Virgin Startup has announced a new £20m funding pot for startups in the next financial year after hitting the £100m milestone for loans funding issued.
Since becoming a national business support partner for the British Business Bank’s Start Up Loans programme in 2013, Virgin Startup has supported over 7000 founders across the UK, including environmental and health conscious drinks brand DASH Water, sustainable food subscription service Oddbox and responsible skincare brand UpCircle.
“This milestone comes at a time when access to early-stage funding is under real pressure, which is why startup loans matter more than ever,” says Andy Fishburn, managing director at Virgin StartUp. “Funding gives founders momentum but support gives them staying power, which is reflected in the strength and survival of the businesses we back.
“With over £20m to distribute this year, our focus is simple: to back even more founders across the UK. We believe entrepreneurship should be within reach for anyone with the drive and ambition to make it happen.”
The funding pot is available for distribution between April 2026 and March 2027 and offers UK startups personal loans of between £500 and £25,000 per founder, fixed interest rate of 6% per annum, repayment terms of one to five years, and access to mentoring and ongoing business support.
The funding can be used to cover startup costs, invest in equipment, manage cashflow, support marketing activity or to help scale an existing early-stage business trading for up to three years.