Activate Studio

Funding news from the Activate Studio portfolio! What started as a potluck dinner idea in Durham has now catered for the British Royal Family and Taylor Swift’s world tour! Yuru Guo, founder of portfolio startup Hey! Food is Ready is redefining the foodtech and social enterprise space. Her innovative online marketplace connects refugee, immigrant, and stay-at-home chefs with companies looking for culturally diverse catering options. To date, Hey! Food is Ready has partnered with 125 chefs from over 60 countries, with an inspiring 80% being women—compared to just 19% in the broader professional chef industry. With over 350 chefs on the waitlist, the impact of this platform is growing exponentially. Recently, Hey! Food is Ready secured £18,000 in funding from the Funding Futures Programme—a collaboration between UnLtd, Co-op Foundation, and Phoenix Group. This funding will enable the platform to scale and create even more opportunities for chefs from underrepresented backgrounds. At Activate Studio, we’re thrilled to support visionary founders like Yuru as they transform ideas into impactful businesses. If you’re ready to build your digital platform or need strategic finance support, applications to partner with Activate Studio are now open. #FoodTech #SocialImpact #FemaleFounders #startupstudio #StartupAccelerator #FundingFuturesProgramme

Why one startup at a time? At Activate Studio, we partner with just one startup at a time. This means our in-house team of developers, designers, marketers, and business experts are fully dedicated to bringing your vision to life. Our team becomes your team. If you’re looking for a hands-on, tailored approach with a team committed to building something impactful, we’re here for your journey. We’re searching for talented entrepreneurs ready to co-create the future. Is that you? Apply today! #StartupStudio #Founders #Entrepreneurship #StartupJourney #ActivateStudio #OneStartupAtATime

Turning Ideas into Reality: Lessons from HubSpot’s Journey 🚀 The path from idea to impact is never smooth. Just ask HubSpot—a small startup in 2006 that grew into the global leader in inbound marketing. They saw early on that traditional tactics were losing effectiveness, so they pioneered the inbound model, drawing in customers through valuable content instead of ads. But success didn’t come overnight. HubSpot faced their share of hurdles, yet their dedication to solving real problems—and building scalable tools—helped them redefine the marketing landscape. Their story proves that with innovation, perseverance, and a passion for serving customers, any founder can turn a big idea into lasting change. At Activate Studio, we’re here to help founders like you navigate the startup rollercoaster, avoid common missteps, and accelerate your growth. And here’s a bonus—Activate Studio founders get exclusive access to HubSpot for Startups to supercharge your marketing and sales journey! 😉 #Founders #Entrepreneurship #StartupJourney #ActivateStudio #HubSpot #StartupSuccess

Accelerator, Startup Studio, or Incubator: Do you know the difference? Whether you're looking to scale fast, build from scratch, or develop your idea with long-term support, choosing the right partner is crucial. In our latest blog post, we break down the key differences between accelerators, startup studios, and incubators—so you can make the best decision for your startup's future! 🔗 Read the full post: https://bit.ly/3CtnQ32 #StartupTips #Accelerator #StartupStudio #Incubator #Founders #StartupJourney #Entrepreneurship

These days, the accelerator and incubator scene has grown significantly, with plenty of companies offering successful applicants funding, mentorship and more in exchange for equity. Here are some of the top accelerators and incubators in the UK 💰 #accelerators #incubators #startups #entrepreneurs #funding Seedcamp, Activate Studio, Entrepreneur First, Hotbed, Techstars, Oneday, Wayra UK, SETsquared Partnership, Founders Institute, Tech Nation, Bethnal Green Ventures, Founders Factory 👏 Read more 👇 https://lnkd.in/dT3P5JMp

"Activate Studio support directly influenced our path from an early-stage idea to a successful launch. Their tailored approach, focusing on both design and product development, was instrumental in shaping my vision into a viable product. As of today, we have welcomed hundreds of returning customers and seen a rise in booking inquiries, a milestone I initially thought was beyond my reach. We have signed partnerships with the likes of Net-a-Porter, Mr Porter, Karen Millen and The Outnet, and have been featured by outlets such as BBC, The Guardian, Evening Standard, Vogue and more. I wholeheartedly believe Activate Studio’s unique approach and dedicated support working as business and tech partners help founders achieve tangible results. The Seam's achievement is a testament to the effectiveness of their support.”, Layla Sargent, Founder of The Seam, Activate Studio's portfolio company. From idea to impact, The Seam is just one example of how we help founders bring their vision to life. Want to see more of the startups we’ve partnered with and the results they’ve achieved? Explore our portfolio on our website!

Big news from our portfolio! Hey! Food is Ready is gearing up for their next funding step. They’re about to launch an exciting crowdfunding campaign at Crowdcube, and here’s the inside scoop: you can jump in early before it opens to the public! Hey! Food is Ready is all about bringing diverse, authentic cuisine to workplace events. Their online marketplace connects talented chefs with companies looking to celebrate culture through unforgettable food experiences. Early access means you get first dibs on being part of their delicious journey - before shares run out! Hungry to join? Sign up for early access now, and don’t miss your chance. Link in the comments. Please remember: investing carries risks, and you should only invest if you’re prepared for the possibility of losing your investment. #startups #crowdfunding #crowdfundingcampaign #funding #startupfunding #startupnews #crowdcube

Turning an idea into reality is never a straight line. Just ask Notion. Their journey from zero to 100 million users is a testament to how challenging and rewarding the path can be. Launched in 2013 with a mission to "augment human intellect," Notion faced plenty of setbacks. After rebuilding their product four times and nearly running out of funds, they finally hit their stride with the release of Notion 2.0 in 2018. That’s when everything changed. Notion transformed from a scrappy startup into a global platform that’s now a thriving ecosystem for creators, businesses, and more. Their story proves that with vision, resilience, and a bit of grit, even the toughest roads can lead to incredible impact. At Activate Studio, we’re here to help founders like you stay the course, dodge common pitfalls, and accelerate your journey. And as a bonus, Activate Studio founders get a special offer to use Notion too! 😉 #Founders #Entrepreneurship #StartupJourney #ActivateStudio #Notion #StartupStories

When’s the best time to start your startup? The answer: Today. But here’s why… No one ever feels 100% ready to take that leap. The real game-changer is having the right team backing you - a team that gets your vision and is as passionate about it as you are. That’s why we’re thrilled to announce that applications for our Winter Funding Cycle are officially OPEN! If you’ve been waiting for the perfect moment to launch your digital product, this is it. At Activate Studio, we’re more than just a partner - we’re in the trenches with you, offering hands-on support, strategic advice, and the technical expertise to turn your idea into something tangible and impactful. Ready to build the future? Check our website to apply now, and let’s bring your vision to life together.

UK startups raised an incredible £7.4 billion in the first half of 2024. AI is at the forefront, driving massive growth, with generative AI hitting a record-breaking 18% of all VC funding this quarter. At Activate Studio, we’re excited by AI’s game-changing potential and ready to back startups breaking new ground in this space. 💡 Want to know how you can ride this AI wave? Check out our latest blog for key investment trends and insights on seizing this AI-driven opportunity. Read now: https://bit.ly/4fWQpFl #AIRevolution #StartupFunding #ActivateStudio #GenerativeAI #TechTrends #VentureCapital