Tech Climbers 2024: Liverpool City Region's Fastest-Growing Tech Firms
Tech Climbers, the initiative profiling the best performing product-led tech businesses in the UK's scaling ecosystems, has announced its 2024 list for the Liverpool City Region. The unveiling took place at Scale in Liverpool city centre, hosted by Oyinkansola Adebayo, and celebrated 17 companies that made the official list alongside 10 up-and-coming businesses recognised as 'Ones to Watch'. The event drew founders, investors, and ecosystem supporters from across the region, marking a key moment for Liverpool's tech community.
Key Findings from This Year's List
The 2024 Tech Climbers list was compiled through nominations and self-entries, with an expert panel of judges evaluating businesses on impact, innovation, and investment. One of the standout statistics is that 57% of the businesses on the list are leveraging 'tech for good', particularly across sub-sectors such as health, education, accessibility, and sustainability. Furthermore, 83% of entrants are actively seeking investment, and 66% have already secured some level of funding, demonstrating a clear ambition to scale. The event also highlighted Liverpool's growing maturity as a mission-driven tech ecosystem, with the data forecasting the creation of around 236 new jobs.
AI and MedTech Dominate
This year's list continued to showcase the strength of Liverpool's MedTech and Life Sciences sector, with 85% of all entrants using artificial intelligence to address real-world challenges in health, sustainability, accessibility, and more. This reflects a broader trend in the region where AI is increasingly being deployed to solve pressing societal issues, from heart function measurement to precision medicine. The influx of first-time participants—66% of the list were new entrants—also demonstrates the expanding talent pool and the growing reputation of Tech Climbers as a platform for emerging innovators.
Two Companies Move Up from Ones to Watch
Two notable success stories are Sum Vivas, which creates digital employees, and The Wellbeing Doctors, a workplace wellbeing firm. Both were listed as 'Ones to Watch' in 2023 and have now graduated to the main 2024 list, highlighting a period of rapid growth and increasing impact. Their journeys exemplify the supportive nature of the Liverpool tech ecosystem, where businesses can accelerate from promising startups to established players within a year.
Special Awards for Standout Innovators
Alongside the main list, three companies received special awards. The Impressive Innovator award went to Guilford Street Laboratories, a university spinout that combines biomarker science with AI-powered analytics. This company is pioneering new ways to diagnose and monitor diseases, leveraging decades of academic research alongside cutting-edge technology. The Relentless Raiser award was given to Evove, a deeptech company that is accelerating the transition to a new energy economy through precision membrane technology. Evove's work is critical for sustainable water treatment and energy production, attracting significant investor interest. Finally, the Innovating with Impact award was presented to MyCardium AI, a returning Tech Climber that uses AI to measure heart function. Since its launch just four years ago, MyCardium AI has grown to 30 employees and achieved a multi-million-pound turnover, demonstrating both commercial viability and meaningful societal benefit.
Benefits for Listed Companies
Every business that made the 2024 Tech Climbers list gains national recognition and joins a network of advisors and investors. They also receive an exclusive prize package, including investment readiness workshops by Brabners and strategy sessions to test growth plans with RSM UK. This support is designed to help these companies scale rapidly and access the capital they need. The initiative is powered by Tangerine Communications and supported by headline partners such as 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.
Broader Context: Liverpool City Region as a Tech Hub
The success of Tech Climbers reflects the broader growth of Liverpool's tech economy. The city region has seen a surge in investment, talent, and startup activity in recent years, driven by world-class universities, a strong digital infrastructure, and supportive public-private partnerships. MedTech and life sciences have emerged as particular strengths, buoyed by institutions like the University of Liverpool and the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. AI is being applied across sectors—from fintech to logistics—and the region is increasingly seen as a viable alternative to London for tech entrepreneurs. The collaborative spirit among investors, corporates, and government bodies has created a fertile ground for purpose-led innovation, where companies are not just chasing profit but also addressing pressing social and environmental challenges.
Outlook for 2025 and Beyond
The 2024 Tech Climbers list sets a high bar for future cohorts. With the majority of entrants seeking investment and creating jobs, the ecosystem is poised for continued expansion. The emphasis on 'tech for good' suggests that Liverpool's tech sector is not just growing but is also aligning with global sustainability and inclusivity goals. As more companies graduate to the main list and new ones emerge, Tech Climbers will continue to shine a spotlight on the region's brightest innovators. The event concluded with a special thanks to all partners, and the team behind Tech Climbers is already looking ahead to future editions, inviting more companies and supporters to get in touch to extend the campaign's reach across the UK.
For those interested in the full list of 17 companies and 10 Ones to Watch, the official 2024 Liverpool City Region Tech Climbers list is available online. The initiative remains committed to profiling fast-growing tech businesses in scaling ecosystems, offering opportunities for support and collaboration in regions across the country.
Source: UKTN News