Based in Liverpool, Nova attracts venture capital investment for tech start-ups and its new summer programme offers entrepreneurs the chance of a £300,000 investment. Tony McDonough reports

Liverpool business ‘co-foundery’ Nova is launching a summer tech start-up programme which offers entrepreneurs the chance to pitch for £300,000.

Launched in 2014, Nova attracts venture capital investment for start-ups in the healthtech, fintech and eGaming sectors. It provides entrepreneurs with mentorship, guidance and funding.

Nova has helped create more than 40 businesses in the past five years. They include a digital veterinary service and a Dungeons and Dragons inventory app. In June LBN reported it had helped Liverpool conveyancer Eddie Goldsmith secure £300,000 for his digital venture to help homebuyers.

Its start-up programme, which begins on Monday, July 25, is aimed at employed people across the North West who are already working on a start-up project. Previous programmes have attracted 12,000 applications.

Successful applicants will receive mentorship and guidance from start-up experts. They will also have the opportunity to pitch for an investment of up to £300,000. The two-month online programme works to a flexible part-time schedule. This is designed to fit around participants’ existing commitments.

Candidates will receive one-to-one mentorship, and access to a series of webinars group work sessions. They will learn from start-up experts in disciplines including product development, marketing, finance and business strategy.

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Luke Thomas, head of founder onboarding at Nova, said: “Building tech start-ups takes time, expertise and financial commitment. And the failure rate is incredibly high, outside of our programme it’s as much as 95%. This can be intimidating for anyone to go through alone, especially whilst working and supporting a family.

“We believe our programme can help and provide the expertise and investment that founders need to reduce these risks. They don’t have to put in any of their own cash. Founders are encouraged to continue working at their day jobs for the first 12-months.

“We put a team around founders to allow them to learn as much about their business as possible, what works and what doesn’t, before they make the decision to quit their job.”

Further information and application form can be found via the Nova Tech Startup Programme website.