Just started with the group, it's a nice community and the reps are fast to respond to queries. Hoping there will be more info on starting a business, so far the videos have been okay but nothing yo... Toon meer
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I’ve really loved being part of the community because I have connected with so many members already, and it is so great for founders to be able to bounce ideas off each other and support each other... Toon meer
This startup claims to offer loans to entrepreneurs, but it’s nothing more than a scam. They make big promises, but when it’s time to deliver, they disappear. No real support, no transparency, just ex... Toon meer
Bedrijf heeft geantwoord
Sinead oversaw my application and to say that she was brilliant is a massive understatement. So knowledgeable and helped tailor my application to fit my business perfectly. Cannot recommend her enough... Toon meer
Bedrijfsgegevens
Geschreven door het bedrijf
Virgin StartUp is the not-for-profit home of entrepreneurship at the Virgin Group. Founded in 2013 by Sir Richard Branson, Virgin StartUp helps early-stage founders in the UK, start and grow the businesses that they’re passionate about by providing founders with business advice, access to funding, mentoring, training and more, including scale-up and investment readiness programmes. Home to a community of thousands of founders, through its programmes, Masterclasses and events, Virgin StartUp provides founders with the support and opportunities they need to build better businesses.
Contactgegevens
50a Charlotte Street, W1T 2NS, London, Verenigd Koninkrijk
- 020 7313 2002
- joe.kenyon@virginstartup.org
- www.virginstartup.org
4,4
Uitstekend
59 reviews
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Thoughtful and inspiring process
I'm grateful to Virgin StartUp for their thoughtful process and providing support for me to launch my business. Emma was really helpful, genuine, and supportive with her questions and advice! Thank you for Virgin StartUp for investing in the journey of founders and giving us community.
21 juli 2025
Review zonder uitnodiging
Supportive, inspiring, and founder-first
As a first-time founder, navigating the early stages of building a business has felt pretty overwhelming at times, but Virgin StartUp has been an incredible support!
From the Start Up Loan programme to the community events and expert-led expos, every part has been epic.
The team are incredibly engaged and supportive, and the opportunities I’ve had to network, pitch, and learn from other founders through events like the Purposeful Procurement Expo have been unrivalled.
Beyond the funding support, what I’ve really valued is the culture Virgin embodies - brave, human and visionary. As a part of the community you get access to brilliant people, exciting opportunities, and a belief in what you’re building.
Couldn’t recommend them more!
19 juni 2025
Review zonder uitnodiging
Antwoord van Virgin StartUp
Wow, thank you so much for this amazing review! ❤️
We're so pleased to hear that you’ve found real value in being part of the Virgin StartUp community. It means the world to know that our support, events, and culture have helped you feel more confident navigating those early stages.
We’re all about backing brave founders like you, and it’s brilliant to hear that you've made the most of the opportunities, especially at events like the Purposeful Procurement Expo!
We’re so excited to keep cheering you on as you grow your business. Onwards and upwards! 🚀
Bringing like-minded founders together…
Bringing like-minded founders together in a warm and welcoming community - amazing.
I recommend attending the in-person events and meeting fellow founders and the helpful members of the Virgin teams.
James
Alt P
18 juni 2025
Review zonder uitnodiging
Antwoord van Virgin StartUp
Thank you so much for the lovely review, James! 😊
We’re so glad you’ve felt the strength of the Virgin StartUp community - bringing like-minded founders together is exactly what we’re all about!
It’s brilliant to hear you’ve enjoyed the in-person events and made meaningful connections. We’ll pass your kind words on to the team, they’ll be chuffed!
Looking forward to seeing you at another event soon. 🚀
I can’t thank Virgin StartUp enough for…
I can’t thank Virgin StartUp enough for their support with my Start Up Loan application. Emma was incredibly helpful, responsive, and genuinely encouraging throughout the entire process. She really took the time to understand my business and made what could have been an overwhelming experience feel smooth and positive. I’m so excited to move forward with my launch, and I honestly couldn’t have done it without her support. Highly recommend!
18 juni 2025
Review zonder uitnodiging
Antwoord van Virgin StartUp
Thank you so much for your amazing review! ❤️
We’re thrilled to hear that your experience with the StartUp Loan process was such a positive one. Emma will be so pleased to know her support made such a difference - she’s brilliant at what she does, and we’re lucky to have her!
We’re so excited for you as you move forward with your launch and can’t wait to see what you build.
We’re cheering you on every step of the way! 🚀
Waste of time. Will not answer.
Your money should be in your account in 13 days. Why isn't my money in. The guy is on holiday he will be back Thursday. Since then no answer to emails or phone calls. Waste of time
16 juni 2025
Review zonder uitnodiging
Antwoord van Virgin StartUp
Hello John,
We are sorry to hear you have not had a positive experience, we do strive to support as many founder's as we can and always look to ensure timely responses.
We are working with a large number of founders at any one time and as such we always try to respond to every query within 2 - 4 working days but on occasion it may take longer and we do apologise if this was the case for your application.
Please do reach out to our team on hello@virginstartup.org as we'd love to help see if we can provide any further updates on your application.
Best,
The Virgin StartUp team
The team at Virgin Startup really care
The team at Virgin Startup really care. I love how invested and passionate they are about their mission, and how generous they are with their help and support.
5 maart 2025
Review zonder uitnodiging
Antwoord van Virgin StartUp
Thank you so much for your kind words!
It means a lot to us that you feel our passion and commitment to supporting founders like you.
We truly believe in the power of entrepreneurship and love being part of your journey. Wishing you every success, and we’re always here to support you! 😊
Fantastic Resources for Startups and Welcoming Community
I've been using the Virgin StartUp resources and participating in programmes like StepUp since 2019. Virgin StartUp brings in experts and leaders to share their entrepreneurial journey with budding entrepreneurs through 1 to 1 mentoring sessions as well as speaker series called Changemakers. The Virgin StartUp team are super supportive and care about the growth and development of startups. I've found the community of fellow startup founders very welcoming and friendly and enjoy learning from each other.
5 maart 2025
Review zonder uitnodiging
Antwoord van Virgin StartUp
Thank you for being such an engaged part of the Virgin StartUp community! It’s amazing to hear that our resources, programmes, and events have supported you on your journey since 2019. We love bringing together experts, leaders, and founders to share knowledge and inspiration, so it’s fantastic to know you've found value in them.
We’re so glad you feel welcomed and supported—community is everything! Wishing you continued success, and we can’t wait to see where your journey takes you next! 😊
Virgin startups provide us with the most amazing events and support …
Virgin startups provide us with the most amazing supportive network. They have been literally like one of the family, taking time out of their days to support us. There events are incredible. Thank you for supporting nanas chutneys.
6 maart 2025
Review zonder uitnodiging
Antwoord van Virgin StartUp
Thank you so much for your kind words!
It means the world to us to hear that you feel like part of the Virgin StartUp family - that’s exactly what we aim for!
We’re so glad you’ve found our network and events valuable, and we’re honoured to support incredible businesses like Nana’s Chutneys.
Wishing you every success, and we can’t wait to see what’s next for you! 🚀✨
It’s all about culture! An amazing support team!
Virgin start-up is an amazing organisation built on key core values which you can see in the way people work with you and even in the office surroundings!
The support structure is 2nd to none and the community is vibrant
I have been amazed at how much support is available and with the regular monthly events it just had so much more value.
The inspiration here is an extension of Richard Branson‘s!
5 maart 2025
Review zonder uitnodiging
Antwoord van Virgin StartUp
Wow, what an amazing review, thank you! We're so glad you’ve felt the values we stand for reflected in everything we do. Creating a supportive and vibrant community for founders like you is at the heart of Virgin StartUp, so it’s fantastic to hear that you’ve experienced that firsthand.
We love that you’ve found real value in our events and support network, and we’re excited to continue this journey with you. And yes, Richard Branson’s spirit of inspiration is something we strive to carry forward every day! Thanks again for your kind words, and we can’t wait to see what’s next for you!
Emma was fantastic
Emma was fantastic from start to finish. Went the extra mile to speed up the process. Highly recommend.
13 maart 2025
Review zonder uitnodiging
Antwoord van Virgin StartUp
Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback! 😊
We’re thrilled to hear that Emma provided such fantastic support and went the extra mile to help you through the process. We’ll be sure to pass on your kind words to her! Wishing you all the best on your startup journey, and we’re here if you need anything else along the way.
This startup claims to offer loans to…
This startup claims to offer loans to entrepreneurs, but it’s nothing more than a scam. They make big promises, but when it’s time to deliver, they disappear. No real support, no transparency, just excuses. Thankfully, the picture in my bio saved me from falling even deeper into their trap and help me withdraw my lost funds. Stay far away from this fraudulent company
30 januari 2025
Review zonder uitnodiging
Antwoord van Virgin StartUp
Hi there,
We’re really sorry to read this and would love the chance to understand more about your experience. Virgin StartUp is a not-for-profit organisation that supports UK-based founders to access funding, mentoring, and resources to start and grow their businesses. We never ask for payment for loan support, and we take transparency and founder experience very seriously.
It’s possible there’s been a mix-up with another organisation, but if you think this relates to us, please do get in touch directly at hello@virginstartup.org so we can look into it right away.
Wishing you all the best,
The Virgin StartUp Team
I withdrew my application today...
If you're unfamiliar with Virgin StartUp (VS), there's a huge number of steps before you actually get your loan decision.
As in, you submit an application (which includes a full business plan), it is reviewed, then it is passed to a senior advisor, they review it again, there's back and forth/ editing with the senior advisor, then your application is submitted to a 'panel', they review it AGAIN– you get the idea.
Given that what they're offering is an unsecured personal loan, I think this is quite silly. I would understand if it was a grant or for a large sum of money, but for the amount I was requesting (10k)– unnecessary hoop jumping.
I've got to pay the bloody thing back!
I passed the initial credit check/business plan review and was transferred to a senior advisor (I am going to keep names anonymous)
The senior advisor was, at first, very helpful and keen to progress things along. I would say that in the week following our meeting, they seemed to be asking a lot of questions that, really, could have been asked prior to meeting.
There were also several points in the week that followed where I had to: repeat parts of my business plan after already explaining, clarify elements that were clearly explained in the business plan.
This felt quite disappointing, and perhaps indicates that the senior consultants have more applications than they can realistically handle.
After a lot of back and forth following our meeting, the application was submitted to the "panel".
It's important to note that the advisor wanted me to change large portions of my business plan, advised to change the payment terms I was requesting, advised against using the funds for things I had clearly researched, explained, and backed up with evidence.
Basically, it barely resembled the original strategy by the time they were finished with it. Some of their points were insightful and useful, whilst others I didn't agree with at all (but went along with it).
As I say, an absurd amount of hoop jumping but I stayed patient in the hopes of securing the money.
The application was submitted to the "panel" 12 days ago. In an email, my advisor said it had been submitted and that they had 2 working days to respond. They also said they were going on annual leave until the 17th, so a colleague would be in touch with updates.
From the 5th till the 17th I received nothing. The colleague didn't reach out, the "panel" hadn't made a decision, no one had contacted me to check in.
The advisor came back from annual leave today. After a very feigned apology for the huge delay, he explained that the application had been reviewed. The "panel" wanted to know:
Why am I applying for a loan and not just using my own money?
When will my website be done and how am I going to pay for it? (Bizarre)
How long have I lived at each address over the last 3 years?
At this point, with more hoop jumping and the massive delay, I am at my wit's end.
I'm sorry– is it not fairly obvious why anyone seeks a loan rather than using their own money.
The website also has absolutely nothing to do with my application or business plan, this is a project I have been working on. The loan was requested mostly for marketing spend and some audio/visual equipment.
After this, I told the advisor to can my application.
What was a productive process at the start turned into repetitive hoop jumping with seemingly no purpose. As if the barriers for entry weren't high enough for SMEs, we have application processes like this.
I understand that VS need to mitigate risk for themselves and be thorough, but this was honestly painful by the end. It felt unnecessarily long, quite intrusive at points, and ultimately wasted a massive amount of my time.
I wouldn't recommend anyone go through this process. Honestly, you're best off going elsewhere.
17 februari 2025
Review zonder uitnodiging
Antwoord van Virgin StartUp
Hi there,
We’re sorry to hear that you have not had a positive experience working with Virgin StartUp and have found the process to be time consuming, with lots of requests for information. We do understand our process may not be the quickest route to funding, but this is because we really do try to place an emphasis on the support that is provided throughout the application process.
Virgin StartUp is a delivery partner of the Start Up Loans Programme and we adhere to lending standards set by the Start Up Loans Company. As part of the process applicants are required to provide business documents and supporting documents in support of their loan application. To assist with this we assign applicants to one of our business advisors. The role of the business advisor is to provide feedback and support to the applicant and also assist with ensuring the strongest application as possible is put forward to our Loan Panel for review.
Due to the nature of the process it can result in a number of back and forths between yourself and the business advisor and there are often a number of documents requested by the business advisor, at different points in the process, and as such whilst it may seem like the business advisor is asking for a lot of information, they are trying to ensure as many areas as possible of the application are considered before submitting to the loan panel,
We do place an emphasis on lending responsibly and this does include a holistic review of business viability and personal affordability, and this is assessed through a variety of documents and information, and these requests are individual to each founder and their application.
We are always striving for the process to be supportive as possible and do not want the process to be obstructive in any way and we are sorry you did not find that to be the case.
We do really appreciate your time and feedback and will certainly take this on board and review how we may be able to streamline the process.
Antwoord van Virgin StartUp
Thank you for your feedback! 😊
We’re so glad you found the conversation informative—that’s exactly what we aim for. If there’s anything more we can do to support you, we’d love to hear from you and hope to see you at another event soon!
The VirginStartUp team was very amazign
The VirginStartUp team was very helpfull and the event has been amazing and informative. Great networking experience and the guest speaker.
14 januari 2025
Antwoord van Virgin StartUp
Thank you so much for your lovely review! We’re thrilled to hear you found the Virgin StartUp team helpful and enjoyed the event. It’s great to know you had an amazing and informative experience—plus some fantastic networking opportunities!
We always strive to bring inspiring guest speakers and valuable connections to our events, so it’s wonderful to hear that stood out for you. 🚀
Thanks again for your kind words, and we can’t wait to welcome you to another event in the future!
Startup Loan
The process was great and very straightforward with lots of help and information on offer, took quite a while but worth the wait.
18 januari 2025
Antwoord van Virgin StartUp
Thank you so much for your feedback! We’re delighted to hear you found the process straightforward and appreciated all the help and information along the way.
We know that sometimes these things can take a bit of time, so it’s great to hear you felt it was worth the wait. Helping founders like you on their startup journey is what we’re all about, and we’re so excited to see what you’ll achieve with your loan! 🚀
If there’s anything else we can do to support you, don’t hesitate to reach out. Wishing you every success with your venture!
Antwoord van Virgin StartUp
Thank you so much for your kind feedback! It's always our goal to create meaningful and enjoyable experiences for our guests, and we're glad the event resonated with you.
If there's anything else we can do to enhance your future visits, please don't hesitate to let us know. We look forward to welcoming you back for more inspiring events soon!
Antwoord van Virgin StartUp
Thank you so much for sharing this! We’re so happy to hear you enjoyed the Simon Squibb event—it was such an inspiring conversation.
We love bringing events like this to life and seeing how much they mean to our guests. If you ever spot something else coming up that interests you, we’d love to have you back again!
Thanks again for your kind words—it really means a lot. 😊
Antwoord van Virgin StartUp
Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re so happy to hear you found us friendly, helpful, and supportive—that’s exactly the experience we aim to provide 😊
Highly recommend Virgin Startup
I have never known any community like Virgin Startup before. The amount of expert advice available from any sector of business is unrivalled in my opinion. The staff are always professional, welcoming, and supportive too! I wish I had known Virgin Startup before. I couldn't recommend them more!
16 januari 2025
Antwoord van Virgin StartUp
Wow—thank you so much for such an amazing review! 😊 It honestly means the world to us to hear how much you value the Virgin Startup community. We’re so passionate about supporting entrepreneurs like you, so knowing that the expert advice and our team have made a real difference is incredibly rewarding.
SO much fun!
SO much fun!
What a great day meeting other members of the Virgin Start Up community, as well as the Virgin team themselves. We sold lots of product and enjoyed pouring out samples for everyone.
Very jolly, festive occasion!
3 december 2024
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