Black History Month UK: Funding Opportunities And Initiatives Black British Founders Should Know About
Research from Extend Ventures revealed that only 0.24% of funding went to Black founders in the UK in the last decade.
Additionally, a report conducted by Cornerstone VC also found that only 1% of founders who receive seed funding identify as Black and only 3% of VC-funded founders identify as Black.
To celebrate and amplify Black founders in UK tech this Black History Month, we have compiled a list of resources and funds available.
Black Seed
Black Seed is a community-led by Black founders, for Black founders, based in Brixton, London.
The fund was launched to address the lack of funding Black founders receive in the UK and was founded by Karl Lokko, Cyril Lytterodt, and Yvonne Nagawa.
In 2023, Black Seed raised £5 million ($6,148 million) for its inaugural £10 million ($ 12,200 million) fund to create a Black Silicon Valley in the UK’s capital.
Black Valley Founders Programme
Black Valley works with start-up ventures and enterprise clients to transform how and who is empowered to build technology products and services.
Their Founders Programme addresses the lack of venture capital for Black founders in the UK.
They back and support exceptional Black founders through an 8-week accelerator program, delivering their goal of ensuring the future of tech is inclusive for Black people.
Barclays Black Founder Accelerator
Barclays Black Founder Accelerator is a program designed to champion diversity in entrepreneurship and showcase Black founder-led businesses.
The program includes 12 masterclasses, access to business and networking events, Barclays mentors, and a chance to showcase your business to potential clients at the end of the program.
Impact X
Impact X is a Black-owned venture capital company founded to support underrepresented European entrepreneurs within the entertainment, media, tech, health, and digital industries.
Impact X provides its entrepreneurs access to industry experts and strategic resources to ensure portfolio companies receive critical input for their visions and long-term investor value.
Cornerstone VC
Black-owned VC firm Conervstone VC is a venture capital fund focused on a “people first” investment strategy.
The early-stage VC firm invests in innovative B2B technology solutions in the UK, investing in more diverse businesses by backing unrepresented and undervalued founders and innovators.
