1. January: Peak Month for New Founders
Surge in Startup Interest
Virgin StartUp reports that January consistently shows a strong rise in people taking steps toward launching a business. In January 2025, applications to the Start Up Loan programme through Virgin StartUp rose by 19 % compared with the average across the rest of the year. (CB Insights)
Why January?
There’s a clear seasonal trend: the start of a new year — when people reflect on goals and ambitions — often prompts would-be founders to act on their business ideas. This isn’t just anecdotal: data from the British Business Bank’s Start Up Loans programme shows January has the highest number of loan applications every year, making up about 11 % of all applications annually. (CB Insights)
Founder Friday, held this year on 16 January, is positioned as a focal moment for aspiring entrepreneurs to commit to their idea and transform intention into action. (CB Insights)
2. Initiatives and Support Around Founder Friday
Digital Tools and Courses
To help potential founders act on their ideas, Virgin StartUp offered free access to its “How to Build a Business” course around Founder Friday — a 12-module video series covering key startup fundamentals like business planning, validation, and funding. (CB Insights)
Inspirational Activities
As part of the day’s focus, Virgin StartUp invited entrepreneurs to write a digital letter to their future self outlining what they want to achieve over the next 12 months — a technique aimed at reinforcing personal commitment and accountability. (CB Insights)
3. Leader Comments on the January Surge
Virgin StartUp Managing Director
Andy Fishburn emphasised that many people want to start a business but feel daunted by the uncertainty and complexity involved. Founder Friday’s purpose is to shift that mindset from intention to action — by connecting founders with support, tools and community at the moment they feel most motivated. (CB Insights)
“Launching a business isn’t about willpower alone; it’s about having the right support at the right time.” — Andy Fishburn (CB Insights)
British Business Bank Insight
Richard Bearman from the British Business Bank noted that the start of the new year is a natural time of reflection for many people, making January an ideal period for aspiring entrepreneurs to take concrete steps toward launching their startups. (CB Insights)
“For four consecutive years, January has been the calendar month showing the highest number of loan applications to our Start Up Loans programme.” — Richard Bearman (CB Insights)
4. Context: Broader Entrepreneurial Interest in the UK
This January surge ties into a wider trend of growing entrepreneurial ambition across the UK:
Nearly half of UK adults reported considering starting a business in the coming year — and many young adults are especially motivated to take that plunge — according to independent research on startup ambitions. (Enterprise Nation)
In particular, younger age groups (e.g., 18–30 year-olds) are more likely to consider starting a business, often driven by personal fulfilment, innovation, and passion projects. (Enterprise Nation)
Meanwhile, startup support events and networking opportunities — from Founder Institute pitches to community-led founder meetups — are active throughout January and beyond, supporting founders to refine ideas, build connections, and raise capital when motivation is highest. (Eventbrite)
Summary: Why January Sees a Startup Wave
There’s a measurable 19 % jump in startup loan applications in January, indicating real behaviour change at the start of the year. (CB Insights)
January acts as a psychological trigger point for new business ambitions, amplified by community events like Founder Friday. (CB Insights)
Founders benefit from increased support, education and accountability tools — moving from idea stage to action. (CB Insights)
This surge fits within broader UK trends of growing entrepreneurial interest across age groups. (Enterprise Nation)
Here’s a case-study roundup with real founder stories and comments showing how Founder Friday and January startup momentum in the UK are translating into actionable entrepreneurial activity among aspiring founders — not just data. UK Virgin StartUp’s Founder Friday initiative highlights January as a time when many people commit to launching businesses. (Startups Magazine)
1. Founder Friday: Real Founder Decisions & Momentum
What’s happening:
Virgin StartUp data shows that January sees a notable surge in people taking first steps toward starting a business, with Start Up Loan applications rising by about 19 % in January 2025 vs the rest of the year — and January historically accounts for around 11 % of all applications annually. This trend underpins Founder Friday (e.g., 16 Jan), branded to help aspiring founders act on their ambitions early in the year. (Startups Magazine)
Founder Friday actions include:
- Writing a “digital letter” to your future self outlining next 12-month goals — a commitment device to turn intention into action. (Startups Magazine)
- Free, limited-time access to a How to Build a Business course with expert modules. (Startups Magazine)
Comment from Supporting Leaders
Andy Fishburn (Virgin StartUp MD):
“Founder Friday is about turning intention into action… helping people commit to themselves and access the tools, funding, and community they need to build a business on their own terms.” (Startups Magazine)
Richard Bearman (British Business Bank):
“January has consistently been the month showing the highest number of loan applications, as aspiring entrepreneurs take that first step.” (Startups Magazine)
2. Case Studies: Founders Inspired by January Momentum
While Virgin StartUp’s data highlights more people starting the process, there are also example founders and stories that illustrate the kinds of businesses people commit to around this time (Virgin StartUp has a broad published portfolio of founders). (virginstartup.org)
Actual Founders Supported by Virgin StartUp
Virgin StartUp showcases a range of UK founders it’s backed — spans industries from food & beverage to sustainability tech and more: (virginstartup.org)
- Cemal Ezel – Change Please: Social enterprise roasting coffee while training and employing people experiencing homelessness. (virginstartup.org)
- Alex Wright – DASH Water: Sustainable bottled water startup reducing plastic footprint. (virginstartup.org)
- Anna Brightman – UpCircle Beauty: Natural beauty brand founded by a former journalist. (virginstartup.org)
- Emilie Vanpoperinghe – Oddbox: Produce delivery tackling food waste. (virginstartup.org)
These founders didn’t necessarily start on Founder Friday, but they represent the types of ventures that individuals committing to startup life in January might aspire to launch or scale. (virginstartup.org)
Varun Khullar – A Personal Founder Story
Varun decided to launch his business (outside London) using a Virgin StartUp loan — reflecting how January motivations are triggering real business creation. (virgin.com)
3. Founder Comments & Reflections on the Journey
Although Virgin StartUp’s main data piece focuses on timing rather than profiling every founder, there are shared attitudes and reflections seen across founders supported by the network and the broader UK community:
Mindset Shifts
From founders who’ve shared advice in follow-on series and community profiles:
- Accepting fear as part of the process — e.g., one founder from a Founder Friday series emphasized that mindset (“I moved from I can’t to How can I”). (Dynamic Business)
- A focus on building value thoughtfully rather than rushing to market is often a theme in early-stage founder reflections. (Dynamic Business)
Community Spirit
Comments from founder communities (e.g., post events and forums) show:
- After sessions and events around Founder Friday, many new founders share that they’ve taken first tangible steps — like drafting a business plan, registering a company, or seeking a loan.
- These shared experiences often highlight overcoming hesitation and taking concrete next steps, which is precisely the behavior Virgin StartUp aims to encourage. (Startups Magazine)
What This Means in Practice
January surge translates into:
- More applications for Start Up Loans, showing people testing intention with real commitment. (Startups Magazine)
- Engagement with startup education (courses, mentor access) timed around Founder Friday. (Startups Magazine)
- Stories of commitment and mindset evolution shared in founder communities. (Dynamic Business)
- Visible early-stage founders out there building companies with tangible missions and impact. (virginstartup.org)
Summary: Founder Friday in Action
| Aspect | What We See |
|---|---|
| Data trend | 19 % rise in loan applications in January — a measurable founder surge. (Startups Magazine) |
| Mindset | Initiative encourages action vs intention. (Startups Magazine) |
| Real founders | Examples from Virgin StartUp portfolio reflect the types of businesses people can start. (virginstartup.org) |
| Commitment tools | Digital letters, courses, community support for early founders. (Startups Magazine) |