What is the Global Entrepreneur Programme (GEP)?

The GEP is DIT’s flagship programme that enables ambitious internationally mobile entrepreneurs and their innovation-rich companies to scale and internationalise from a UK global HQ. Once the company establishes its global HQ in the UK, it receives focussed and tailored support as part of the GEP Alumni Academy. 

Entrepreneurship is borderless and founders are willing to locate their businesses wherever there is an ecosystem that can support and facilitate their growth ambitions. So entrepreneurs look beyond national borders for the most attractive sources of capital, talent, market potential and start-up guidance and the UK is an entrepreneurial powerhouse able to support founders and innovators to achieve global success.

 

Establishing your Business

The GEP focuses on founders who want to establish a global or strategic HQ in the UK and access our world class entrepreneurial ecosystem, as well as GEP’s expert support. We support the ambitions of global entrepreneurs where a UK HQ will accelerate international growth.

Our Dealmakers (who are entrepreneurs themselves) work directly with our programme members, helping them expand their innovative businesses in the UK. Their support, both highly prized and free, includes: 

  • mentoring from experienced entrepreneurs
  • help to develop business plans
  • assistance with relocating to the UK, including visa application endorsement
  • introductions to key networks including investors
  • guidance on how to grow internationally
  • continued help from DIT and other relevant stakeholders once located in the UK, especially around exporting.

 

 

Hear from our Success Stories

Carbon Clean Solutions

Carbon Clean is a global leader in cost-effective CO2 capture technology for critical industries such as cement, steel, refineries, and energy from waste (EfW).

The company’s patented technology significantly reduces the costs and environmental impacts of CO2 separation, when compared to existing techniques.

Headquartered in the UK with the help of the Global Entrepreneur Programme (GEP) - UK government funding totalling £5 million has accelerated the commercialisation of its innovative technology currently installed at 38+ facilities globally.

The company growth has been exceptional and they recently announced CEMEX as a new investor bringing the total raised in the round to $30 million.

It was selected to provide the carbon capture technology to the Acorn project in Aberdeenshire – one of the most mature carbon capture and storage projects in the UK.

It is also currently in use at the world’s largest industrial-scale carbon capture and utilisation plant in Tuticorin, India.

Pisano

Pisano provides AI-based software-as-a-service solutions helping streamline customer and employee experience management for enterprise businesses including banking, insurance, retail, utility and travel. 

Their soluition enables businesses to increase customer retention, employee engagement, revenue growth, productivity and customer loyalty and decrease costs, employee turnover and IT overheads.

Originally based in Turkey (Istanbul) Pisano has seen rapid growth since their inception in 2015 , successfully growing the team from 2 to 50 people with offices in Turkey, UAE and Singapore. 

The company took the strategic decision to move its HQ to London in 2018 to enable their global expansion.

 Their customers include, Samsung, Adidas, Raiffeisen Bank International, Landmark Group and AXA and they are present in more than 20 countries.

Kuda

GEP fintech alumnus Kuda Technologies offers a full service, digital only, mobile-first banking service, Kuda Bank.

The service is designed to be used with a smartphone, free of any charges, helping clients to budget, spend smartly and save more.

In 2019, the Nigerian start-up established their global HQ in the UK, with the plan to launch their products and services globally.

The London-based challenger bank has successfully closed their Series A round of funding in March 2021, quickly followed by a Series B round of funding in August 2021.

Kuda is valuated at $500 million as at September 2021.

SwIDch

SwIDch is an innovation enabler offering the world’s first one-way dynamic authentication technology, OTAC.

Originally invented by swIDch, OTAC provides more secure authentication for all digital identities even in the off-the-network environment to authenticate users and devices.

By reinventing authentication, swIDch sets a new standard for authentication in cybersecurity beyond the limitations of existing authentication methods. 

Originally based in South Korea, swIDch established their GHQ in London, in 2018, following engagement with GEP at a Tech Rocketship event in Korea.

They hold the honour of being recognised year after year, as one of the world’s most innovative CyberTech Companies for financial institutions.

What qualifies you for GEP?

Companies that qualify for the GEP are on the precipice of global success, and the program will springboard them to the next level. They're experts in their field, and have established themselves in the industry. 

The criteria we use to qualify companies with:

  • Innovative technology Start-up/Scale up with large addressable market (including the UK?)
  • Have a strong willingness to relocate global headquarters to the UK
  • One of the co-founders/entrepreneurs will be based in the UK fulltime to drive/grow the business
  • Has strategic plan for building the company from the UK
  • Beyond the proof-of-concept stage
  • Aspiration for high growth and creating highly skilled jobs in the UK
  • Generating revenues

Got what it takes? Get in contact with us today to accelerate your success.