Get investment-ready in 7 weeks
Our exclusive new accelerator will supercharge your investment readiness and you can practice your pitch with angel investors along the way.
Angel investment - a match made in heaven
Are you raising angel investment for the first time?
Take on the next stage of your growth with an angel investment strategy designed to supercharge your first investment round.
Virgin StartUp have helped thousands of founders unlock millions in investment through our scale-up programmes, so we've combined the best bits from all of them to get you and your business ready to raise.
Our 7-week accelerator has been specially designed to help founders:
- Learn to navigate the angel investment landscape
- Develop a knockout investment deck
- Learn how to find the right angel investors for your business
- Get you and your co-founders pitch perfect
By taking part, you'll also join the Virgin StartUp community of thousands of founders building the businesses they're passionate about.
We've helped thousands of startups raise investment, grow, build a winning team and take on the world. What's stopping you?
The 12 founders from our July 2022 programme have raised more than £2.9 million investment.
Are you next?
The answer to your fundraising prayers
By joining the programme, you’ll get:
- Expert insight – Virgin StartUp brings industry experts in funding, angel investment, pitching, marketing, PR, law, and more to deliver in-depth interactive workshops
- Community – you’ll join a cohort of founders on the same journey for support and accountability
- Networks – practice your pitch with angel investors looking for ambitious founders to back
- Founder inspiration – unrivalled access to other founders who've been there, and done that, so you can too.
- Investment-ready - you and your business will be pitch perfect and ready to raise
- Post-programme support - 3 months of facilitated peer mastermind sessions and a dedicated mentor for 6 months
- Keep your control - we don't take any equity as part of the programme
Virgin-class training and mentoring
Programme details
The Virgin StartUp Angel Investment Accelerator is a hybrid, 7-week programme delivered by Virgin StartUp and led by fundraising and investment expert, Sutin Yang.
The programme format is a combination of:
- Virtual workshops with small cohorts, led by our experts
- 1-on-1 sessions with our experts in-person and online
- In-person socials in London
- Networking events with investors in London
- Demo day where you'll be pitching for real, in-person
- Virgin-class training and mentoring, delivered in style.
We've designed this programme so you'll get everything you need to start raising from angel investors for the first time.
Meeting angels
Need to boost your networks? You'll get the inside track on how to find and approach angel investors, and what they're looking for from their investments. Investor relations are a two-way process, so we'll help you get to the heart of what you need from an investor too.
Pitch perfect
Stage fright? No sweat. You'll leave with a knockout pitch deck and will get the chance to practice and perfect your pitch with an experienced pitching coach and real investors. These 1-on-1s will give you valuable insight into what works, and what doesn't.
Fellow founders
Going it alone? You'll join a small cohort of founders on the same journey as you, to support and provide valuable feedback when needed. We'll give you the chance to meet in person at our socials, ahead of the demo day in May. You can bring your co-founder along for the ride too.
I've got a few more questions..
You should find everything you need below, but if not, just email scaleup@virginstartup.org and we'll get back to you pronto. You can also book a call with programme lead Sutin Yang using the link at the bottom of this page.
What is the 7 week angel investment readiness accelerator programme?
What is the 7 week angel investment readiness accelerator programme?
Our 7-week accelerator is a programme designed and delivered by Virgin StartUp, and has been specially designed to help founders:
- Understand the angel investment landscape and how to navigate it
- Develop a knockout investment deck and pitch materials
- Find and connect with the right investors for your business
- Get you and your co-founders pitch perfect
Sounds great. What're the benefits?
Sounds great. What're the benefits?
Virgin StartUp have worked with thousands of founders to help them develop the skills, confidence, contacts and networks to grow their businesses and thrive.
Our Angel programme has been designed by funding and investment experts to help you:
- develop a strong pitch,
- understand investor expectations, and
- identify and approach potential investors.
You'll also get support from our community after the programme, including a dedicated mentor and free on-demand resources.
I've got a brilliant co-founder - can they join?
I've got a brilliant co-founder - can they join?
That's great. Co-founders are encouraged to attend together, but it is recommended that the founder who will be pitching to investors attend most sessions.
Is it right for me?
Is it right for me?
We've designed our Angel Investment Accelerator for founders who've developed an MVP (minimum viable product) and have early traction, such as sales revenue and customers, and are planning an early stage investment round.
We're industry-agnostic, so are looking for ambitious founders from different sectors and backgrounds, to ensure a vibrant mix of experiences on the programme.
To apply for the programme, you must be looking to scale your business, and raise investment, in the UK as part of an upcoming funding round
What is the format?
What is the format?
The programme is delivered primarily online with a mix of live webinars, interactive workshops, and one-on-one mentoring sessions, including with real investors. There are also 2 in person events: one meet and greet with the cohort and one demo day at the end.
How much time do I need to give to the programme?
How much time do I need to give to the programme?
Fundraising is a challenging process and can often take up a lot of a founders' time. Our experts have designed this programme to fit around your busy schedule as a founder, whilst also making sure you get as much time as possible with the instructors and other founders.
The programme is delivered over 7 weeks, with the bulk of sessions every Tuesday, online, between 09:30 - 16:00.
The in-person social networking will take place on Wednesday 29th March in London.
The in-person demo day takes place on 11th May in London.
Additionally, you'll need to make yourself available for other sessions, networking opportunities and 1-to-1s. There will be work that you'll need to undertake in your own time to ensure that you're able to get the most out of this opportunity.
You'll be on the programme alongside other founders on the same journey as you, so there'll be plenty of opportunities to hold each other accountable and support each other each week.
How much does the programme cost to participate?
How much does the programme cost to participate?
Subject to being offered a place on the programme, the programme cost is £2,750 (excluding VAT), which must be paid before the programme start date.
Virgin StartUp do not take any equity as part of the programme.
I'm in. What's the application process?
I'm in. What's the application process?
You start your application by clicking Apply on this page, where you'll be redirected to the initial application form.
Applications are open for 6 weeks, after which there will be a 1 week selection process and 1 week for acceptance, payment and onboarding.
To apply, simply fill out the form at the bottom of this page, and we'll be in touch for final interviews if selected.
The programme costs £2,750+VAT to take part and full payment is required ahead of the programme start date.
Applications open: 2nd February 2023
Applications close: 5th March
Final selection interviews for programme: March 8-March 10 between 9:00 to 1pm.
Programme start date: March 21st until May 11th
What is the selection criteria?
What is the selection criteria?
We encourage founders from a range of sectors and backgrounds to apply for the programme. It's suited for founders raising angel investment for the first time, and the selection criteria for the programme are based on:
- the quality of the startup's business idea,
- the team's relevant experience and qualifications, and
- the startup's readiness for angel investment.
To apply for the programme, you must be looking to scale your business, and raise investment, in the UK as part of an upcoming funding round.
If I take part does this guarantee investment in my business?
If I take part does this guarantee investment in my business?
We can't guarantee investment after taking part, but you can be sure we'll give you the tools, skills, networks and support to give you the best possible chance. You got this.
Apply Now
Applications for the next cohort are now closed. Join our newsletter to find out when the next cohort is live.
Doing business the Virgin way
Virgin have spent 50 years building business after business with our irresistible brand. We know what it takes to go from start, to sale and beyond, and nothing is off limits.
Now, we're committed to helping the next generation of founders change the world and scale the businesses they're passionate about.
Virgin StartUp by the numbers:
4,800 funded founders
£68m in Start Up Loan funding
Committed to 50/50 gender equality on all our programmes
Virgin StartUp’s support enabled us to raise capital in an efficient and streamlined way that made the whole process a lot more pleasant than it might have been
Anna and Will Brightman, co-founders of UpCircle Beauty, who raised £300k in crowdfunding after taking part in our investment-readiness programme.
Book your call to find out more
If you want to discuss your application, you can book in a free 20 minute call with programme lead Sutin Yang by clicking here, with slots available every Wednesday afternoon during the application window.
Sutin heads up our scale-up programmes, having previously managed a $1.5bn portfolio at J.P. Morgan, is a founder herself, and worked with Social Tech Trust and Microsoft to design an AI for good accelerator. She’s supported over 80 startups with funding and investment.