Virgin Group[1] is a British multinational venture capital conglomerate founded by Richard Branson and Nik Powell in February 1970.

[2] The name "Virgin" arose in 1970 when Richard Branson and Nik Powell formed a record shop, first as mail order and in 1971 with a physical store.

[4] The original logo from 1973 was a completely different design intended to be used for the record company that was founded by Richard Branson and Nik Powell.

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.”[12] The organisation became a delivery partner for the UK Government's Start Up Loans Company,[13] providing loan finance of between £500 and £25,000, advice, and mentoring to thousands of start-ups across the country.

The 2015 winners included Pip & Nut, Double Dutch Drinks, Harry Bromptons, Cauli Rice, and Mallow and Marsh.

It sued clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) in Surrey after it lost out on an £82 million contract to provide children's health services across the country.