grind is the world’s largest start-up community, designed to “educate, inspire, and connect” entrepreneurs. It brings like-minded individuals together via events, conferences, startup membership, partner membership, student and investor programmes.

Founded in Silicon Valley in California, Startup Grind now has chapters in 600 cities across 125 countries, collectively reaching more than 5m individuals worldwide.

Returning from the conference Jonny has revealed that Startup Grind is launching the what is says is the world’s first community-owned accelerator, the Startup Grind Distributed Autonomous Organisation or the ‘SG DAO’.

It will support founders to plan, build and scale by harnessing the network and knowledge of SG’s global community. Jonny said: “Startup Grind has announced that it will be raising a fund and delivering a world-class education programme to actively help selected startups, chosen via community consensus and sourced from its different chapters.

“The accelerator will give a significant cash injection to companies showing promise and early signs of traction – and they will get an intensive short programme of education, mentoring and support.

“In return for the work that they do in supporting the entrepreneurs helping them raise more investments and grow their business, DAO members can receive a percentage of the returns from companies the accelerator has invested in who go on to be acquired or IPO.

“This is great news for startups in Liverpool. We can nominate and lobby for Startup Grind members to be selected for the accelerator, enabling them to get access to a Silicon Valley resource base and some of the brightest minds on the planet. If you haven’t already, now is a great time to become part of the Startup Grind community.”

For more information on the Startup Grind Liverpool chapter, click here.