Ben Francis
Birmingham, United Kingdom · PersonFounder and CEO of Gymshark, the fitness-apparel brand he started from his parents' garage as a teenager and bootstrapped into a billion-pound business before its first outside investment.
Directory
Startup ecosystem in Birmingham
Local startups, investors, and operators based in Birmingham, United Kingdom.
7 entries.
Birmingham Tech Week 2026
Birmingham, United Kingdom · EventThe West Midlands' largest tech festival, a city-wide week of conferences, exhibitions, and community events. For a Midlands founder it is the main annual opportunity to raise visibility, meet regional investors, and connect with the SuperTech innovation cluster.
Commercial Vehicle Show 2026
Birmingham, United Kingdom · EventUK's largest road transport and commercial vehicle event at NEC Birmingham, attracting fleet operators, logistics companies, and vehicle manufacturers. Free with registration. Covers fleet telematics, EV commercial vehicles, and logistics optimization. Valuable for mobility and logistics startups targeting fleet management and last-mile delivery operations.
Festival of Entrepreneurs 2026
Birmingham, United Kingdom · EventA founder-centric event at the NEC expecting 5,000 founders, 200 speakers, and 150 exhibitors. The 2026 agenda targets the decisions founders are making now — raising capital, applying AI in the business, leadership, and preparing to scale.
Food & Drink Expo 2026
Birmingham, United Kingdom · EventUK's largest food trade show with healthy and plant-based zones. Price: free trade registration. Strong for foodtech and CPG startups seeking retail listings.
Gymshark
Birmingham, United Kingdom · StartupGymshark is a Birmingham-based direct-to-consumer fitness apparel brand founded in 2012 by Ben Francis when he was 19 years old. The company became one of the UK's fastest-growing brands by leveraging influencer marketing and social media before it was standard practice, building a devoted community of fitness enthusiasts. Gymshark reached unicorn status in 2020 when General Atlantic invested at a $1.45 billion valuation. The brand sells primarily online across 180+ countries and has expanded into physical retail. It is one of Europe's best examples of a DTC brand scaling without traditional retail.
MACH 2026
Birmingham, United Kingdom · EventUK's premier national exhibition for engineering and manufacturing at NEC Birmingham, showcasing CNC, 3D printing, tooling, and factory automation. Free with registration, attracting 25,000+ engineering professionals. Particularly relevant for advanced manufacturing, robotics, and industrial automation startups seeking partnerships with UK manufacturers.