Barclays Eagle Labs
Barclays Eagle Labs is a UK-wide incubator and scaleup support network operated by Barclays Bank UK PLC, running 42 coworking locations and free growth programmes for 19,952 supported founders spanning technology, climate, health, agritech and inclusion-focused segments.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Barclays Eagle Labs does
Barclays Eagle Labs is the UK's largest startup and scaleup incubator network, operated by Barclays Bank UK PLC as an internal division of the banking group. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in London, it supports founders through a hybrid model combining 42 physical coworking locations across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland with online platforms including the Eagle Labs Community portal, the Entrepreneur Academy learning platform, and the Barclays Demo Directory investor-matching service. The organisation has supported 19,952 businesses as of November 2025, with members, programme participants and alumni collectively raising £5.01 billion in lifetime funding according to Beauhurst data. Its core technology is non-proprietary; instead it curates partner-provided technology stacks (Google Cloud, Microsoft, Databricks, NVIDIA, Adobe) for AI and emerging-tech startups and operates its own software platforms for community, learning, and investor connectivity.
The business operates on a freemium model: all growth programmes (Black Founder Accelerator, Female Founder Accelerator, Scaleup Programme, Funding Readiness Programme, Sales Growth Programme, Nexus Women's Health Collective, Insight to Impact Programme, Veteran Founders, Military Spouse Founders, Female Founders Rise, Carbon13 Venture Builder, and the National Climate Tech Accelerator) are free for accepted participants with no equity or IP taken, while coworking memberships and certain value-added services are monetised at locations. Dedicated programmes target distinct segments including Black founders, female founders, Asian founders, LGBTQ+ founders, veteran and military spouse founders, university spinouts, and women-in-healthtech founders, with execution typically delivered through specialist partner organisations such as Foundervine, AccelerateHER, Plexal, Capital Enterprise, Sustainable Ventures, Carbon13, Nexus, and the Entrepreneur Academy. Eagle Labs does not file standalone financials as an internal division of Barclays Bank UK PLC.
The go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, anchored by local Ecosystem Managers in each of the 42 physical locations who drive programme-based acquisition, founder education, and corporate-investor matchmaking. Barclays Eagle Labs received a £12 million UK Government Digital Growth Grant for the 2022-2025 period and was awarded additional funding rounds tied to its programmes, including a £303,384 grant from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology in 2023. Strategic priorities over 2025-2026 include the launch of the IPO Academy with Aquis Stock Exchange (targeting pre-IPO tech-enabled and women-founded businesses), the National Climate Tech Accelerator with Sustainable Ventures, and continued geographic buildout into underserved regions such as Cumbria.
Barclays Eagle Labs firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Barclays Eagle Labs
- Legal name
- Barclays Bank UK PLC
- Website
- https://labs.uk.barclays
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Barclays Eagle Labs is a UK-wide incubator and scaleup support network operated by Barclays Bank UK PLC, running 42 coworking locations and free growth programmes for 19,952 supported founders spanning technology, climate, health, agritech and inclusion-focused segments.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Barclays Eagle Labs industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Startup Incubator Services
- NAICS
- Open-End Investment Funds (525910), Offices of Bank Holding Companies (551111)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Corporate Accelerators & Startup Programs (FSANAHAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM)
Keywords
Where Barclays Eagle Labs is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices14 records
Markets served
Barclays Eagle Labs business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Membership and coworking fees: Physical coworking spaces with local Ecosystem Managers available at 42 Eagle Labs locations across the UK. Membership-based model with varying tiers.
- Corporate partnerships and Demo Directory: Connecting larger businesses with innovative startups through Corporate Connections programme. Demo Directory provides investor connectivity platform.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Monthly | Free programmes with optional membership for coworking spaces |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels9 records
Barclays Eagle Labs product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Barclays Eagle Labs operates the UK's largest startup incubator network, providing 42 physical coworking spaces, free growth programmes, mentorship, and investor connectivity to UK startups and scaleups. The organisation runs specialised accelerators (Black Founder, Female Founder, Climate Tech, HealthTech, Scaleup, Funding Readiness), maintains the Barclays Demo Directory connecting founders to investors and corporates, and offers the Entrepreneur Academy online learning platform. All growth programmes are free with no equity taken, while coworking memberships are available on a tiered subscription basis.
Product overview
Barclays Eagle Labs is the UK's largest incubator network for startups and scaleups, operating as a unified platform-plus-programmes architecture. The core offering consists of the Eagle Labs platform (https://labs.uk.barclays/) which provides physical coworking spaces across 42 UK locations, virtual support, the Barclays Demo Directory for investor connectivity, the Entrepreneur Academy for online learning, and the Eagle Labs Community for networking. This core platform is augmented by a portfolio of dedicated growth programmes including the Barclays Black Founder Accelerator, Barclays Sales Growth Programme, Female Founder Accelerator, Funding Readiness Programme, Scaleup Programme (powered by Plexal), Nexus Women's Health Collective, Carbon13 Venture Builder, Sustainable Ventures Accelerator, Insight to Impact Programme, Military Spousal Founders Programme, Veteran Founders Programme, and Female Founders Rise. Additional services include Executive Coaching for Scaleups, Mentoring and Coaching, the Barclays Innovation Hub facility in London, Member Rewards, and Events and Workshops. Together, these components form an end-to-end entrepreneurial support ecosystem spanning ideation through scaling, with targeted programmes for underrepresented founder communities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Barclays Eagle Labs Coworking Network The main coworking and community network supporting UK startups and scaleups through 42 physical locations with local Ecosystem Managers, plus virtual support, mentorship, growth programmes, and investor connectivity services.
- Barclays Demo Directory
Quantifiable outcome
- £5.01 billion lifetime funding raised by members, programme participants and alumni
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Barclays Eagle Labs
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments9 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Barclays Eagle Labs technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Barclays Eagle Labs partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Aquis Stock ExchangecorePartnership to launch IPO Academy - a six-month programme helping UK businesses prepare for public listings. Addresses decline in UK IPO activity since 2021, offering mentoring on governance, regulatory guidance, and investor access. Initiative targets tech-enabled and women-founded businesses with goal of 50% female-founded participation.
- Sustainable VenturescorePartnership to launch The National Climate Tech Accelerator (NCTA) supporting UK-based climate and sustainability startups with funding, mentoring, and visibility. Initiative aims to help startups scale quickly and contribute to UK's net zero targets.
- University of LincolncorePartnership for Eagle Labs Farm at University of Lincoln providing infrastructure, mentorship, and resources for Agritech companies. Since 2020, partnership has supported hundreds of companies with 40 raising £130 million in capital.
- FoundervinecoreAward-winning social enterprise partnership to run Barclays Black Founder Accelerator. Programme champions inclusion and showcases Black Founder-led businesses with 12-week masterclasses, mentoring, and networking events.
- AccelerateHERcorePartnership delivering Female Founder Accelerator - nine weeks of masterclasses covering marketing, sales, negotiation, financial management, and team building. Includes one-to-one mentoring and community networking.
- FormcoreStrategy and growth consultancy partnership for Sales Growth Programme. Helps founders build structured, repeatable approach to selling through expert-led workshops, commercial clinics, and Sales Growth Summit.
- Capital EnterprisecoreLargest network of startup supporters in London partnership powering Funding Readiness Programme. 10-week programme covering grant funding, crowdfunding, equity investment, debt funding, and alternative funding routes.
- PlexalcoreInnovation company partnership for Scaleup Programme - four-month hybrid programme with four in-person workshop days for high-growth UK tech companies. Includes Scaleup Elevate extension for standout companies.
- Carbon13coreClimate-focused Venture Builder programme supporting entrepreneurs building new impact ventures. 12-month programme helping founders create startups with potential to reduce CO2 emissions by millions of tonnes.
- NexuscorePartnership for Nexus Women's Health Collective - nine-month accelerator for founders of scaling HealthTech businesses. 30 founders receive one-to-one coaching, industry expertise, and desk space at Barclays Innovation Hub.
- Entrepreneur AcademycoreDigital learning platform partnership for Veteran Founders and Military Spouse Founders Programmes. Free online learning helping founders start and scale their business at their own pace with dedicated Barclays Champions.
- AI FringeminorFounding Member of AI Fringe - collection of national events discussing, highlighting, and addressing key concerns around AI.
- Twin Path VenturesminorMonthly AI Breakfast Club co-hosted for founders of AI first startups in London. Includes keynote speakers, fireside chats, panels, and networking.
- All Together CollectiveminorNot-for-profit social enterprise providing executive coaching for scaleups through volunteer advisors who are current or former CEOs of respected UK brands.
- Investing Women AngelsminorScotland's first women-only angel group partnering to deliver mentoring and workshops for female founders through AccelerateHER network.
- CodeBaseminorTech ecosystem support organisation and startup incubator providing mentors for businesses explicitly building software products.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Barclays Eagle Labs competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Techstars: Global accelerator operator running sector-specific programmes worldwide (including UK). Comparable operating model (cohort-based accelerators, mentor networks, demo days) but at vastly greater scale and with global footprint; competes for the same UK founder pool.
- Microsoft for Startups: Microsoft's global corporate startup programme offering cloud credits, mentorship, and enterprise sales introductions. Comparable: both are corporate-backed platforms providing tools, mentorship, and corporate connectivity, though Microsoft's offering is technology-provider-led rather than workspace-led.
Regional players
- Level39: Canary Wharf-based fintech and cybersecurity accelerator and coworking space. Comparable: both serve UK tech founders with physical workspace, corporate introductions, and sector-focused programming, though Level39 concentrates on fintech verticals.
Direct peers
- Plexal: UK innovation company operating coworking, accelerator, and corporate innovation programmes. Direct peer: Plexal runs the Scaleup Programme in partnership with Barclays Eagle Labs, serving the same UK startup and scaleup segments with comparable workspace-and-programme bundles.
- Foundervine: Award-winning UK social enterprise running the Black Founder Accelerator in partnership with Eagle Labs. Direct peer: both operate dedicated accelerator programmes for underrepresented founders with similar cohort-based structures and mentor networks.
- Antler: Global early-stage VC and accelerator with multiple UK cohort programmes. Comparable: both run cohort-based founder programmes, provide coworking and mentorship infrastructure, and target pre-seed and seed-stage technology founders.
- AccelerateHER: UK female-founder accelerator network running the Female Founder Accelerator in partnership with Eagle Labs. Direct peer: both target female founders with cohort-based mentorship and masterclass programmes across UK cities.
- Capital Enterprise: Largest network of startup supporters in London, powering Eagle Labs' Funding Readiness Programme. Direct peer: both deliver cohort-based founder education with overlapping ecosystem partners across the London startup landscape.
- SETsquared Partnership: University-led startup incubator network across five UK research universities (Bath, Bristol, Exeter, Southampton, Surrey). Comparable: both run regional programmes, mentor networks, and workspace support for university spinouts and early-stage tech founders.
- Wayra: Telefónica's global corporate venture capital and startup accelerator network, with a UK presence. Highly comparable: both are corporate-backed accelerators offering coworking, mentorship, and corporate introductions to early-stage founders without taking equity.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Barclays Eagle Labs social profiles
Digital presenceBarclays Eagle Labs financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Barclays Eagle Labs leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Barclays Eagle Labs funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Barclays Eagle Labs M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments6 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Barclays Eagle Labs
What does Barclays Eagle Labs do?
Barclays Eagle Labs operates the UK's largest startup incubator network, providing 42 physical coworking spaces, free growth programmes, mentorship, and investor connectivity to UK startups and scaleups. The organisation runs specialised accelerators (Black Founder, Female Founder, Climate Tech, HealthTech, Scaleup, Funding Readiness), maintains the Barclays Demo Directory connecting founders to investors and corporates, and offers the Entrepreneur Academy online learning platform. All growth programmes are free with no equity taken, while coworking memberships are available on a tiered subscription basis.
Is Barclays Eagle Labs a public or private company?
Barclays Eagle Labs is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Barclays Eagle Labs founded?
Barclays Eagle Labs was founded in 2015. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Barclays Eagle Labs based?
Barclays Eagle Labs is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Barclays Eagle Labs make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Membership and coworking fees are the primary driver. The others are corporate partnerships and Demo Directory.
Who are Barclays Eagle Labs's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Techstars and Microsoft for Startups. Level39 is listed as a regional player. Direct peers are Plexal, Foundervine, Antler, AccelerateHER, Capital Enterprise, SETsquared Partnership and Wayra.
Does Barclays Eagle Labs have an API?
No public API is recorded for Barclays Eagle Labs.
What industry is Barclays Eagle Labs in?
Barclays Eagle Labs's product category is Startup Incubator Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANAHAD, Corporate Accelerators & Startup Programs, with a secondary code of FSANAAAM, Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated). Its NAICS code is 525910.