Black Valley, The Organization Helping Founders Access Mentorship And Funding, Reveals Its Chosen Winter 2022 Cohort

The UK startup ecosystem is failing Black entrepreneurs with innovative ideas. It’s clear that an entrepreneur’s ethnicity can affect their access to VC in the UK as recent data shows that Black founders received just 0.24% while women from this community got a mere 0.02% of the total venture capital invested over the past 10 years.

But one organization, Black Valley, is trying to change the landscape for Black founders through its founder’s program. The 8-week program includes weekly 1:1 mentoring sessions, workshops on themes like ideation, product, solution-fit, marketing, funding as well as bi-weekly chats with industry experts.

Out of 100 applications, 10 entrepreneurs were carefully selected to be part of the Winter 2022 program where they will be supported to take their businesses from ‘idea’ to ‘investor’ ready.

In April this year, Black Valley will also be hosting a Demo Day event, where all the founders will have the opportunity to pitch in front of a panel of investors. There will also be a chance to network, hoping to grant opportunities for the founders to kickstart the growth of their businesses.

The aim of the program is to help reduce the barriers for Black people trying to scale a business.

Meet the chosen founders

Michael Jemilua

The founder is building NVOIS: an all in one business solution for creative sole traders

Sade Amale and team (Ake & Rico),

The team is building PHYSALIS: a video-first market research platform

Emmanuel Akeju and team (Busayo, Elizabeth and John),

The group is building LOOPIFY media: a media-tech company that creates immersive-audio visual content

Ricardo Johnson

Johnson is building SUCASA: A platform that enables landlords to safely self manage their complete rental portfolio from one mobile application

Hawa Mansaray

Mansaray is building RENT EQUIPMENT NOW (R.E.N): a peer-2-peer technology equipment rental platform

Monique Anderson

Anderson is building RATED BY: a platform and fulfillment service that enables creators and influencers to launch and grow their own subscription box business

Omolara Dare

Dare is building HEROCARE: ‘Uber’ for Caregivers; help hospitals, clinics, care homes and at-home patients source and book vetted Caregivers

Amina Aweis

Aweis is building ‘‘RECIPE MATE’:an online platform that connects blind and deaf users with accessible food recipes, equipping them with the skills and knowledge to cook independently

Malone Mukwende

Mukwende is building HUTANO: a platform that provides education, social support and clinical help for people living with skin conditions

Gabriel Meidt and team  (Junior and Ardie-Armell)

Meidt and the team building TALENTBOOKR:  an online booking platform for live entertainers