Barclays Aspire

From founder to CEO

Rise Growth Academy

Your business has demonstrated real traction and it’s time to start scaling. You’re looking for support to transition from founder to CEO.

Barclays Aspire
Barclays Aspire

How it works

Rise Growth Academy helps you develop a high-growth mindset through access to the network, expertise and tools to lead your business into a future of sustainable growth.

The Academy is designed to accelerate your path from founder to CEO of a growing fintech business. Learn about growth marketing, how to build a board, and recruit key talent.

The learning is built around a set schedule and key learning milestones. You’ll have access to a range of modules, insights from experts, a wealth of exclusive content, and a community of high-growth fintechs with whom you can share challenges whilst supporting each other.

Applications close: 18 August | Programme starts: 16 October

Learn from experts

Learn from experts

Work 1:1 with experienced CEOs who’ve built and exited businesses. In these sessions you’ll be challenged and supported by an expert who understands you and your business. A dedicated relationship with a senior Barclays stakeholder will provide you with unique insights, guidance and a sounding board that will help you reflect on and build out your growth plans.
Learning built around you

Learning built around you

Work ‘on’ rather than ‘in’ your business with a series of learning modules covering everything from sales and marketing, to OKRs and product. Your coach will tailor your journey to the needs of your business to address gaps, build strong organisational foundations, and reinforce success.
Learn as a community

Learn as a community

Inspire and be inspired by a global network of ambitious, success-driven peers. During the programme you will connect with your peers and the Rise community during events, workshops and through your dedicated community channel. Post-programme, you will have the opportunity to develop lifelong relationships as you learn and grow together.

Is this Academy right for you?

You’re based in US/UK

You’re a fintech, ready to scale

You have secured seed-stage funding and now have a genuine ambition to raise series A funding within the next 12 months.

You’re focused on the future

Your fintech operates in one of these focus areas:

  • The Future of Money: Payments 2.0, digital money and beyond
  • The Future of Finance: Personalised and embedded
  • The Future of Banking: Harnessing technology to build the bank of the future

You’re a growing team

You have a minimum team size of 10 (outside of your co-founding team).

Your journey starts here

Complete your application

Submit your application by 18 August.

Complete your application

Submit your application by 18 August.

Virtual selection panel

If you are shortlisted, you’ll be invited to an interview.

Virtual selection panel

If you are shortlisted, you’ll be invited to an interview.

Time to explore the Academy

If your interview is successful, you’ll be invited to join the Rise Growth Academy portal. You’ll explore how it works and connect with other founders in the Academy before the programme starts.

Time to explore the Academy

If your interview is successful, you’ll be invited to join the Rise Growth Academy portal. You’ll explore how it works and connect with other founders in the Academy before the programme starts.

Learning

Alongside learning content and interactive playbooks to work through with your team, you’ll meet 1:1 on a regular basis with an experienced scale coach who’ll support your progress and keep you on track.

Learning

Alongside learning content and interactive playbooks to work through with your team, you’ll meet 1:1 on a regular basis with an experienced scale coach who’ll support your progress and keep you on track.

Continue your journey

You will have access to your learning platform for a further 6 months. Where there is strategic alignment between your company and Barclays, there may be an opportunity for Barclays to invest through its Principal Investment team.

Continue your journey

You will have access to your learning platform for a further 6 months. Where there is strategic alignment between your company and Barclays, there may be an opportunity for Barclays to invest through its Principal Investment team.

Fintech success stories

"The coaching and mentoring that we got, alongside the playbooks allowed us to find our own DNA."

Anton Padmisiri

CEO | WealthOS

"We had an incredible coach that allowed us to really focus on the business and not in the business. The key takeaway for us was gaining perspective away from the daily operations and really focusing on the big priorities of our business."

Irina Albita

Co-Founder, Co-CEO | FilmChain

"The playbooks allow you to start putting what you know is in your head into a certain framework. Once that framework is there, you can then apply that at scale with your corporation."

Zohar Hod

Founder, CEO | One Creation Corporation

Applications close: 18 August | Programme starts: 16 October

Learn more about our focus areas

Financial services has been undergoing a major transformation for several years now, but the breadth and speed of change are accelerating. Our Innovation Thesis outlines themes that will be most relevant in the coming years, forming the basis for our Rise Growth Academy focus areas.

  • The Future of Money: Payments 2.0, digital money and beyond
  • The Future of Finance: Personalised and embedded
  • The Future of Banking: Harnessing technology to build the bank of the future

Download the Thesis now and learn more about these opportunity spaces.