Sir Richard Branson and Simon Squibb launch ‘Elevator of Dreams’
With more than a quarter of young people eager to set-up a business in 2025, business magnates Sir Richard Branson and Simon Squibb, have partnered up to launch the ‘Elevator of Dreams’ at Virgin Hotels London in Shoreditch.
The Elevator is a place where aspiring founders can go to pitch their business ideas to a global audience of potential investors. Located outside the Founders Room at the Hotel, budding business owners can buzz the video doorbell and speedily present their dream ideas to the camera. Simon and Richard will use their social media platforms to share feedback and expert advice on their favourite pitches. With more than 50 million followers between them, their reactions will help raise the profile of these entrepreneurial stories.
The Elevator is launching on Founder Friday (17th January), the most entrepreneurial day of the year, according to Virgin StartUp. It’s the day that people harbouring dreams of running their own business finally commit to making it happen.
Research from Virgin StartUp reveals that a third (34%) of all Brits would love to run their own business one day.
One in 10 (11%) are planning to set-up in 2025, rising to a quarter (26%) of 18-24 year olds. Tech, beauty & wellness, and food & drink are the most popular sectors for new businesses launching in 2025. Earning more money is the reason 58% want to go it alone this year, while half of those planning to become founders in 2025 say they want to finally follow their dreams. The Elevator of Dreams could be the first step for those seeking to pursue their business ambitions this year.
Sir Richard Branson said: “It was great to meet Simon and learn more about his career and how he’s encouraging the next generation of founders to follow their business dreams. I mentioned that I’d always wanted to set-up an elevator where people could come and pitch their ideas and he loved the idea, so I said ‘Screw it, let’s do it!’ More people than ever are considering starting their own business and I think it’s a great thing. There’s never been a better time to give it a try. I can’t wait to see what founders come and pitch to us in the coming weeks.”
Simon Squibb added: “I’ve always been inspired by the amazing change Sir Richard and Virgin have made in the world, and the support they offer for start-ups in the UK is one of a kind and well needed. At HelpBnk, our mission is aligned as we aim to give everyone the help, tools and community they need to succeed with their business – so this collaboration is a dream come true for us. I can’t wait to see all the amazing dreams and pitches that come through via the elevator of dreams!”
All the pitches made to the Elevator of Dreams will be uploaded to the HelpBnk platform, where potential investors can view and support aspiring entrepreneurs on their startup journey.
The top five pitches will also be invited to join the Virgin StartUp Community, where founders can access 1:1 mentoring with founders of some of the UK’s fastest growing businesses, tap into online courses and workshops and sign-up to exclusive in-person events and networking opportunities. A further five founders will be given access to Virgin StartUp’s How to Build a Business course, helping early-stage founders take the next step towards achieving their dreams.
The Elevator of Dreams will be in-situ for three months at Virgin Hotels London in Shoreditch.
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