Rising Stars

What Rising Stars does

Rising Stars is the legacy name for Tech Nation's early-stage startup pitch competition, now evolved into four distinct UK competitions: Next Wave (SEIS-eligible founders competing for a share of £2M investment), One To Win (EIS-eligible founders), Route To Rise (international founders seeking UK momentum), and Founders Of The Future (transatlantic founders under 26 competing for up to £500k). It is one product line within Tech Nation, a London-headquartered UK growth platform that supports technology startups from seed through Series B+ via a portfolio of programmes including Creo (disabled founders), Libra (underrepresented founders), Climate, DeepTech, Upscale (Series A), and Future Fifty (Series B+). Tech Nation operates as a non-profit / double-bottom-line organization backed by Founders Forum Group (which acquired it in 2023), and does not develop proprietary technology products — its core platform is human-coordinated programmes, events, research, and a global alumni network spanning 1,300+ companies including 30% of UK tech unicorns.

Revenue is derived from government funding (DCMS, Treasury, Home Office, DSIT, DBT), corporate sponsorships (HSBC Innovation Banking as Founding Partner, plus Cooper Parry, EY, Evelyn Partners, Capsule Insurance, Motability), commissioned UK Missions for government and trade bodies, and a premium account management service (Scale in UK). Participation in competitions and programmes is free for selected startups, so pricing power sits on the corporate-sponsor and government-funder side rather than the founder side. Distribution is community-led, driven by national visibility, government endorsement (including Future Fifty launches at Number 10 Downing Street), and peer referrals through the alumni network across UK cities.

The technical product surface is limited to digital properties: the technation.io platform, the Global Talent Visa programme (operated in partnership with the Home Office), the AI Jobs and Quantum Jobs specialized jobs boards, and the annual Tech Nation Report. There is no proprietary SaaS product, no AI/ML pipeline, and no patents or trademarks disclosed. The company's primary intangible asset is its position as the UK's quasi-official tech ecosystem body — a status underwritten by its founder alumni roster (Monzo, Revolut, Darktrace, Skyscanner, Deliveroo, Wise), its relationship with UK policymakers via the Founders Pulse initiative, and its global alumni referral network.

Name

Rising Stars

Legal name

Tech Nation

Website

https://technation.io

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Rising Stars is Tech Nation's early-stage startup pitch competition, evolved into four UK programmes (Next Wave, One To Win, Route To Rise, Founders Of The Future) offering SEIS/EIS investment opportunities to UK and international founders. It operates as part of Tech Nation, a non-profit UK tech growth platform owned by Founders Forum Group.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Startup Accelerator Programs

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYFSANAAAA

Early-Stage Venture Capital (Pre-Seed/Seed)

Financial & Insurance/Private Equity & Venture Capital/Venture Capital Firms

Keywords

• Startup accelerator programs
• Pitch competition platform
• Tech ecosystem support
• Founder community building
• Early-stage investment programs

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Growth Programs & Competition Platform: Tech Nation operates as a non-profit/double-bottom-line organization that facilitates growth programs and pitch competitions for UK startups. Rising Stars and other programs provide investment opportunities and support services to early-stage founders. Revenue is derived from government funding, corporate partnerships, and sponsorship arrangements rather than direct product revenue.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Rising Stars is a UK early-stage startup pitch competition originally run by Tech Nation. It has evolved into four distinct competitions — Next Wave (SEIS-eligible founders sharing £2M), One To Win (EIS-eligible founders), Route To Rise (international founders pitching for UK backing), and Founders Of The Future (transatlantic founders under 26 sharing up to £500k). Participation is free for selected startups, and the organisation is funded through corporate partnerships and government support.

Product overview

Tech Nation is a comprehensive growth platform for UK tech companies providing coaching, content, and community through multiple programme tiers. The platform operates a portfolio of early-stage programmes (Creo for disabled founders, Libra for underrepresented founders, Climate Programme for climate tech, DeepTech Programme for deep tech ventures), mid-stage support (Upscale for Series A startups), and late-stage growth acceleration (Future Fifty for Series B+ to unicorn). The platform also runs four distinct pitch competitions (Next Wave, One To Win, Route To Rise, Founders Of The Future) offering investment opportunities. Supporting infrastructure includes UK Gateway for international market entry, Scale in UK for landing support, Global Talent Visa for talent acquisition, AI Jobs and Quantum Jobs for specialized hiring, UK Missions for international exposure, Founders Pulse for policy advocacy, and the annual Tech Nation Report for industry research.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Future Fifty: UK's most unique and prestigious programme for ambitious late-stage tech ventures, supercharging their growth from Series B+ to unicorn and beyond.
• Upscale
• Libra
• Creo
• Climate
• DeepTech
• Founders Pulse
• Global Talent Visa
• Rising Stars

Quantifiable outcome

• 30% of all UK tech unicorns have graduated from Tech Nation programs
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Cooper ParrycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooper Parry partnered with Tech Nation to publish the Breakout 50 report, the inaugural list of UK's most promising early-stage tech companies. This partnership positions Cooper Parry as the preferred accounting/advisory partner for companies in the competition pipeline.
• Evelyn PartnerssupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerEvelyn Partners is a corporate partner supporting Tech Nation's Future Fifty program, providing accounting, tax, and advisory services to participating scaleups.
• EY (Ernst & Young)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerEY serves as a corporate partner supporting Tech Nation's Future Fifty program, contributing professional services expertise to the ecosystem.
• Capsule InsurancesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCapsule Insurance is a corporate partner supporting Tech Nation's Future Fifty program, providing insurance solutions to participating scaleup companies.
• Motability OperationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMotability Operations partnered with Tech Nation to launch the Creo programme, the first springboard platform for disabled founders and entrepreneurs innovating around disability. This partnership provides funding, mentorship access, and resources to disabled entrepreneurs in the UK tech sector.
• Motability FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Motability Foundation supports the Creo programme in partnership with Tech Nation, focusing on championing disabled founders and entrepreneurs innovating around disability.
• UK Government (DCMS, Treasury, Home Office)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTech Nation works closely with UK Government departments including the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), Treasury, and Home Office. The organization endorses the UK's Global Talent Visa and serves as an official voice for the UK tech ecosystem to policymakers. Government ministers regularly participate in Tech Nation events and launches.
• Home OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTech Nation partners with the Home Office on the Global Talent Visa programme, facilitating skilled immigration and tech talent acquisition for the UK tech sector.
• University of CambridgesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe University of Cambridge, through Founders at Cambridge Enterprise, partners with Tech Nation on initiatives to accelerate formation and scaling of knowledge-intensive companies. Gerard Grech, former Tech Nation CEO, now serves as Managing Director of Founders at Cambridge.
• Department for Science, Innovation and TechnologycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDSIT partners with Tech Nation on talent and immigration initiatives, supporting the UK's position as a global tech hub through policy and program collaboration.
• Department for Business and TradecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDBT partners with Tech Nation to support international trade and business development for UK tech companies, including through UK Gateway and international missions.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Antler: Global early-stage venture capital firm and accelerator with strong UK and European presence. Direct peer targeting the same pre-seed and seed founder segment with cash investment, founder matching, and structured programs—competing head-to-head with Rising Stars and Next Wave.
• Seedcamp: London-based early-stage venture fund and accelerator targeting European pre-seed and seed startups. Direct peer operating in the same UK early-stage ecosystem as Tech Nation's Rising Stars, offering investment, mentorship, and network access to founders in overlapping geographic and stage segments.
• Founders Factory: London-based incubator and accelerator, now a sister company within Founders Forum Group alongside Tech Nation. Direct peer operating in the same founder-support ecosystem, offering investment, operational support, and corporate partnerships—creating both competitive overlap and potential cross-platform synergies.
• Entrepreneurs First: London-based talent investor and accelerator focused on finding and backing exceptional technical founders pre-idea. Direct peer competing for the same UK early-stage founder pool, particularly deep tech and AI founders that overlap with Tech Nation's DeepTech and Rising Stars programs.
• Startupbootcamp: Global accelerator network with vertical-specific programs (fintech, health, smart cities) and strong European presence. Direct peer operating accelerator programs with investment, mentorship, and alumni networks in overlapping geographies and segments as Tech Nation.

Emerging players

• Barclays Rise: Barclays' global fintech and innovation platform offering workspaces, mentorship, and programming for growth-stage startups. Comparable as a corporate-backed startup accelerator offering structured programs and ecosystem support, competing for UK founder mindshare.
• NatWest Eagle Labs: NatWest's nationwide network of startup workspaces and accelerator programs across the UK. Comparable as a corporate-backed ecosystem player providing founder support, mentorship, and growth programs in the same UK regional cities Tech Nation serves.

Broad incumbents

• Techstars: Global accelerator network with mentorship-driven programs for early-stage startups. Comparable as a structured accelerator offering investment in exchange for equity, peer network access, and a structured curriculum—competing for the same UK founder pool that Tech Nation serves.
• Y Combinator: The world's largest startup accelerator, operating from the US with growing European presence. Directly comparable as a pitch-competition-style accelerator offering investment, mentorship, and alumni network access, though at significantly larger scale and global reach than Tech Nation's UK-focused Rising Stars/Next Wave.
• MassChallenge: Global non-profit accelerator with a UK presence focused on high-impact, high-growth startups. Comparable as a non-profit/impact-driven accelerator offering equity-free programs, mentorship, and corporate partnerships—competing for similar mission-driven founders.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/technationhq
• Instagraminstagram.com/technationhq
• Xx.com/TechNation

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments36 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rising Stars