Our Origin Story
Thirteen years ago, a beautiful moment of serendipity between two cousins sparked something unexpected. The idea was straightforward: what if we gathered people who were hungry for adventure, growth and connection, and created a challenge that pushed their limits together?
No egos, no posturing - just a group of curious, big-hearted humans, ready to see what might happen if they left their comfort zones behind.
The first adventure: Mud, laughter, and lasting bonds
That first adventure was the Virgin Strive Challenge 2014. It was muddy, honest, and a little bit wild, and it left everyone involved with more than just sore legs.It created bonds that have lasted until today, sparked new ideas, and set off a ripple of positive change that kept growing, year after year.
From an event to a way of being: The Strive Evolution
As the years rolled on, Strive became more than an event. It became a way of being, a place where leaders, founders, and changemakers could show up as themselves, laugh at the hard bits, and find meaning in the messy middle.
The stories, friendships, and impact that grew out of those early days are still at the heart of everything we do.
The Strive Collective.
We’re moving from a once-a-year adventure to a year-round community. It’s about supporting your growth, wellbeing, sense of purpose, and impact – not just for one week, but for all the days in between.
The journey matters just as much as the finish line.This is an expansion on everything that’s made Strive special since 2014:
The camaraderie.
The honest conversations.
The shared adventures.
The ripple effect of good that happens when people come together with open hearts and big ideas.
Our Vision & Mission
Our Vision
To be the most vibrant and values-led community on the planet.
Our Mission
To spark human thriving. Because when we thrive, we lift everyone in our orbit - creating a ripple effect of positive change across the world.
Who we are
Sir Richard Branson
The OG entrepreneur, who built one of the world’s most recognised brands on the spirit of adventure. Richard is revered for many things, but more recently people’s admiration for the life he has built alongside of success has outpaced the admiration they have for the companies he has built and the financial wealth he has accrued.
Ask him which he would trade out first: his health, his fitness, his family and friendships, his impact and philanthropy work or his billions…. think we all know the answer to that one. It was observing this shift in what he’s really respected for, that inspired us to launch The Strive Collective.
Sam Branson
Sam is a singer-songwriter, documentary filmmaker, and yoga and meditation teacher, as well as a holistic wellbeing guide and original Strive co-founder. He also sits on the board of Virgin Group. A family man and lifelong adventurer, Sam has spent decades exploring the outer world and the inner one, blending physical challenge, creativity, and ancient practices to help people let go of the stories that keep them small and reconnect with their most authentic selves.
Noah Devereux
Noah has spent the last 15 years convening groups of extraordinary people in truly unique ways - ways that empower them to become the best version of themselves, deeply connect with those around them and massively increase their positive impact on the world. Strive’s headmaster, when he’s not bossing some of the world’s most disruptive people around, he can be found chasing after his two young boys, who are far more impressive athletes than he will ever be.
