Wayra‘s UK startups, including the likes of the Yoyo wallet and queue-buster Qudini, have raised $27m since July 2014, representing half of the $54m total seen since it launched its first accelerator programme back in 2012.
Wayra UnLtd topped the UK’s Social Incubator Fund for third-party investment raised by socially-good ventures, capturing $12m of the total.
Between the Wayra and Wayra UnLtd programmes, these startups are raising on average $2m of third-party investment each month.
Gary Stewart, director of Wayra UK & Wayra UnLtd, said “This milestone proves that corporates can accelerate startups. Our current and previous cohorts are receiving significant investment, with 90% of our businesses still active and scaling fast, either directly or indirectly through Telefónica.
“Although these stats are gratifying, we’re still at an early stage of our journey. Corporates have a key role to play in the entrepreneurial ecosystem, and we aim to do our part not only in the UK but throughout the entire world.”