Editing Virgin Group (section)

===Virgin StartUp===
Virgin StartUp is the Virgin Group's non-profit company, helping entrepreneurs across the UK to start, fund and scale their business. In 2013, Branson visited Boxpark in Shoreditch, London, to launch the new organisation, revealing that he wanted to support anyone that had the same dreams and ambitions that he did as a young boy: “It was £300 from my mum that sparked the Virgin adventure 40 years ago. Today, young people need that same help and I believe Virgin StartUp will provide it – with access to early capital, strong mentorship, advice and promotion.”<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://hackneypost.co.uk/richard-branson-launches-virgin-startup-at-boxpark-shoreditch/|title=Richard Branson launches Virgin StartUp at BoxPark Shoreditch|last=Murray-Morris|first=Sophie|date=2013-11-06|website=Hackney Post|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-08-03|archive-date=13 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113072617/http://hackneypost.co.uk/richard-branson-launches-virgin-startup-at-boxpark-shoreditch/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The organisation became a delivery partner for the UK Government's Start Up Loans Company,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.startuploans.co.uk/delivery-partners/virgin-startup/|title=Virgin StartUp|website=Start Up Loans|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-08-03|archive-date=3 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190803025612/https://www.startuploans.co.uk/delivery-partners/virgin-startup/|url-status=live}}</ref> providing loan finance of between £500 and £25,000, advice, and mentoring to thousands of start-ups across the country. In 2016, it was awarded European Regional Development Funding<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://lep.london/sites/default/files/2017%2010%2031%20ERDF%20list%20of%20projects.pdf|title=LIST of ERDF PROJECTS IN THE LONDON LEP AREA|website=London Enterprise Panel|access-date=3 August 2019|archive-date=13 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113074324/https://lep.london/sites/default/files/2017%2010%2031%20ERDF%20list%20of%20projects.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> and subsequently launched Ready, Steady, Grow with Virgin StartUp, a programme of support aimed at start-ups that were ready to grow. A year later, it launched the UK's first equity-based crowdfunding accelerator programme, Crowdboost.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.crowdcube.com/explore/entrepreneur-articles/crowdboost|title=Virgin StartUps launches CrowdBoost, a crowdfunding acc|website=www.crowdcube.com|language=en-gb|access-date=2019-08-03|archive-date=3 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190803025611/https://www.crowdcube.com/explore/entrepreneur-articles/crowdboost|url-status=live}}</ref>

By 2018, the organisation had supported over 11,000 UK-based entrepreneurs, with over £35m in pre-seed funding.{{citation needed|date=February 2015}}

====Foodpreneur====
In 2014, Branson and Virgin StartUp launched the "Foodpreneur" food and drink focused start-up competition. Winners received mentorship from Branson, legal support, and brand counseling.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://startups.co.uk/winners-of-richard-bransons-foodpreneur-competition-announced/|title=Winners of Richard Branson's "Foodpreneur" competition announced|last=Platt|first=Ryan|date=2014-09-22|website=Startups.co.uk|access-date=5 June 2018|archive-date=6 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180706075246/https://startups.co.uk/winners-of-richard-bransons-foodpreneur-competition-announced/|url-status=live}}</ref> The 2014 winners included Proper Beans, Killer Tomato, Sweetpea Pantry, and Sweet Virtues.

In 2015, winners were given the opportunity to pitch [[Target Corporation]] buyers in the US. The 2015 winners included Pip & Nut, Double Dutch Drinks, Harry Bromptons, Cauli Rice, and Mallow and Marsh.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.virgin.com/entrepreneur/richard-branson-announces-2015-foodpreneur-festival-winners|title=Richard Branson announces 2015 Foodpreneur Festival winners|last=Foster|first=Charlie|date=5 October 2015|website=Virgin|access-date=5 June 2018|archive-date=6 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180706075459/https://www.virgin.com/entrepreneur/richard-branson-announces-2015-foodpreneur-festival-winners|url-status=live}}</ref>

Only one start-up was announced winner of the 2017 Foodpreneur prize, [[The Snaffling Pig Co]]., who won a six-week rental space at [[Lakeside Shopping Centre|intu Lakeside]], the shopping centre with the highest foot traffic in the U.K.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.virgin.com/entrepreneur/virgin-startup-reveals-virgin-foodpreneur-2017-winner|title=Virgin StartUp and Intu have named The Snaffling Pig Co as the winners of Virgin Foodpreneur 2017.|last=Clarkson|first=Natalie|date=2017-07-26|website=Virgin|access-date=5 June 2018|archive-date=6 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180706075051/https://www.virgin.com/entrepreneur/virgin-startup-reveals-virgin-foodpreneur-2017-winner|url-status=live}}</ref>