Virgin StartUp

When Katie Jones gave birth to her daughter Olivia, she quickly realised how rewarding breastfeeding could be, but also how overwhelming it was in public. ❤️ She hated lifting her top, when she was trying to focus on feeding her baby, and realised that the lack of stylish, functional breastfeeding clothes was adding to the stress. 👗 That’s when the idea for Mama Glam was born.🎂 Katie dreamed of creating timeless, high-quality pieces that allow mums to breastfeed with ease, without sacrificing style. ✨ But starting a clothing brand wasn’t cheap, so she got some support from Virgin StartUp with a Start Up Loan. “Without the initial funding from the Start Up Loan, Mama Glam would have remained a dream rather than a reality,” she told us. “It's all been more than worth it to see our community grow and to be able to help other mums feed their babies comfortably and confidently.” Her mission is to empower mums during one of the most difficult stages in their lives, helping them feel like themselves again while navigating the highs and lows of postpartum and breastfeeding. 💪 The response from mums has been incredible. One customer described Mama Glam's discreet nursing access as a "game-changer!” 🌟 Katie has built a growing community and whilst motherhood is challenging at times, this founder and fellow mum created Mama Glam to make at least one part of it easier. 💖💕 If you want to turn your idea into a reality like Katie, head to our Start Up Loans page to find out more about how we can support you whilst you bring your business into the world: https://virg.in/4c5i99n #MamaGlam #BreastfeedingJourney #MumLife #StartupSuccess #mumFounder #ParentFounder #MothersDay

Sometimes, it's about going back to basics. Freddie Garland has spent a decade building Freddie's Flowers, taking on international markets and raising investment. But Freddie's a florist at heart, and is now focussing on getting his hands dirty again and making sure people meet the Freddie behind the brand. The full video of our Changemakers interview goes live tomorrow exclusively on Community, so sign up if you haven't yet to get access. Thanks to Virgin Money for making these events possible.

A brand new season of Changemakers is here at Virgin HQ! 🌟 Your next fix of free founder events has landed and been locked in. 🔐 We’re bringing you three incredible speakers over the next three months at Virgin HQ, and Premium Community members get priority access to tickets! 🎟️ 👇 Here’s what’s coming up 👇 🗓️ 16th April: Colette Laxton , Co-founder of The INKEY List | B Corp 💄 Discover how Colette disrupted the beauty industry with affordable, high-quality skincare.  🗓️ 21st May: Connie Nam, Founder & CEO of Astrid & Miyu 💍 From her kitchen table to one of the UK’s most beloved jewellery brands, Connie will be sharing her scaling secrets. 🗓️18th June: Karl Lokko, Co-founder of Black Seed VC 📈 Karl’s on a mission to back Black founders, join us to hear his inspiring story and why representation matters. 📍Virgin HQ, Central London ⏰ 18:45-21:00 👉 Save the dates and secure your spot so you can connect, learn, and grow with fellow founders: https://virg.in/4iJJdgQ 👏 Thanks to Virgin Money for making these events possible for founders.

He needs your help! 🥺 Never give up! 🦾 You can pitch your dream to either our Staricase of Dreams doorbell, or the Virgin StartUp X HelpBnk Elevator of Dreams doorbell 🤩 #helpbnk #simonsquibb #dream

What essentials does every founder need on their startup journey? This founder tells us that trust should never be left behind. Michelle Klinkert experienced "packxiety" firsthand, and saw a gap in the market for travel accessories that would help travellers to pack confidently in half the time. 🌍 Despite her own love for travel and exploring new places, making sure everything was packed and organised became a chore every time. That’s when she decided to go all in with her own solution - Living By Design. 💪 Building a business solo meant navigating every aspect of the journey alone, but finding the right people to challenge her ideas was a game-changer. "Many people have good business ideas. Few pursue them. Fewer still have the patience, persistence, and lived experience of bringing them to life,” she said. To make Living By Design a reality, Michelle applied for a Start Up Loan from Virgin StartUp to fund pre-launch marketing and the first production run. The positive response from customers confirmed that the business was ready to take off. ✈️ 💼 Michelle’s advice to other founders is to simply "Trust yourself and trust the journey.” “There will always be noise and advice pulling you in different directions,” she added, “but staying true to your own vision will lead you to success. You don’t need to be anyone but yourself, you are enough.” If you want to aim for the skies with your own startup but need some advice, funding support or guidance, head to our Start Up Loans page on our website: https://virg.in/4bKdXvw #StartUpLoans #VirginStartUp #LivingByDesign #Luggage 

Let the founders grow 💐 Our host Natalie Pearce chatted with Freddie Garland, founder of Freddie's Flowers, and spilled the soil on how he made it from door-to-door salesman to founder of a leading British subscription brand. Missed out? Keep an eye out for the video on our Community platform soon. Want more? Changemakers announcements are coming soon, so get signed up to Community for priority access. Shoutout to Virgin Money who make these events possible for founders. Sign up to Community now: https://virg.in/4kF7GFu

🚨 The countdown is on for tonight🚨 This evening's Changemaker event features Freddie Garland, founder of Freddie's Flowers, sitting down with our host Natalie Pearce 📷 We can't wait to see you all there, here's what you need to know: ⏰ Doors open at 18:45 and the interview will start at 19:00 sharp. 🎟️ Your ticket is your confirmation email which you received when you signed up. 🎤 We'll have time for audience questions at the end, so get yours ready! See you soon! Thanks to Virgin Money for making these events possible. #FreddiesFlowers #VSUChangemaker #VirginStartUpCommunity

JLUXE is proof that the right support can make a big impact.⚡️ After never finding activewear that fit right or made her feel confident, founder Jordan Lansdown set out to build an activewear brand which made every woman feel confident and empowered every body. Clearly, lots of women felt the same and so the community grew with their flared leggings, supportive sports bras and collections becoming staples in wardrobes across the country. 😍 📈💨 As the business grew, Jordan saw rapid growth with orders speeding up from 2—3 orders a day to sold out collections with influencer collaborations in just hours, and over 500 people on the their site wanting to get a J Luxe set. 🤔 Being a first time founder, Jordan needed support especially when it came to fulfilling the amount of stock that people wanted. With the help of a Start Up Loan from Virgin StartUp, Jordan was able to order stock in advance to keep up with demand of her growing community which at that point grew by 150% in just one year. 🤯 "The loan was one of the best things I did. It allowed us to grow so much quicker!" J Luxe isn’t just about activewear, it’s a movement. A community where women uplift each other, create lasting friendships and celebrate every win, all whilst looking fabulous. 💪💖 If your business needs some help getting to its next step, check out Start Up Loans via our website: https://virg.in/4huoVGE

Reliving our #IWD event last week with Tiwalola Adebayo (née Ogunlesi) , Grace Andrews and Michelle Feeney Sign up to the Virgin StartUp Community to get priority access to all our events! Sign up here: https://virg.in/41LWOwP 📸 Henry Kinnaird

Freddie Garland never planned on starting a flower business, but he saw a problem he just couldn’t ignore.🌱🤔 🌷 Growing up in his parents' flower shop, Freddie saw how fresh flowers brightened people’s day, but he also saw how expensive it was. When he started delivering veg boxes at Abel & Cole | B Corp™ he had an idea - instead of potatoes, why not posies? 🥔➡️🌹 By using subscription boxes, people could get fresh flowers directly to their doorstep, with less fuss and a lower price. In 2014, Freddie started his business with a bike, some blooms, and a big idea in his parents' back garden, focussing on giving customers the best bouquets that didn’t cost the earth. 🌏 💐 Sustainability was rooted into the business from the word go. ✂️ He created a "grow-to-order" system, working directly with growers to only cut flowers when they were needed. This helped cut down on waste and made sure customers got the freshest flowers, all delivered with recyclable packaging and eco-friendly routes. 🚲 It’s no surprise that by focusing on quality, customer experience, and being eco-friendly, Freddie’s Flowers blossomed quickly. They grew into one of the biggest online florists in the UK and became the first flower business to earn B Corp status and go carbon-neutral in 2021. 🌸 Want to hear how Freddie built his purpose-driven brand? Join us at Virgin HQ on 19th March to hear his story and find out how he grew his startup with a mission. Tickets are now available for all founders to join, but numbers are strictly limited. You can grab yours direct via our website or sign up in the Community. 📅 19th March, 6:45pm 📍 Virgin HQ, London 🎟️ https://virg.in/421RuGQ Thanks to Virgin Money for making these events possible. #Floristry #FreddiesFlowers #FlowerBusiness #VirginStartUpCommunity #VSUChangemakers Natalie Pearce