{"id":389,"date":"2025-01-31T10:23:30","date_gmt":"2025-01-31T11:23:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/timsvideostore.com\/?p=389"},"modified":"2025-02-08T12:06:33","modified_gmt":"2025-02-08T12:06:33","slug":"25-years-of-startups-co-uk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/timsvideostore.com\/index.php\/2025\/01\/31\/25-years-of-startups-co-uk\/","title":{"rendered":"25 years of Startups.co.uk"},"content":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Back in 2000, our founder, David Lester, launched Startups.co.uk with a goal to champion entrepreneurs and help them to avoid the mistakes he made in his own business journey.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">We&rsquo;ve stuck to this mission by sharing the early origin stories of what are now some of the UK&rsquo;s most valuable companies; often before anyone else was willing to give them a chance.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Below, we&rsquo;ve organised thousands of these stories into one of the UK&rsquo;s most comprehensive archives of new business history, spanning two and a half decades of blogs, interviews, awards, and first-hand accounts of what it&rsquo;s like to be an entrepreneur in Britain this century.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"form-simple\" data-eventcategory=\"feedback\" data-eventaction=\"Email-Subscribe\">\n<div class=\"form-loader\">\n<div class=\"spinner-box\">\n                <span class=\"spin-loader\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"form-loader-text\">Verifying<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"form-subscribe-info\">\n<p class=\"form-subscribe-title\">Get the latest startup news, straight to your inbox<\/p>\n<p class=\"form-subscribe-subtitle\">Stay informed on the top business stories with Startups.co.uk&rsquo;s weekly newsletter<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"form-subscribe-box\">\n<div class=\"input-row input-row-text\">\n<p>                <span class=\"input-row-error\">Please fill in your name<\/span>\n            <\/div>\n<div class=\"input-row input-row-email\">\n<p>                <span class=\"input-row-error\">Please fill in your email<\/span>\n            <\/div>\n<div class=\"google-inline-captcha\">\n<div class=\"captcha-message\">\n                    <span class=\"btn-close\"><\/span><br \/>\n                    <span class=\"form-messages\"><\/span>\n                <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>            <button class=\"form-subscribe-button btn\" type=\"submit\" data-eventlabel=\"https:\/\/startups.co.uk\/feed\"><br \/>\n                Subscribe            <\/button>\n        <\/div>\n<p class=\"form-subscribe-privacy-policy\">\n            By signing up to receive our newsletter, you agree to our <a href=\"https:\/\/www2.mvfglobal.com\/privacypolicy\/b649e\" title=\"Privacy Policy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Privacy Policy<\/a>. You can <strong>unsubscribe<\/strong> at any time.        <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2>2000<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The new millennium is a time of optimism for startups. The dot com boom arrives, but with ideas developing faster than the tech infrastructure, the crash comes quickly in March 2000.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Startups.co.uk launches at this low point. As is often the case, however, the troubled trading environment provides an opportunity for innovative internet newcomers to thrive.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Our <\/span><b>Successful Entrepreneurs series<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> highlighted these early winners, including <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20240721063901\/https:\/\/startups.co.uk\/startups-20\/justgiving\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">JustGiving<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20241105135256\/https:\/\/startups.co.uk\/startups-20\/mumsnet\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Mumsnet<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20240913124427\/https:\/\/startups.co.uk\/entrepreneurs\/moonpig-nick-jenkins\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Moonpig<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/lastminute.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Lastminute.com<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. Moonpig founder Nick Jenkins tells us, &ldquo;For a few years after the crash I&rsquo;d look around and think: &lsquo;When&rsquo;s it my turn?&rsquo;&rdquo;.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In a script that has since almost entirely flipped, retail is thriving at this time. A fresh-faced Startups speaks to high street titans, such as the founders of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20240715234609\/https:\/\/startups.co.uk\/entrepreneurs\/pret-a-manger-julian-metcalfe-and-sinclair-beecham\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Pret A Manger<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20240716005040\/https:\/\/startups.co.uk\/entrepreneurs\/betfair-andrew-black\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Betfair<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>2003<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In 2003, we interview a 33-year-old <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20240910140320\/https:\/\/startups.co.uk\/entrepreneurs\/karren-brady-birmingham-city-fc\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Karren Brady<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, seven years before she joins <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Apprentice<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. Also, Startups publishes our first <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/startups.co.uk\/young-guns\/alumni\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Young Guns Index<\/span><\/a>.<span style=\"font-weight: 400\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Around this time, the first profile in our <\/span><b>Just Started series<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, which celebrates new UK firms that are less than one year old, is published.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Over the next two decades, Just Started will introduce the world to brands like <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20241006163824\/https:\/\/startups.co.uk\/just-started\/tide-george-bevis\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Tide<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20240619171132\/https:\/\/startups.co.uk\/just-started\/dash-water-alex-wright-and-jack-scott\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Dash Water<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20240809085620\/https:\/\/startups.co.uk\/just-started\/crowdcube-darren-westlake\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Crowdcube<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20240724054453\/https:\/\/startups.co.uk\/just-started\/ovo-energy-stephen-fitzpatrick\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ovo Energy<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, and even our 2025 Startups 100 winner, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/startups.co.uk\/news\/lottie-wins-2025-startups-100\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Lottie<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>2005<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In 2005, the UK gets its first glimpse at a new BBC TV show, and can never look at a row of black leather chairs the same way. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/startups.co.uk\/dragons-den\/successes\/\"><b><i>Dragons&rsquo; Den<\/i><\/b><\/a> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">airs on BBC Two on 4 January.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/startups.co.uk\/news\/dragons-den-series-one-lookback\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Series one<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> features a host of soon-to-be six-figure business ideas including Startups alumni <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20240616124856\/https:\/\/startups.co.uk\/entrepreneurs\/young-entrepreneurs-ben-corrigan-jonny-plein-pouch\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Pouch<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/startups.co.uk\/dragons-den\/trunki\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Trunki<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, and a very young-looking Levi Roots, of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/startups.co.uk\/startups-100\/2008\/14-reggae-reggae-sauce\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Reggae Reggae Sauce<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">One month later, the entrepreneur takeover of the silver screen is definitive after <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Apprentice <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">launches on BBC Two in February.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">For series one, the winner is Tim Campbell, who will later return as judge. <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Apprentice&rsquo;s <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">most successful candidate, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/startups.co.uk\/young-guns\/mark-wright-climb-online\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Mark Wright<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, will later make the Young Guns Index in 2015.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>2007<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Steve Jobs&rsquo; turtlenecks dominate the headlines in 2007 after Apple launches its first iPhone. The unveiling will mark the most significant shift for the business world in years, introducing entrepreneurs to the smartphone and a whole new, mobile world for consumer tech.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Over the next decade, this ripple effect will help to birth some of the UK&rsquo;s most valuable new businesses including delivery app, Deliveroo, runner-up in our <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/startups.co.uk\/startups-100\/2015\/3-deliveroo\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">2015 Startups 100 Index<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>2008<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The UK suffers its worst recession since WW2, and GDP shrinks by 6% over six consecutive quarters. Like the dot com bubble, though, it provides fertile ground for innovators.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In the same year, we publish our inaugural <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/startups.co.uk\/startups-100\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Startups 100 Index<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, celebrating the 100 most disruptive businesses founded in the past five years. Beatthatquote.com, a price comparison website wins, and will go on to be acquired by Google in 2013 for &pound;37.7m.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Two firms that will go on to become some of our biggest Startups 100 successes launch this year. Punk brewer, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/startups.co.uk\/startups-100\/2008\/84-brew-dog\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">BrewDog<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and million-pound marketplace, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/startups.co.uk\/startups-100\/2008\/52-zoopla\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Zoopla<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>2010<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In 2010, money transfer startup <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20240716004415\/https:\/\/startups.co.uk\/startups-20\/transferwise\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Transferwise<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> (now Wise) is founded. It joins the startup scene in the same year as Instagram, when the reign of social media begins.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Startups 100 Index will soon be overloaded with smart ventures that capitalise on the wave, including a baby-faced Steven Bartlett and his firm, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/startups.co.uk\/startups-100\/2016\/12-social-chain\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Social Chain<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Instagram also provides a new route for the YouTube generation to monetise their following, meaning 2010 signals the beginning of the influencer craze. In our <\/span><b>Young Entrepreneurs series<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, we highlight content creators like <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20241005064230\/https:\/\/startups.co.uk\/entrepreneurs\/young-entrepreneurs-zoe-sugg-zoella\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Zoe Sugg<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, AKA Zoella, and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20241005091457\/https:\/\/startups.co.uk\/entrepreneurs\/young-entrepreneurs-alfie-deyes-pointlessblog\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Alfie Deyes<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>2015<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Midway through the decade, two challenger banking companies called <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/startups.co.uk\/startups-100\/2017\/58-monzo\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Monzo<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/startups.co.uk\/startups-100\/2019\/1-5\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Revolut<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> launch within just three months of each other.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Both businesses will go on to claim billion-pound valuations and feature in the Startups 100 Index on multiple occasions, cementing the UK&rsquo;s status as a fintech leader.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>2020s<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Startups.co.uk celebrates its twentieth anniversary with the <\/span><b>Startups 20<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. Out of hundreds of firms featured on the site, we spotlight the 20 most influential from the past two decades.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">next <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">20 years look less certain though, as in March 2020, the first national COVID-19 lockdown sends every sector into a tailspin.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">High streets are forced shut, resulting in a decline they may never recover from. Offices are closed, and international trading halts. After <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/startups.co.uk\/analysis\/how-are-small-businesses-preparing-for-freedom-day\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Freedom Day<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> in July, entrepreneurs undergo a slow crawl to recovery which, for some, has yet to end.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">UK innovation persists also. Startups continues to publish the Startups 100, and also unveils its <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/startups.co.uk\/podcast\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Speaking of Startups podcast<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and weekly <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/startups.co.uk\/newsletter\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">email newsletter<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, to report on future workplace and industry trends that will shape the next era for UK business.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p>The post <a href=\"https:\/\/startups.co.uk\/about\/history\/\">25 years of Startups.co.uk<\/a> appeared first on <a href=\"https:\/\/startups.co.uk\">Startups.co.uk<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Back in 2000, our founder, David Lester, launched Startups.co.uk with a goal to champion entrepreneurs and help them to avoid the mistakes he made in his own business journey.&nbsp; We&rsquo;ve stuck to this mission by sharing the early origin stories of what are now some of the UK&rsquo;s most valuable companies; often before anyone else [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[13],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/timsvideostore.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/389"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/timsvideostore.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/timsvideostore.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timsvideostore.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timsvideostore.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=389"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/timsvideostore.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/389\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":390,"href":"https:\/\/timsvideostore.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/389\/revisions\/390"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/timsvideostore.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=389"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timsvideostore.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=389"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timsvideostore.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=389"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}