Organization · Accelerator
Virgin StartUp
Virgin StartUp is a UK-based organization that provides funding, mentoring, and community resources to early-stage founders. It has facilitated over £100 million in loans to more than 7,000 entrepreneurs since its inception.
Overview
What Virgin StartUp does
What Virgin StartUp is
Virgin StartUp is a UK-based organization that provides funding, mentoring, and community resources to early-stage founders. It has facilitated over £100 million in loans to more than 7,000 entrepreneurs since its inception.
How it participates in the startup ecosystem
The current public profile supports funder and program host and community capabilities. Each capability below is shown separately so organization identity and role-specific information do not get conflated.
Operational profile
Organization status and context
Organization status describes the entity itself. Funding and program availability appear within the relevant capability profile.
- Operational status
- Active
- Organization type
- Accelerator
- Founded
- Founded in 2013
- Approximate age
- About 13 years
- Structured capabilities
- Funder · Program host · Community
- Last reviewed
- March 27, 2026
What Accelerator means
An accelerator is a structured, short-term program designed to speed up a startup's progress toward product-market fit, traction, fundraising, or scale.
Open the glossary entryOfficial channels
Find Virgin StartUp elsewhere
Open the official website or a supported primary organization account.
Capability profile
Virgin StartUp as a funder
Investment thesis
Virgin StartUp supports UK founders through government-backed loans and accelerator programs, focusing on underrepresented entrepreneurs to foster growth and investment potential.
Focus narrative
Virgin StartUp offers funding through Start Up Loans, allowing co-founders to borrow up to £25,000. The organization also runs the Empower100 accelerator aimed at underrepresented founders, providing a fully funded program to help them unlock growth and investment potential. Additionally, it fosters a community platform for founders to connect, share, and learn from one another.
Value beyond capital
Virgin StartUp provides a unique combination of government-backed loans and dedicated support for underrepresented founders through its Empower100 accelerator. The Virgin brand adds credibility and visibility, while the loan model allows founders to access capital without giving up equity. The organization also tracks loan approvals against its 50/50 gender pledge, ensuring equal support for women and men founders.
Terms and economics
- Typical check
- $500–$25,000
- Sweet spot
- $14,300
Focus and fit
- Stages
- Pre-seed · Seed · Seed+
- Regions
- United Kingdom
Availability
- Currently deploying
- Yes
Portfolio and track record
- Recorded portfolio count
- 7,000
Portfolio context
Notable portfolio companies supported by Virgin StartUp include: DASH Water: Healthy drinks made from wonky vegetables. UpCircle Beauty: Skincare products that reduce waste and cruelty. Oddbox: Delivery service for wonky fruits and vegetables. Change Please: Coffee company creating social change through sales. L.A. Brewery: Non-alcoholic drinks that are healthy and eco-friendly. Love Cocoa: Ethical and sustainable chocolate production.
Capability profile
Virgin StartUp as a program host
Program thesis
Virgin StartUp supports founders in starting and growing their businesses through funding, mentoring, and community resources.
Focus narrative
Virgin StartUp offers funding through Start Up Loans, allowing co-founders to borrow up to £25,000. The organization also runs accelerator programs aimed at underrepresented founders to help them unlock growth and investment potential. Additionally, it provides a community platform for founders to connect, share, and learn from one another.
Value and support
Virgin StartUp provides funding through government-backed loans, mentorship, and a supportive community for founders. The Empower100 accelerator specifically supports underrepresented founders, offering a fully funded program to help them grow their businesses.
Terms and economics
- Indicative investment
- $25,000
Format and cadence
- Typical duration
- 6 weeks
- Typical cohort
- 100 companies
- Cohorts per year
- 2
- Format
- In Person
Availability
- Application state
- Accepting
Focus and fit
- Stages
- Pre-seed · Seed
- Regions
- United Kingdom
Alumni and track record
- Last recorded cohort
- October 2, 2025
Alumni context
Notable portfolio companies supported by Virgin StartUp include: DASH Water: Co-founded by Alex Wright, this company focuses on creating healthy drinks using wonky vegetables. UpCircle Beauty: Co-founded by Anna Brightman and her brother Will, UpCircle aims to reduce waste and cruelty in skincare. Oddbox: Founded by Emilie Vanpoperinghe, Oddbox delivers wonky fruit and vegetables that are rejected by supermarkets to consumers. Change Please: Founded by Cemal Ezel, this company started with a coffee cart funded by a Start Up Loan and aims to create social change through coffee sales. L.A. Brewery: Founded by Louise Avery, this company specializes in brewing non-alcoholic drinks that are both healthy and environmentally friendly. Love Cocoa: Founded by James Cadbury, this chocolate company emphasizes ethical and sustainable production practices.
Capability profile
Virgin StartUp as a community
Community overview
Virgin StartUp is an organization based in the United Kingdom that supports founders in starting and growing their businesses. Founded by Richard Branson in 2013, it operates as a national Business Support Partner of the British Business Bank's Start Up Loans Scheme. The organization has facilitated over £100 million in funding to small businesses and has supported more than 7,000 founders through its Start Up program.
Community focus
Virgin StartUp focuses on providing funding through Start Up Loans, allowing co-founders to borrow up to £25,000. It runs accelerator programs aimed at underrepresented founders to help them unlock growth and investment potential. Additionally, it offers a community platform for founders to connect, share, and learn from one another.
Member value
Members benefit from access to government-backed startup loans, mentorship, and a supportive community. The Empower100 accelerator specifically supports underrepresented founders, providing them with resources and networking opportunities to enhance their business growth.
Membership
- Recorded members
- 7,000
- Pricing models
- free
Format and cadence
- Modality
- in-person
- Schedule
- rolling-admissions
- Commitment
- light
Availability
- Membership state
- Accepting
- Next recorded event
- June 19, 2025
Audience and fit
- Audience
- Founders · Students
- Benefits
- mentorship and network-access
- Program types
- accelerator and community
- Selection criteria
- open and application
- Stages
- Pre-seed · Seed
- Regions
- United Kingdom
Community activity
Events and activity
Virgin StartUp runs the Empower100 accelerator, which is fully funded and targets underrepresented founders. The program includes two cohorts in 2025, each lasting approximately six weeks, providing mentorship and support to 100 founders per cycle.
Notable members
Notable portfolio companies supported by Virgin StartUp include DASH Water, UpCircle Beauty, Oddbox, Change Please, L.A. Brewery, and Love Cocoa.
Common questions
What to know about Virgin StartUp
Upseed classifies Virgin StartUp under the Accelerator organization type. Its current public profile includes funder, program host, and community capabilities.
Source and update disclosure
Know what this page is based on
Source basis
Public organization and program material, official websites, and structured Upseed records.
Last reviewed
March 27, 2026
Known limits
Capability profiles appear only when a structured public profile also contains decision-useful role evidence. Terms and availability can change.
Upseed is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the organization described on this page.