What is the programme?
Founded in 2013, Future Fifty works to champion the best British technology companies and provide support as they embark on their scale up journey on a national and international level. Alongside this, the programmes help the organisations create jobs and inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs.
The programme is supported by Barclays and Macfarlanes who also offer expertise to aid the companies’ growth with roundtables, open hours and thought leadership.
Who is involved?
Future fifty is backed by the government as well as receiving support from some of the most successful banks and law firms.
With the help of the tech community, the programme supports growing technology companies in achieving their global ambitions, creating jobs and opportunities across the UK, and inspiring the next generation in our tech ecosystem.
The rise of Fintech
Last week, over 10 fintech companies joined this year’s programme. Revolut, Monzo, Starling Bank, Currencycloud, Aire, Blockchain, MarketInvoice, Quantexa, Nested and Salary Finance were revealed to be among the 24 most dynamic and fast-growing late-stage technology companies to be chosen to join Future Fifty’s 2019 cohort.
Parveen Dhanda, Future Fifty Programme Lead at Tech Nation said: “This is important because this growth in the fintech sector has been fuelled by all of the support available for fintech companies at the start-up stage and we are now seeing the effect of this support. This is also a reflection of the strength of the ecosystem and of the UK’s excellence in fintech.
The growing success of the tech industry
Tech Nation and Dealroom data has revealed that the U.K. has attracted a whopping $7.9 billion in funding in 2018 and closed the gap for exits of venture-backed companies with the U.S. As well as this U.K. sales, IPOs and mergers were worth $40 billion – ahead of every other European country – which points to the success of the tech sector as a whole in the country.
How to apply?
To apply for Future Fifty companies must have raised Series B funding or equivalent or have £5 million in net revenue and have 50 per cent growth year on year in the past two years. Also, the company’s HQ must be located in the UK!
It’s free to join, and TechNation don’t take an equity stake in your business either.
