Unreasonable Group and Barclays announce Unreasonable Impact Small Business Initiative
New regional initiative aimed at supporting early stage entrepreneurs focused on solving pressing social and environmental challenges within their local communities, whilst also creating jobs
Unreasonable Group and Barclays have announced the launch of the Unreasonable Impact Small Business Initiative, a pilot programme specifically designed and aimed at scaling up entrepreneurs in specific areas across the UK who are using innovative technologies to solve key social and environmental challenges within their local communities, whilst also creating jobs.
The Small Business Initiative is an extension of the broader Unreasonable Impact partnership, which was co-created by Barclays and Unreasonable Group in 2016. The programme looks to provide support for small businesses in North Wales, the North East, North West, Yorkshire and the Humber, , Northern Ireland and Scotland, dedicated to delivering innovative solutions across healthcare, education, renewable energy, sustainable transport and the future of food, and who are creating jobs as they grow.
“While Unreasonable Impact is focused on scaling up growth-stage companies across the globe, the COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced the importance of also driving local impact and job creation within regional small business communities,” said Daniel Epstein, CEO and Founder of Unreasonable Group. “Our mission is to break down barriers and drive resources to entrepreneurs solving some of the world’s most pressing problems. This new initiative allows us to extend that support to a select number of no doubt remarkable entrepreneurs doing just that on a more local and regional level,” added Epstein.
The initiative will invite up to 30 entrepreneurs to join the virtual programme, which will run from 13 July for three months, giving them access to exclusive support including masterclasses with industry experts, peer-to-peer coaching, and a virtual demo day to open up new networks and strategic connections.
Lee Moore, Barclays Business Banking Area Manager for North Wales, said, “We are incredibly excited to launch this pilot initiative as an extension of our Unreasonable Impact programme. Our role in helping to rebuild more prosperous communities across the UK has never been more important and we are committed to supporting these smaller businesses on their journey to scale.”
For more information, visit Unreasonable Impact Small Business Initiative.
To apply to be considered to join the initiative please click here.
About Unreasonable Impact, created with Barclays
Unreasonable Impact is an innovative multi-year, multi-geographic partnership between Barclays and Unreasonable Group to launch the world’s first global network focused on scaling up entrepreneurial solutions that will help employ thousands worldwide in the emerging green economy. To date, the more than 160 ventures that comprise the global cohort operate in more than 180 countries, have raised over $4.7B USD in funding, have generated over $3.6B USD in revenue, and have created more than 48,000 net new jobs since joining Unreasonable Impact. For more information, visit www.unreasonableimpact.com.
About Barclays
Barclays is a British universal bank. We are diversified by business, by different types of customer and client, and geography. Our businesses include consumer banking and payments operations around the world, as well as a top-tier, full service, global corporate and investment bank, all of which are supported by our service company, which provides technology, operations and functional services across the Group.
For further information about Barclays, visit www.home.barclays.
About Unreasonable Group
Building a global community between entrepreneurs, investors, creatives and business leaders, Unreasonable acts as a catalytic platform for entrepreneurs tackling some of the world’s most pressing challenges facing us today. Part global community and part investment firm, Unreasonable operates at the intersection of profit, advanced technologies, and impact. Via its international Fellowship, Unreasonable is uniquely positioned to support a select portfolio of growth stage entrepreneurs to scale up through the deployment of knowledge, networks and capital. Unreasonable believes in the power of business to drive lasting and scalable change.
For more information about Unreasonable, visit www.unreasonablegroup.com.
