Founder Friday: January sparks surge in new founders

January has been found to be the most entrepreneurial month of the year, as new year motivation inspires potential founders to turn their ambition into action. Whilst many have committed to resolutions to improve their health, finances, or self-improvement, a large chunk of the UK population are using this time to start a business.

New data from Virgin StartUp shows that January is the month where there is a substantial surge in founders deciding to take the leap and turn their business ideas into reality.

Start Up Loan applications through Virgin StartUp rose by 19% in January 2025 compared to the average across the rest of the year. This trend is also echoed in data from the British Business Bank, which also found that January was the most popular month to apply for a Start Up Loan in 2025, accounting for 11% of all loans annually.

Virgin StartUp has named Friday 16^th January as ‘Founder Friday’, and is encouraging aspiring entrepreneurs across the UK to commit to their business ambitions and take those meaningful first steps towards owning their own business. To mark the day, Virgin StartUp is inviting founders to write a digital letter to their future self, setting out what they want to achieve over the next 12 months and creating a moment of personal accountability.

To help turn this intention into action, Virgin StartUp is also offering free, limited-time access to its “How to Build a Business” course, featuring 12 expert-led video modules covering essential startup fundamentals.

Andy Fishburn, Managing Director at Virgin StartUp, said: “We know just how many people have ambition to start their own business, but equally how daunting it can feel.  But starting small, and taking it step-by-step, is ultimately what helps people bring ideas to life.  Founder Friday is about turning intention into action, encouraging people to make a commitment to themselves and accessing the tools, funding, and community they need to build a business on their own terms.

“Launching a business isn’t about willpower alone; it’s about having the right support at the right time.”

Richard Bearman, Chief Development Officer, British Business Bank, commented: “The start of a new year can be a natural moment of reflection, with many people reassessing their goals over the Christmas break and feeling inspired to turn long-held business ideas into reality. For four consecutive years, January has been the calendar month showing the highest number of loan applications to our Start Up Loans programme, as aspiring entrepreneurs harness the resulting surge in motivation to take that first step towards building their own business.

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“As we look ahead, we’re excited about the year to come and have no doubt that January 2026 will spark the same wave of ambition and entrepreneurial drive that we’ve seen historically.”

So this January, take some time to consider taking the plunge into entrepreneurship.