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Pre-Seed Challenge Funds

Investment to grow your innovative health and life science, deep tech, or clean tech business

As part of the Liverpool City Region’s vision to increase the impact of the health and life science and deep tech sectors, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority has provided LYVA Labs with £7m for pre-seed investment to accelerate growth, create jobs, and address the funding gap for early stage start-ups in the region.
 
Innovative businesses and start-ups across the region can apply for investment of £10,000 to £250,000 for idea development and commercialisation. 
 
As managers of the fund, we aim to create an ecosystem of high-growth companies. Any returns on investments made go back into this Challenge Fund to allow continued innovation for businesses within the region.

Our investment focus areas

2
Health & Life Science
1
Clean Tech for Health
3
Deep Tech

Who is this for?

Start-up or early stage business innovating in the health and life science (including clean tech for health) and deep tech sectors.
 
Businesses must be based or willing to relocate to Liverpool City Region.
 
LYVA Labs will also consider co-investment in a larger round alongside other investors.
 
This fund is not suitable for those working in pharma, drugs, alcohol, or consumer health industries.
 

Clean Tech for Health, a new focus for LYVA Labs

Through the Liverpool City Region Innovation Zone Programme, the new Clean Tech for Health Fund has provided an additional £1M of investment capital for early stage businesses, alongside LYVA Labs’ incubator and commercialisation support.

We are looking for innovative companies who are developing innovative solutions and tackling urgent challenges at the intersection of climate, environment and health.

  • Health-focused companies with a climate benefit

    (e.g., solutions in healthcare that reduce energy demand, MedTech lowering hospital carbon footprints).

  • Climate-focused companies with a health benefit

    (e.g., air quality technologies improving respiratory outcomes, sustainable food innovations with health impact).

  • Innovations making healthcare more sustainable

    (e.g., life science solutions with sustainability improvements, greener surgical equipment, medical waste reduction).

How we support your investment journey

Helping you get investment ready

If you fit our eligibility and our team think the idea is innovative with great potential, we will work with you to identify the best mechanism of support which may be through our incubator programme or writing a investment proposal that we will pitch to our investment committee.

We can help your business all stages, from setting up a company, to developing your business case and conducting market research and competitor analysis.

If we decide not to invest in your company we can still provide connections, business support and commercialisation advice to develop your business.

Working with you to grow
If the investment is approved, or you join our incubator, you will become a part of our portfolio companies. Depending on circumstances, we may appoint a NED and our team will work with you to track progress and be on-hand to provide ongoing support such as grant applications, connecting our with tech development and research partners, and with introductions to the next round of investors.
We're an Innovate UK Investor Partner

The IUK Investor Partnership programme is a unique grant opportunity aligned to equity investment for high-growth, innovative UK companies to access the funding they need to thrive and succeed. Learn more here.

Our investment approach

"LYVA Labs has helped us connect to the right people. We would like to thank Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, the LYVA Labs team, and Lorna Green personally for her vision in setting up the company."

Dr Jennet Beasley, Founder, Daresbury Proteins

"Investment from LYVA Labs will allow the company to complete the development of autoICSI and associated AI based high-definition vision camera system in record time. Ensuring the system is ready for full clinical trial and regulatory approval."

Dr Yash Khandia, CEO, Myma Medical

Interested?

Investment Portfolio
  • All
  • Health & Life Science
  • Deep Tech

Frequasense

Rapid point of care sepsis detection technology

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Daresbury Proteins

Production of difficult to express proteins and cell line development

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Myma Medical

Automating the ICSI process for IVF clinics

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Entropix

Developing novel enzymes and biocatalysts

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Spotlight Pathology

A.I. decision support tools for blood cancer diagnosis

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Tectores

Pellitec, blister prevention pads for footwear

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BBL Protect

Solutions for safe patient transfer and isolation

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Haptiv8

Wearable technology solutions to aid tiptoe walkers

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Vizbox

Virtual reality solutions to aid with neuro-rehabilitation recovery

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CCI Photonics

Identification of infectious diseases in 15 minutes

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Heatio

Home energy data and analytics platform for adoption of low carbon technologies

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StrucLock

Utilising waste streams to develop new modular building solutions

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Left Field FC

Utilising data analytics to aid decision makers in the football industry

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Barro

On-demand delivery for independents, utilising mobile distribution centres

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Birl

No-touch resales solution for fashion retailers and sports brands

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Gigmate

Platform connecting fans, gigs, bands and venues

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Universal Atmosphere Processing

GHG capture and noble gas production

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Atomik AM

Binder jet solutions for additive manufacturing

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