Discovering and investing in the
UK's best Black-led startups



proudly sponsored by

Founders Programme

The UK startup ecosystem is failing Black entrepreneurs with innovative ideas!

The ethnicity of an entrepreneur or founding team can affect venture capital funding in the UK. While all ethnic entrepreneurs are underfunded, between 2009 and 2019, Black founders received just 0.24% of venture funding — while Black female founders received 0.02% of the total venture capital invested. {Source: Extended Ventures, diversity beyond gender report}.

Black Valley’s goal is to ensure the future of tech is inclusive for Black founders. We address these issues through our Founders programme by backing and supporting exceptional Black founders through an 8-week accelerator programme.

We are accepting expressions of interest for our S’24 programme.

Join the waiting list below.

waiting list

Our Portfolio of Promising Startups

Bloomful

Bloomful’s mission is to build an entirely new care pathway for women’s gynaecological health. Through monthly membership they offer deeper diagnostics, including blood testing and consultations, and longer-term support, personalised recommendations, programmes and curated content.

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Heyr

Heyr combines evidence-based therapies and techniques to support users in identifying and confronting negative thoughts and behaviours through daily check-ins.

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First Portfolio

An investment platform that enables investment gift-giving for children and young people to help them build the first they will ever have

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Liquify

The Growth Engine for African Exporters, an invoice marketplace that allows exporters in Emerging Markets
to get quick access to affordable working capital.

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Everknock

Moving home is life’s most stressful event. It should be an exciting and important milestone, but it can quickly become a nightmare. Everknock is the home-moving concierge powered by human expertise, AI & automation; like a wedding planner for your home-move.

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Overploy

The business is revolutionising how retail marketing teams in large organisations save on external agency costs for content creation. How? They’re tapping into their most valuable asset - their employees. Overploy empower employees to earn extra by doing what they're passionate about — creating content. Only recently has Bev and Overploy become VC-backed.

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Audiostrip

Best online tool used by musicians to split vocals from backing music in audio files.

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wHY SHOULD I APPLY?

Realise Your Startup Ambition

We are looking for ambitious UK black founders who are looking to raise some capital within the next 3-6 months to take their ideas to the next level.

Criteria To Apply

✅ Identify as Black or Mixed black heritage

✅ At least 50% of the business is owned by someone who identifies as black or mixed black heritage

✅ You have not raised more than £200k in capital

✅ Have completed customer validation and tested the initial business model

✅ You can commit to the programme (3-5 hours a week)

✅ You are UK based

✅ Age 18 or above

WaitING List

What Our Community Say About Us

Our community is composed of people at different stages of their start up journey and entrepreneur journey, all together in one place to learn from each other and give back.

Vlad Magdalin - Partner

Founder of Webflow

We're proud to partner with Black Valley to help the next wave of Black founders get dedicated support, mentorship, and funding in their entrepreneurship journey. We want to see a world where there is much more diversity in tech – especially in who is empowered to start them and build wealth through them.
Suzanne Gauron  - Partner

Head of Launch With Goldman Sachs

At Goldman Sachs, we know that the pipeline of talented diverse entrepreneurs is strong and organizations like Black Valley are doing the work of enabling the next generation of tech entrepreneurs and visionaries. We are proud to support their mission of elevating founders in the early stages of their journey
Dan Glazer - Partner

Managing Partner of Wilson Sonsini

At Wilson Sonsini we know that diversity and inclusion lead to thriving business ecosystems that produce exceptionally innovative technology and emerging growth enterprises. We are proud to partner with Black Valley as they continue to support and mentor talented early-stage Black founders throughout their entrepreneurship journey
Vlad Magdalin  - Partner

Founder of Webflow

We're proud to partner with Black Valley to help the next wave of Black founders get dedicated support, mentorship, and funding in their entrepreneurship journey. We want to see a world where there is much more diversity in tech – especially in who is empowered to start them and build wealth through them.
Suzanne Gauron  - Partner

Head of Launch With Goldman Sachs

At Goldman Sachs, we know that the pipeline of talented diverse entrepreneurs is strong and organizations like Black Valley are doing the work of enabling the next generation of tech entrepreneurs and visionaries. We are proud to support their mission of elevating founders in the early stages of their journey
Alberta Asafo-Asamoah - Founder

Founder of Vetemonde

I was neutral about what I wanted from the programme. I was looking for continuity as it pertains to the motivation to continue with my start-up, particularly after completing my masters.However I got more than I had anticipated, through the network, mentors, support and feedback. 10/10
Dr Dupe Burgess - Founder

Founder Of Bloomful

The programme helped me solidify my pitch, proposition and deck - including my go to market strategy. I've really enjoyed being part of a strong community which is committed to uplifting black people in tech. I feel like this is a community I will be part of for a long time to come.
Parin Shah  - Mentor

Investor, EMEA at Lego Ventures

The European Start-up ecosystem is crying out for something like Black Valley to help black founders really thrive and connect the dots at the earliest stages. I love supporting founders coming through the programme who are always thoughtful and hungry
Graham Hobson  - Mentor

Founder of Photobox

It’s been my pleasure to work with ambitious and passionate founders on their journey through the Black Valley programme. I like having the opportunity to pass on some experience I’ve gained over the years to this ambitious bunch
Dr Dupe Burgess - Founder

Founder Of Bloomful

The programme helped me solidify my pitch, proposition and deck - including my go to market strategy. I've really enjoyed being part of a strong community which is committed to uplifting black people in tech. I feel like this is a community I will be part of for a long time to come.
Parin Shah  - Mentor

Investor,EMEA at Lego Ventures

The European Start-up ecosystem is crying out for something like Black Valley to help black founders really thrive and connect the dots at the earliest stages. I love supporting founders coming through the programme who are always thoughtful and hungry
Graham Hobson - Mentor

Founder of Photobox

It’s been my pleasure to work with ambitious and passionate founders on their journey through the Black Valley programme. I like having the opportunity to pass on some experience I’ve gained over the years to this ambitious bunch

Why Should I Apply?

mentor a founder

Pay It Forward

Over a decade in the UK, only 38 Black Entrepreneurs received funding via venture capital.

We are looking for start-up mentors, founders and A+ executors in tech who are as passionate about disrupting the start-up ecosystem and supporting black founders as we are.

BECOME A MENTOR
SPONSOR THE PROGRAMME

Partner With Us

We support our founders with resources and the social capital that has been scarce and often hinders raising a pre-seed /seed round.

We are partnering with Goldman Sachs and Wilson Sonsini to support Black-led UK start ups.

We are looking for like minded companies, who like us and our existing partners, want to make sure Black Founders are getting the support needed to realise their start-up ambition

PARTNER WITH US