Future Fifty at five – applications open

Parveen Dhanda, November 7, 2017 3 min read

This article was originally posted on the Tech City UK website.

Future Fifty is the only programme for fast-growing late-stage digital tech companies in the UK, and we’ve just opened for applications for 2018!

If you think your company has what it takes to become the next Deliveroo, Skyscanner, or TransferWise, then this is the programme for you! The programme is completely free, and applications close on 10 January 2018.

The programme

Future Fifty is a prestigious programme for the big hitters in UK digital business. Our current cohort includes Deliveroo, Bloom&Wild, Transferwise and Onfido, with Zoopla, Just Eat, Skyscanner, Funding Circle and Farfetch making up part of our extended alumni.

With the programme now five years old, 101 Future Fifty companies have so far raised over $5.3bn of venture capital since joining the programme. Alumni have seen 5 IPOs on the London Stock Exchange, raising $1bn, they have been involved in 22 mergers and acquisitions, and they’ve employed 27,000 people in 56 countries.

As part of the Future Fifty 2018 cohort, you’ll get to tackle a range of scaling challenges with other businesses at a similar stage, learn from your peers, and build a powerful network able to influence government policy and inspire the next generation in our tech ecosystem.

Why you should join

As well as creating a sounding-board for like-minded execs facing similar scaling challenges, through our unique relationship with the government, Future Fifty offers access to key government contacts, including access to a Home Office visa hotline for help for key talent.

The Future Fifty programme will connect you with some of the world’s leading innovators and experts, who can help you go global. Advisors to the Future Fifty programme companies have included:

  • Nick Beighton, CEO of ASOS
  • Linda Main, Head of Capital Markets for KPMG
  • Robin Klein, General Partner at Local Globe
  • Paul Harrison, CFO at Just Eat
  • Nezehat Gultekin, Director at Temasek
  • Christian Hernandez, Managing Partner at White Star Capital

Your company will be supported by our partners Barclays, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati and FTI Consulting and we’re delighted to welcome Macfarlanes LLP to the programme.

“Macfarlanes is hugely excited to be partnering with Tech City UK as the exclusive English law adviser to the Future Fifty initiative. The companies in the Future Fifty cohort will face a whole host of new legal challenges as they continue to scale up.  In conjunction with Tech City UK we will help the Future Fifty companies to surmount these challenges and also provide guidance on a range of key issues as they progress through the programme.” Richard Burrows, Partner, Macfarlanes 

The partners share their expertise and experience with Future Fifty and help advise companies on issues from expanding operations internationally, M&A, IPO and fundraising and navigating regulatory and political changes as the UK exits the EU.

Five years of Future Fifty

The calibre of Future Fifty cohorts has been exceptional, and a real tribute to the strength of UK tech companies. The stats speak for themselves. Future Fifty companies have truly been taking UK tech international. 

If you’re a UK-headquartered digital company, with £5m revenue, and can demonstrate 30% year-on-year growth over the last two years in your key business metrics, then you should become a member of Future Fifty.

Companies join the Future Fifty family for two years. So you’ll be joining some of last year’s experienced participants, as well as a cohort of new high-flying members.

What do Future Fifty companies say?

“The concierge-style service means that there’s a team at Tech City UK who are able to give us practical help and advice in tackling the speed bumps we face on our growth journey.” Sarah Wood, CEO, Unruly Media

”Really appreciate the support from Tech City and Future Fifty over the last few years – made a big difference.” Ben Medlock, Co-Founder, SwiftKey

Applications for Future Fifty open on 7th November and will close on 10th January 2018. The successful companies will be announced in March 2018.

Tech City UK takes no equity stake in the companies selected to join its programmes.

For more information go to: futurefifty.com

For regular updates on promising and successful UK tech companies, follow @TechCityUK and @Future_Fifty

Future Fifty 6.0, Late Stage