Black entrepreneurs in London: Where to go if you need support with your business

For many Black business owners, setting up or owning a business in London often comes with additional challenges – but there's help out there. Find organisations ready to support your business.

Historically, the business landscape has presented Black business founders with some unique challenges – from limited access to finance to problems in the system that stop you reaching your goals or getting those great opportunities for growth.

But now there's a growing movement to provide the guidance, support and resources you need to succeed. Even better, much of that help comes from other Black founders who want to share their unique insight into what it's like to navigate this often tough business environment.

Various organisations and schemes have emerged to provide business support specifically tailored to Black business owners like you. Read on to learn more about who they are and how they can help.

Get general support and meet like-minded people

• Babes On Waves Club: Join this online club for diverse female founders, freelancers, creators and entrepreneurs and build your confidence in business.

• Black2Business UK: Use this helpful online directory to find all product and service providers from the African/Caribbean diaspora within the UK.

• Black Business Association: A platform to network, do business and address barriers to equality, from the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

• Black Business Club: Monthly online networking, collaboration and business education.

• Black Business Network (BBN): Attend networking events, join an engaging online community and build strong professional and community relationships.

• Foundervine: An organisation that creates opportunities in underserved communities and makes innovation open to anyone, anywhere.

• National Black Women's Network (NBWN): Black, Asian and ethnic-minority women across the UK can join an already huge network driven by inclusivity and equality.

• The Black Pounds Project: Get access to all the support and financial help you need to kickstart your venture after the challenges of the pandemic.

• The Stack: A community and meeting place for women in business to grow personally and professionally, gain inspiration and learn.

• The Ubele Initiative: Ideal support if you need help growing or developing your community-based group or organisation.

• YSYS: Become part of a diverse start-up community that runs programmes, campaigns and workshops and advocates for a more inclusive start-up ecosystem.

Fund your business with investment and grants

• Ada Ventures: Have a business that revolves around climate change, healthcare or ageing? This venture capital (VC) company might want to invest in you.

• Black Artists Grant (BAG): No-strings-attached financial support for Black artists to spend on whatever they like – new equipment or materials, travel, research and so on.

• Black Funding Network (BFN): If you're a small, Black-led non-profit business, this organisation can help you gain access to funding.

• Black Investor 360: Attend the UK's first-ever business investment show for Black businesses to connect and exchange knowledge with investors and finance professionals.

• Black Seed: Seek finance from this Black-led, Brixton-based seed fund that invests only in Black entrepreneurs.

• Chorus Network: Have a financially attractive business plan? Committed to addressing social or environmental issues? This network will match you with a suitable investor.

• Community Growth Ventures: Get angel investment from this London-based group that supports underrepresented founders of pre-seed and seed-stage start-ups.

• Conduit Connect: A dedicated team that can introduce your businesses to suitable investors and mentors and run events aimed to raise your business's profile and visibility.

• Cornerstone Angel Network: An angel investment network focused on investing in businesses owned and run by founders like you.

• Create Equity: Connect with this organisation whose mission is to make investment in the arts, social enterprise and commercial industries racially equitable.

• Creative England: Need help taking your business to the next stage? Get a cash injection and related support to make your growth plans a reality.

• Do It Now Now: Get support with developing your business's underrepresented talent and make sure every one of your employees can achieve their full potential.

• Extend Ventures: Struggling to get access to venture capital? This group of business, finance and research specialists works to make finance available to all.

• FounderTribes: Get help with starting or scaling your business by gaining access to some of the world's best entrepreneurs, executives and investors.

• FSE Group: Have a viable proposal to expand but can't get the finance you need? This fund was set up to support growing businesses like yours.

• Green Angel Syndicate: If your business is seeking to make a real difference in the world, look to the UK's largest network of specialist investors for financial support.

• Hatch Enterprise: Develop the skills you need to grow your business, with Hatch's mix of events, peer support, hands-on seminars and one-to-one expert support.

• Impact X Capital: Venture capital (VC) finance right here in London! Get in touch for the support you need to grow.

• Lendoe: A finance company dedicated to funding Black, ethnic-minority, early-stage and women-led businesses.

• The Collective Foundation: Want to create positive social impact for your community? These programmes, mentorship schemes and networks can help you achieve your aims.

• UnLtd: Get finance, mentoring, workshops and other pro bono guidance from this organisation that funds and supports social entrepreneurs.

Find a place to sell your goods or services

• Black Pound Day: Boost your local sales through this monthly campaign that encourages consumers to buy from local and online Black-owned businesses every first Saturday of the month.

• Jamii: Join this platform to sell from a marketplace that champions Black-owned British businesses and makes shopping with Black British brands easy and convenient.

• Wakuda: An online marketplace for shoppers of all backgrounds to discover and buy from more than 300 Black-owned businesses and creative talents in the UK.

Get support tailored to your technology business

• Bethnal Green Ventures: Does your business use technology to tackle big social and environmental problems? Europe's leading early-stage tech for good venture capital (VC) firm wants to invest in your success.

• Black Valley: Take part in a bespoke eight-week mentoring programme run by a diverse and supportive community that champions Black talent in technology.

• Code Untapped: An organisation changing the way underrepresented technology talent is found, developed and showcased.

• Coding Black Females: Are you a Black female developer? Join regular meet-ups and benefit from opportunities to network and build relationships.

• Colorintech: Getting access to some of the world's most innovative companies isn't easy! Luckily, Colorintech can grant you exactly that.

• GOODsoil VC: If getting access to finance is proving difficult, this early-stage venture capital (VC) firm aims to fund early-stage technology companies and underrepresented founders like you.

• Love Circular: Benefit from high-quality education from a design and technology organisation looking to make the digital space more accessible, diverse and inclusive.

• OneTech: An organisation proudly committed to challenging inequity and the lack of diversity in tech, supporting female founders and people from Black, Asian and ethnic-minority backgrounds.

• Startup Discovery School: An online programme delivered by founders, mentors and investors aimed at enabling first-time founders from all backgrounds to grow their businesses.

• UK Black Tech: An innovation group on a mission to make the UK the most ethnically diverse tech ecosystem in the world.

Get your business out there by entering awards and competitions

• Black British Business Awards: Spread the news of your business's great work with awards that celebrate the exceptional performance and outstanding achievements of the UK's Black business owners.

• Black Entrepreneurs' Award: A celebration of Black entrepreneurs in the UK and a platform to market your business to a wider audience.

• Black Girl Fest: The UK's first major arts and culture festival, with a community platform full of inspiring events, progressive conversations and creative opportunities.

• Black Women In Business Awards: Recognising and celebrating the many achievements and contributions of exceptional Black women in the UK.

Grow London Local: Support for London's small businesses

No matter where you're based in London, you'll find relevant support and guidance on business planning, sales and marketing and much more, as well as opportunities to connect with like-minded business owners. Visit Grow London Local now