Meet The Black-Led UK Startups Joining Google Black Founders Fund 2023
The Google for Startups Black Founders Fund is back for the third year after it launched as part of Google’s $175 million commitment towards racial equity.
The fund has also expanded to Brazil, Europe, and Africa, and last year it announced its first-ever Latino Founders Fund in the US. It aims to support Black and Latino founders using technology to solve some of society’s biggest problems.
The European fund launched with a $2 million grant fund that has since doubled to $4 million, with 40 Black-led tech startups across Europe receiving grants from the fund.
Each startup is given $150,000 in non-dilutive cash awards, up to $200,000 in cloud credits and ad support, mentoring by industry execs, and connections inside Google’s network.
Before the funding, less than 0.25% went to Black-led startups.
Google for Startups partners with ITV, WPP, JCDecaux, Grow London Global, and Allen and Overy. Together they provide a comprehensive package of advertising, marketing, financial and legal support to the UK-based Black Founders Fund recipients.
10 UK-based startups were chosen this year, a quarter of the 40 startups this year, more than any other country in Europe and Africa.
Meet the startups
Below is the list of UK-based startups unveiled, with others across Europe also selected recently.
Anasi: A digitalized insurance broker delivering embedded goods in transit insurance to retailers.
Baselime: Baselime helps software engineers resolve bugs faster in the age of serverless computing.
Earlybirds: Their software for employability providers combines voice technology and conversational AI to help providers deliver better quality, scalable support to frequently overlooked job seekers.
Gravity Sketch: Gravity Sketch is a virtual 3D design platform revolutionizing how we bring ideas to life and fundamentally changing how 3D design is done today.
Husmus: It offers a new kind of fair and transparent renters’ insurance for how we rent in the modern world, covering tenant risk to help make renting more affordable.
MyoMaster: MyoMaster enables everyday athletes to improve their performance and prevent injury.
Research Grid Ltd intentionally streamlines medical research processes from months to minutes to reduce inefficiency and inaccessibility.
Slinger: A platform that addresses the UK’s hospitality worker shortage by connecting the UK’s 10.3 million frontline workers to Living Wage opportunities.
Tangent: Tangent leverages video technology, generative AI, and a dynamic marketplace to connect traditionally overlooked talent to tech employees for an employee referral.
Upskill Digital: A startup committed to reducing the global digital skills gap by providing accessible learning support to those most need it.
