What Startup Coalition does

Startup Coalition, formerly Coadec, is a UK-based independent policy advocacy organization founded in 2010 that represents the interests of technology startups and scaleups to government. Based at 4 Plough Yard, London, the organization operates with approximately 14 staff members alongside a steering board of roughly 14 industry figures. Its core function is aggregating the policy voice of the UK technology startup ecosystem and translating that into engagement with policymakers, regulators, and legislators across Whitehall and Westminster.

The organization's core product is its policy advocacy service, delivered through free policy input for individual startups and paid vertical-specific supporter schemes covering AI, ClimateTech, Cyber and Defence Tech, Fintech, and Venture Capital. These subscriptions provide recurring access to specialized policy research, closed-door roundtables, and direct government engagement on vertical-relevant regulation. It also publishes a growing portfolio of sector indices — the AI Index, ClimateTech Index, and HealthTech Index — developed in partnership with data providers such as Beauhurst, and operates Pipeline, a platform designed to help startups access UK government procurement opportunities. Underlying technology is modest: the indices are analytics outputs over external datasets rather than proprietary systems, and Pipeline is a transactional product rather than a deeply technical platform.

The business model centers on recurring subscription revenue from supporter schemes paid by VCs, corporates, and industry stakeholders across multiple verticals, supplemented by event sponsorship, research partnerships with think tanks and foundations (notably Mozilla, Tony Blair Institute, Onward, and Public First), and a free newsletter that functions as a distribution channel and brand-building asset. The organization is privately funded and does not disclose financials publicly.

Name

Startup Coalition

Legal name

Startup Coalition

Website

https://startupcoalition.io

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Startup Coalition is a UK-based independent policy advocacy organization, founded in 2010, that represents technology startups and scaleups to government through paid vertical supporter schemes, published sector indices, and the Pipeline government procurement platform. It serves UK founders, VCs, and sector corporates across AI, ClimateTech, Cyber/Defence, Fintech, and HealthTech.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Supporter/ Membership Schemes: The organization generates revenue through paid supporter schemes targeted at companies in specific verticals (AI & Deeptech, Climatetech, Cyber Security and Defence Tech, Fintech) and VC/investor supporters, offering policy guidance, real-time updates, event access, and government/regulatory engagement support. Policy input remains free for startups.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Startup Coalition is a UK policy advocacy organization that represents tech startups and scaleups in Whitehall, regulator, and parliamentary discussions across Access to Talent, Access to Finance, and Technology Regulation. It delivers this through paid vertical supporter schemes (AI & Deeptech, ClimateTech, Cyber Security & Defence Tech, Fintech, VC), published research indices (AI Index, ClimateTech Index, HealthTech Index), the Pipeline government-procurement initiative, events and roundtables, and an email newsletter. Policy input for startups is provided free and is intended to remain so.

Product overview

Startup Coalition is a UK-based policy advocacy organization for tech startups and scaleups, formerly known as Coadec. The organization operates as a unified advocacy platform offering policy research and campaigns across multiple vertical sectors (AI, ClimateTech, Fintech, HealthTech, VC), supplemented by research indices tracking sector performance, and events connecting the ecosystem. The central offering is policy advocacy services aimed at improving regulation and government support for startups, complemented by the Pipeline program for government procurement access.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Pipeline: A government procurement initiative connecting Britain's most innovative startups with government buyers to fix broken public services.
• AI Index
• ClimateTech Index
• HealthTech Index

Products and services

• Pipeline A government procurement convening platform connecting UK tech startups and scaleups with public sector buyers, designed to reduce procurement bureaucracy and help innovative companies win government contracts.
• Policy Advocacy Services Core policy research, consultation responses, and advocacy campaigns focused on improving the UK regulatory and policy environment for startups and scaleups, with focus areas spanning Access to Talent, Access to Finance, and Technology Regulation.
• Vertical Supporter Schemes Paid supporter programs offering policy guidance, real-time updates, and networking for specific sectors including AI and Deeptech, Climatetech, Cyber Security and Defence Tech, Fintech, and VC investors. Policy input remains free for startups.
• Events and Roundtables Roundtables, panels, and networking events connecting founders, investors, and policymakers in the UK startup ecosystem, including vertical-specific dinners and parties.
• Newsletter Regular email newsletter providing updates on policy developments, research publications, and ecosystem news relevant to UK startups.

Quantifiable outcome

• AI Index 2026: UK top 1,000 AI firms raised £20.2 billion, valued at £45+ billion, employing 35,000+ people
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• MozillacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Mozilla partnered with Startup Coalition to publish 'Hidden in Plain Sight: How Governments Can Unlock the Next Wave of Open Source AI Innovation.' The report argues open source AI is geostrategically critical infrastructure and sets out seven policy reforms for the UK government.
• The Entrepreneurs Network (TEN)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2026TEN collaborated with Coadec (now Startup Coalition) on the 2022 Tech Startup Manifesto, a policy blueprint for the incoming Prime Minister covering investment, talent, and regulatory policy.
• BeauhurstcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Beauhurst is a key data partner for multiple Startup Coalition indices, providing dataset analysis for the AI Index (top 1,000 AI startups), ClimateTech Index, and HealthTech Index. Their data underpins the quantitative findings in these flagship publications.
• Public FirstminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2025Public First conducted nationally representative polling for the 'Licence to Share' Smart Data report, exploring public sentiment on data sharing and Smart Data-enabled services.
• BeauhurstcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2024Beauhurst collaborated on the Capital Gains Tax Survey and multiple constituency reports (Top 50 Startup Constituencies, Welsh Startup Constituencies), providing data on UK startups and investment flows.
• Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2024TBI partnered with Startup Coalition on multiple reports including 'A Progressive Vision for Fintech' and 'Making Smart Data Happen.' TBI provides policy expertise and analytical support for joint research publications.
• Onward (Think Tank)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2024Onward partnered with Startup Coalition and TBI to produce 'The UK's AI Startup Roadmap,' authored by Kir Nuthi, Allan Nixon, and Benedict Macon-Cooney.
• ClimateTech VC 2150coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2024ClimateTech VC 2150 partnered with Startup Coalition to produce the ClimateTech Index — a comprehensive profile of the UK's top 1,000 ClimateTech startups by fundraising.
• ClimateTech Policy CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2023Startup Coalition is a founding member of the ClimateTech Policy Coalition alongside Tech Nation, techUK, Undaunted, Cleantech for UK, and Tech Zero. The coalition publishes annual reports on climate innovation policy with 28 recommendations for government action.
• FragomenminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Fragomen, an immigration law firm, partnered with Startup Coalition to produce a guide on UK visa routes for tech talent, helping startups navigate immigration options for hiring international talent.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Engine: US-based nonprofit that advocates for technology startups in policy and regulation (incl. immigration, tax, access to capital). The most direct US analog of Startup Coalition's mission, making it a useful cross-Atlantic benchmark.
• techUK: The UK's largest technology industry association, advocating on tech regulation, digital economy, and policy across the full tech stack. Closest direct peer to Startup Coalition, though it serves a broader membership base (large enterprise plus startups) and competes for government attention on overlapping mandates.
• The Entrepreneurs Network (TEN): UK think tank focused on entrepreneurship and startup policy. Co-authored the Tech Startup Manifesto with Startup Coalition's predecessor (Coadec), making it a directly comparable mission-aligned organization serving the same ecosystem.
• ClimateTech Policy Coalition: Multi-body coalition Startup Coalition helped found alongside Tech Nation, techUK, Undaunted, and Cleantech for UK. Direct peer on UK ClimateTech policy advocacy with overlapping member organizations and shared publications.

Regional players

• DigitalEurope: Brussels-based trade association representing the digital technology industry in EU policy. Comparable on tech regulatory advocacy but operating in a different geography (EU institutions) than Startup Coalition's UK-only mandate.

Emerging players

• Onward: UK centre-right think tank that co-published 'The UK's AI Startup Roadmap' with Startup Coalition and the Tony Blair Institute. Related peer on policy research output rather than direct competition.

Others

• Innovate UK: UK government's innovation agency, funding and supporting business-led innovation. Comparable as an ecosystem enabler but operates as a government entity rather than an independent advocacy body.
• Tony Blair Institute for Global Change: Global policy advisory organization that partnered with Startup Coalition on 'A Progressive Vision for Fintech' and 'Making Smart Data Happen.' Comparable on policy research depth, but operates at a national/international scale far broader than Startup Coalition's UK focus.
• UKBAA (UK Business Angels Association): Trade body for the UK's angel investment community. Comparable as an ecosystem advocacy organization serving a different slice (early-stage investors) of the same UK startup network Startup Coalition represents.

Broad incumbents

• FWD.us: US tech-sector advocacy organization with a broader political positioning and stronger funding base than Startup Coalition. Comparable as a tech-policy advocacy body, though with a wider remit spanning immigration reform and criminal justice reform.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/startupcltn
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/startup-coalition

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Startup Coalition