Barclays expands Demo Directory to help founders connect directly with corporates for strategic investment and commercial growth
Today, Barclays announced the next phase of its Demo Directory platform, giving innovative UK startups a new route to secure strategic investment and commercial partnerships directly with corporate organisations. The update expands the platform beyond investor access alone, enabling corporates to discover new technologies, source innovation and invest in future growth opportunities aligned to their strategic priorities.
Originally launched in 2023, Barclays Demo Directory was created to make the funding ecosystem more efficient and inclusive by removing barriers such as cost, geography and limited visibility. The online platform allows founders to upload pitches and engage directly with relevant backers. Since launch, it has proven a market-leading solution for entrepreneurial growth in the UK.
To date, the Demo Directory has enabled over £1.67bn in capital requests, connected more than 3,180 founders with 856 investors, and helped showcase over 400 ventures, with success stories spanning deep-tech, aviation, climate innovation and financial services. According to data from Beauhurst, in 2024, 9.1% of all UK companies that raised capital utilised the platform.
The new enhancements extend the Demo Directory to corporate innovation teams and procurement functions across the UK, connecting founders with potential buyers and strategic partners in addition to investors. For corporates, it provides a low-friction way to access early-stage innovation, test solutions, and build relationships with emerging technology firms.
Abdul Qureshi, managing director, Business Banking at Barclays, said: Funding is a key driver of innovation economy growth, and we are proud of the role we play in providing and facilitating access to finance for ambitious businesses. Demo Directory has shown how powerful direct investor access can be for founders – driving capital requests into the billions and helping innovative new businesses scale at pace.
Now, we are excited to be expanding that access for founders beyond individual investors through to corporates. Founders are asking for it, corporates are ready for it, and both sides stand to benefit as founders will now have more access to avenues to scale, and corporates will obtain ground-level access to breakthrough technologies and fresh thinking! Win-win for everyone and another reason we continue to invest in our unique Eagle Labs proposition!
Notable success stories include Voltsmart, who have taken part in a number of Barclays Corporate Connectivity Showcases and were the winner of Best Innovation in Climate Tech at Barclays 2025 Entrepreneur Awards.
Jenny Skinner, managing director at Voltsmart, commented: “We are incredibly grateful to Barclays for the continued support and endless opportunities provided to us as a scaling organisation. The exposure, guidance and connectivity with corporates across multiple industries have been invaluable. This has undoubtedly been instrumental in accelerating our growth, strengthening our credibility and building brand awareness within our target markets.”
Barclays’ expansion of the Demo Directory supports the bank’s broader ambition to back UK innovation, strengthen customer and client outcomes and support a more resilient and competitive entrepreneurial economy.