1 in 3 Founders Are Dyslexic. Here’s Why That Matters

Made By Dyslexia, Virgin StartUp and Virgin Unite have teamed up to showcase the power of thinking differently.

What if the way you think differently is the reason your business will succeed?

Across the UK, thousands of entrepreneurs are building businesses not in spite of dyslexia, but because of it. In fact, 1 in 3 founders are dyslexic, bringing a different way of thinking that fuels creativity, problem-solving and innovation.

Yet most startup support, including many startup accelerator programmes in the UK, is not designed for how these founders think, learn or work.

At a time when the UK is focused on driving economic growth, supporting dyslexic entrepreneurs is not just important, it’s essential.

1 in 3 entrepreneurs are dyslexic and shaping the future of business

At least one in three entrepreneurs are dyslexic, and each year they contribute at least £4.6 billion to the UK’s GDP.

These founders are not just building businesses. They’re reshaping industries and tackling some of the world’s biggest problems through their unique Dyslexic Thinking skills.

As the UK looks to boost economic growth, there’s never been a more important moment to support dyslexic entrepreneurs. You can read more about this in Made By Dyslexia’s Entrepreneurs Spotlight report.

Despite this, many UK startup accelerators still fail to support how dyslexic entrepreneurs and neurodiverse founders actually think and build.

“Much of my success as an entrepreneur comes from my Dyslexic Thinking. It’s my superpower.

Dyslexic people have the ability to think flexibly, creatively and solve really complex problems by thinking differently.

In business, you have to imagine what’s possible and just say: ‘Let’s do it!’. That mindset drives innovation, and it starts with imagination.”

- Richard Branson, Founder, Virgin

Introducing Momentum: the startup accelerator for dyslexic founders

Momentum is a startup accelerator in the UK by Virgin StartUp, designed specifically for dyslexic founders and neurodiverse entrepreneurs. It was created to unlock the full potential of how they think and build.

Unlike traditional business accelerator UK programmes, Momentum is an inclusive accelerator programme built around how you think, helping you grow your business with confidence.

It’s been designed to:

• Put Dyslexic Thinking strengths at the centre

• Reduce barriers found in traditional accelerator for UK startup programmes

• Provide practical, structured support in a way that works

If you want to understand how the programme works or apply, you can explore Momentum here.

A dedicated space for dyslexic founders

We’ve built a free space dedicated to supporting UK dyslexic founders within the Virgin StartUp Community.

Here, you’ll find:

• Toolkits to support dyslexic learning

• Videos, articles and practical resources

• Stories from founders who think like you

This is part of our wider commitment to providing meaningful support for dyslexic founders and support for neurodiverse entrepreneurs across the UK. Join the community and explore the space.

“Entrepreneurs are the engine of the British economy and research shows Dyslexic Thinking fuels 1 in 3 of them. To boost growth, create jobs, and move the nation forward, the UK has never needed Dyslexic Thinking more.”

- Kate Griggs, Founder, Made By Dyslexia

Why supporting dyslexic founders matters

At Virgin StartUp, we’re committed to levelling the playing field for UK founders. That means making entrepreneurship more accessible to people who think differently.

We’ve supported thousands of founders to start and grow their businesses, and we continue to focus on underrepresented entrepreneurs who bring new perspectives.

Dyslexia is more common among entrepreneurs than in the wider population – and there’s a reason for that.

Entrepreneurship requires:

• Creative thinking

• Problem solving

• Resilience

• The ability to challenge how things are done

These are all strengths often associated with Dyslexic Thinking.

Together with Made By Dyslexia and Virgin Unite, we’re celebrating these strengths and helping ensure the next generation of founders have the support, tools and community they need to succeed.

How Dyslexic Thinking helped build a £30m business

Alex Wright used his Dyslexic Thinking skills to disrupt the drinks industry.

Up to 40% of farm-grown fruit is rejected by supermarkets and wasted. But instead of waste, Alex saw opportunity.

Using irregular fruit and fresh spring water, he created a flavoured drink with no sugar or sweeteners. That idea became DASH Water.

Today, DASH is one of the UK’s best-selling soft drink brands, selling 50 million cans in 2025 across 20 countries.

Learn how to harness Dyslexic Thinking

Anyone can learn how to harness the power of Dyslexic Thinking when building a business.

DyslexicU, created by Made By Dyslexia in partnership with the Open University, is the world’s first university of Dyslexic Thinking.

Through the free course Entrepreneurs and StartUp Mentality, you can learn how to apply these skills in your own business.

You can explore DyslexicU and start learning today.

Ready to build your business in a way that works for you?

If you are a dyslexic founder, or someone who thinks differently, Momentum is designed for you.

Explore the Momentum startup aceelerator programme for dyslexic founders and see how it can help you to build with neurodiversity, not against it.