British Business Bank

British Business Bank Part of the British Business Bank, Start Up Loans is a UK government backed programme to provide advice, loans and mentoring to start up businesses

You can now apply for a Start Up Loan and get access to personal support and training to help develop your business plans. Register to get ahead with your Start Up Loan by clicking on the 'Sign Up' tab! Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startuploansuk/

28/08/2026

POV: visiting a business you backed 🧋

Earlier this week, we visited to hear from founder Yandis Ying about the business she’s building in London.

Dot Dot Tea started as a small bubble tea café and is now a premium brand with its own brewery, stocked by major retailers.

💬 Yandis shared what she hopes Dot Dot Tea can become:

“I’d love Dot Dot to become an example of what a London SME can become: starting small, creating local opportunities, developing young talent, manufacturing in London, and ultimately growing to national and global scale.”

Dot Dot Tea is one of 10,000 female-led businesses Start Up Loans has supported in London since 2012.

We loved seeing how the business is creating local opportunities as it grows.

And yes, a brewery visit means pink hairnets for everyone 🩷

Building a successful business doesn't always mean moving faster ✨That's one of the biggest lessons Kat Jones 🌌 (Lawman)...
20/08/2026

Building a successful business doesn't always mean moving faster ✨

That's one of the biggest lessons Kat Jones 🌌 (Lawman) founder Kat Lawman has learned while growing her business.

After trying to move too quickly, Kat realised a more measured approach would help her build something sustainable for the long term.

More recently, a Start Up Loan helped her launch a second venture, Starlight Commerce.

From solving a real problem to knowing when not to rush growth, these are four lessons she'd share with other founders.

👉 Swipe for Kat's tips. Which lesson resonates most with you?

 

Citizens of Soil set out to tackle a problem most shoppers never see 🫒High-quality olive oil producers weren’t always be...
17/08/2026

Citizens of Soil set out to tackle a problem most shoppers never see 🫒

High-quality olive oil producers weren’t always being properly rewarded for what they made. Now, Citizens of Soil — Extra Virgin Olive Oils connects thousands of customers with premium olive oil and the producers behind it.

Swipe through for 6 lessons other founders can take from Michael Vachon (Michael Vachon) and Sarah Fulton Vachon’s (World Olive Oil Sommelier — Sarah Vachon) story 👉

Watch the full episode of The Backed Story to hear more.

 

Waiting for the perfect moment to start a business? ⏳️Michael Vachon (Michael Vachon), co-founder of Citizens of Soil — ...
13/08/2026

Waiting for the perfect moment to start a business? ⏳️

Michael Vachon (Michael Vachon), co-founder of Citizens of Soil — Extra Virgin Olive Oils, shares why that moment might never come.

More from this conversation in the latest episode of the Backed Story.

Tap the link in bio to watch ⬆️

Could your business idea actually work? 💡You don't need a completely original idea to start a business.Many successful b...
11/08/2026

Could your business idea actually work? 💡

You don't need a completely original idea to start a business.

Many successful businesses started by solving a real problem, improving something that already existed, or spotting an opportunity others had missed.

Swipe through for 8 signs your business idea might be worth pursuing 👉

And if you're ready to take the next step, Start Up Loans could help with funding, free mentoring and practical support to help bring your idea to life.

23/07/2026

How do you build a purpose-led business that wins customers and investors? 💚

When Michael and Sarah Vachon founded Citizens of Soil, they set out to build more than a premium olive oil brand.

Their mission was simple: reward producers for quality, support regenerative farming and create better opportunities for female-led and smallholder farming communities.

💬 "I don't think there was ever an option that we would create a business without positive impact on the farmers."

A Start Up Loan via Virgin StartUp gave Citizens of Soil the early backing needed to turn their vision into a growing business.

🐾 When Bella became paralysed at just two years old, Shanice Lindo-McIntosh was determined to help her recover.Months of...
20/07/2026

🐾 When Bella became paralysed at just two years old, Shanice Lindo-McIntosh was determined to help her recover.

Months of hydrotherapy followed, and along the way Shanice noticed how the treats she used to motivate Bella played an important role in her progress.

That experience sparked an idea.

In 2021, while continuing her career as a nurse, Shanice launched Bella Loves, a handmade dog treat business inspired by Bella's journey ❤️

Starting from her mum's kitchen, Shanice developed her products with support from The King’s Trust | Free Courses & Job Support and a £4,000 Start Up Loan to invest in equipment, stock and opportunities to grow the brand.

Today, she's growing the business with ambitions to see Bella Loves stocked in pet stores across the UK.

Sometimes the idea for a business comes from solving a problem close to home.

💬 What experience or challenge inspired your business idea?

14/07/2026

🎾 Wimbledon may be over, but for small business owners the match continues.

From idea to growth, building a business is a long game.

💬 What's the biggest business goal you're working towards right now? Let us know in the comments 👇

 

What keeps you going as a founder?💡For Varun Bhanot (Varun Bhanot), co-founder of MAGIC AI: The Fitness Mirror, it comes...
16/06/2026

What keeps you going as a founder?💡

For Varun Bhanot (Varun Bhanot), co-founder of MAGIC AI: The Fitness Mirror, it comes back to the real impact on people’s lives.

If you’re building something, swipe to the end for an important reminder.

🎧 More from this conversation on The Backed Story.

Comment “Magic” and we’ll send you the link

🥊After more than 20 years as a competitive kickboxer, Runa Bakshi launched RKB BOXING🥊 to create a safe, supportive spac...
12/06/2026

🥊After more than 20 years as a competitive kickboxer, Runa Bakshi launched RKB BOXING🥊 to create a safe, supportive space where women can build confidence, learn new skills and improve their wellbeing through sport.
 
Today, the Cardiff-based business welcomes women and girls of all ages and backgrounds, with classes designed to be inclusive and accessible - including sessions tailored around cultural and religious fasting.
 
With a £15,000 Start Up Loan, Runa invested in equipment and created the dedicated training space she had long envisioned, allowing her to grow the business and expand her offering.

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