Barclays Unleashes the Demo Directory: UK Hubs of Startup Love
Pitch‑perfect news: Barclays has rolled out the Demo Directory, a free online playground where UK businesses can hop straight into a world of investors, without any pesky bank‑switching drama. Think of it as a matchmaking app, but for capital.
Why This Is a Game‑Changer
- Existing founders say 42 % would use extra cash to widen their product line.
- 33 % of founders plan to hire new talent.
- Nearly a 32 % want to upgrade or expand their office space.
Barclays’ research tells us the “Dream Start‑ups” are all over the UK office‑looking places, not just the usual Golden Triangle (London, Cambridge, Oxford). The Demo Directory is bringing investment to anyone, anywhere.
Breaking Down the Hurdles
Most founders argue two big roadblocks:
- Locating investors 49 % of the time is an exercise in patience.
- Raising money can feel like a 58 % price tag—costing too much to chase.
So what happens? A free, anywhere‑in‑the‑UK platform pulls the squares in one place. No more juggling between banks or spending hours on LinkedIn.
Who’s Using It?
- More than half (54 %) of the applicants identify as ethnic minorities.
- Almost 40 % of the founders are women.
- And a whopping 48 % of them aren’t based in the “Golden Triangle.”
This isn’t just a great big fancy; it’s making investment feel less like a choose‑your‑own‑adventure and more like the right thing to do.
What Investors Get
Investors can sign up and:
- Check out video pitches.
- Answer quick “elevator‑pitch” style questions.
- Filter by region, company size, or whatever tickles their curiosity.
When they find a match, they can hop straight into a conversation—no PowerPoint slide decks, no endless email chains.
Economic Reality Check
The market’s a bit “turbulent”—a quarter of founders have shut down funding round plans due to uncertainty. Yet, the same number say more cash would help them smooth out the cost-of-living bumps and keep the cash flow dancing.
CEO Overview
Benjamin Storey, head of Demo Directory, lets us in on his secret: “It’s about making it easy for founders to connect with those who can actually give them the money they need.” He shares that 49% of founders raised money within six months of hitting the platform. Plus, 48% of the companies were outside the typical “Golden Triangle.” “We’re just getting started, and this will keep growing,” he says.
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