Top 52 Liverpool Startups to Watch in 2026
Liverpool's startup ecosystem features a mix of industries, from retail to finance. Companies like The Very Group have secured significant funding, reaching £798M.
The scene also includes newer companies such as Sandfield Capital, which has raised £630.5M since its founding in 2020.
Below is our list of 52 Liverpool startups worth keeping an eye on.
Failory's Top 10 Picks
The Very Group operates a multi-brand digital retail business, including popular UK and Irish brands like Very and Littlewoods. The company integrates its retail platform with flexible financial services, which allows customers to spread the cost of their purchases.
| Year Founded | 2005 |
| Founders | David Rowat Barclay, Frederick Hugh Barclay |
| Funding Amount | £798M |
| Startup Size | Major Organization (1,001-5,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Debt Financing |
| Top Investors | The Carlyle Group, International Media Investments, Arini, Frederick Barclay, David Barclay |
Peel Ports operates a strategic network of ports and terminals across the United Kingdom. Their facilities are central to the UK's supply chain, offering comprehensive logistics and marine transportation services for diverse cargo.
| Year Founded | 2005 |
| Founders | — |
| Funding Amount | £50M |
| Startup Size | Major Organization (1,001-5,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Debt Financing |
| Top Investors | Global Infrastructure Partners, APG Asset Management, Pension Insurance, AustralianSuper |
Central Group offers comprehensive engineering services and supplies for industrial rotating machinery. As one of the UK's largest independent providers, they specialize in the repair and maintenance of critical equipment like motors, pumps, and gearboxes.
| Year Founded | 1972 |
| Founders | — |
| Funding Amount | £700k |
| Startup Size | Mid-Size Team (51-250) |
| Last Funding Status | Debt Financing |
| Top Investors | NPIF - FW Capital Debt Finance |
Marosa builds tax technology to help businesses manage global VAT compliance, e-invoicing, and tax reporting. Their platform simplifies the complexities of international regulations, allowing companies to stay compliant across multiple jurisdictions.
| Year Founded | 2016 |
| Founders | Pedro Pestana |
| Funding Amount | €12M |
| Startup Size | Lean Team (11-50) |
| Last Funding Status | Private Equity |
| Top Investors | Aquiline Capital Partners |
Sandfield Capital provides specialized funding for the legal sector, offering capital for complex disputes and litigation. They finance a range of needs from individual lawsuits to entire case portfolios for law firms and corporate claimants.
| Year Founded | 2020 |
| Founders | — |
| Funding Amount | £630.5M |
| Startup Size | — |
| Last Funding Status | Debt Financing |
| Top Investors | Perspective Investments, Ampla Finance |
Matalan offers a wide range of fashion and homeware for British shoppers. The brand emphasizes value, providing families with affordable clothing and items for the home.
| Year Founded | 1981 |
| Founders | John Hargreaves |
| Funding Amount | £25M |
| Startup Size | Enterprise Organization (5,001+) |
| Last Funding Status | Seed |
| Top Investors | Invesco, Tresidor Investment Management, Man Group, Napier Park Global Capital |
Ulemco develops hydrogen fuel technology that allows commercial vehicles to run with ultra-low emissions. They specialize in engineering dual-fuel systems, which let existing vehicle fleets operate on a blend of hydrogen and diesel.
| Year Founded | 2014 |
| Founders | Amanda Lyne |
| Funding Amount | £9.1M |
| Startup Size | Lean Team (11-50) |
| Last Funding Status | Venture Round |
| Top Investors | Scottish Enterprise, Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund, Mercia Ventures, Equity Gap, Advanced Propulsion Centre UK |
Betmate runs a social betting platform that lets users place wagers against one another rather than the house. The app centers on fantasy sports and eSports, creating a more interactive way for friends to compete.
| Year Founded | 2020 |
| Founders | Daniel Leaper, Declan Dowling, Ryan Lawrence |
| Funding Amount | £1.6M |
| Startup Size | Founding Team (1-10) |
| Last Funding Status | Series A |
| Top Investors | Haatch, Accelerate Ventures |
Heatio builds a home energy management platform that guides homeowners in adopting low-carbon technologies like solar panels and heat pumps. Their system creates personalized decarbonization plans to help households reduce energy bills and move towards net zero.
| Year Founded | 2022 |
| Founders | Simon Roberts, Thomas Farquhar |
| Funding Amount | £3.8M |
| Startup Size | Lean Team (11-50) |
| Last Funding Status | Seed |
| Top Investors | Ascension, SyndicateRoom, NorthInvest, Baltic Ventures, LYVA Labs |
Insight Surgery digitizes the surgical planning process with its proprietary platform. They then supply patient-specific medical devices to put that plan directly into effect during surgery.
| Year Founded | 2015 |
| Founders | Henry Pinchbeck, Paul Fotheringham |
| Funding Amount | $4.8M |
| Startup Size | Lean Team (11-50) |
| Last Funding Status | Series A |
| Top Investors | Nodenza Venture Partners, Fenwall Investments |
42 Additional Liverpool Startups Worth Following
The top 10 are just a glimpse of the energy across Liverpool right now. Founders are building companies in everything from biotech to education, and have raised well over £100 million combined.
Some of these companies are just starting out, while others are well established businesses. Here’s a closer look at the other startups shaping Liverpool's local economy.
| Startup | Industry | Year Founded | Amount Raised | Last Funding Round |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Liverpool ChiroChem | Biotech | 2014 | £5.8M | Venture Round |
 Morrisons | Manufacturing | 1987 | — | — |
 iiCON | Other | 2020 | £10M | Grant |
 SupplyWell | Education | 2017 | £2M | Venture Round |
 OBT Live | AI | 2023 | £2.3M | Series A |
 GGM360 | Marketplace | 2024 | £20k | Seed |
 Fourth Wall | Media | 2019 | £1.6M | Debt Financing |
 Operam Education Group | Education | 2017 | £8.7M | Venture Round |
 Marine Specialised Technology | Manufacturing | 2002 | £6M | Corporate Round |
 InnovateHer | Education | 2017 | £530k | Corporate Round |
 Ripstone | Logistics | 2011 | £1.3M | Debt Financing |
 Asteroid Mining Corporation Ltd | Mobility | 2016 | $1.2M | Pre-Seed |
 Atomik AM | Manufacturing | 2023 | £725k | Seed |
 TTS Pharma | Biotech | 2012 | £10.9M | Series B |
 Joloda International | Logistics | 1962 | £7.5M | Venture Round |
 Clustr | Crypto | 2022 | $150k | Pre-Seed |
 OCUWELL | Healthcare | 2022 | £975k | Pre-Seed |
 vTime | Enterprise | 2013 | $7.6M | Series A |
 Big Fang Collective | Travel | 2016 | £5.5M | Venture Round |
 DAKAEi Technologies LTD | AI | 2024 | $100k | Pre-Seed |
 Happy Drinks Co | Retail | 2021 | £6M | Equity Crowdfunding |
 Nova | Data | 2015 | £1.8M | Equity Crowdfunding |
 Manufacturing Technology Centre | Manufacturing | 2010 | £402k | Grant |
 The Rayware Group | Retail | 1975 | £2.6M | Debt Financing |
 ReNewVax | Biotech | 2022 | £250k | Pre-Seed |
 FLOW | Healthcare | 2021 | £1.3M | Pre-Seed |
 Velstar | Marketing | 2016 | £300k | Debt Financing |
 ABJAK | Retail | 2022 | £350k | Seed |
 MGISS | Enterprise | 2014 | £600k | Venture Round |
 Lola Cares by Leaf AI | AI | 2023 | £250k | Pre-Seed |
 PIN IoT | Infrastructure | 2018 | £350k | Seed |
 X Tag | Media | 2014 | £20M | Private Equity |
 Damibu Ltd | SaaS | 2010 | £678.9k | Grant |
 Sentric Music | Media | 2006 | £3.3M | Venture Round |
 Cubode | SaaS | 2022 | £50k | Seed |
 Property Moose | Fintech | 2013 | £1.9M | Venture Round |
 92 Degrees | Food | 2014 | £1.4M | Private Equity |
 Circada | Hardware | 2018 | £680k | Seed |
 Bitbaby | Hardware | 2020 | £60k | Pre-Seed |
| Myma Medical | Healthcare | 2020 | £496k | Grant |
 Swished | Media | 2020 | £143.6k | Seed |
 Love Lane Brewing | Food | 2010 | £1.1M | Equity Crowdfunding |
