Apply now: Black Founders Programme

Get your startup investment ready

The Black Founders Programme is a 13-week accelerator targeted at pre-seed or seed stage, Black founded companies creating innovative products and services in the creative industries.

The aim of the programme is to fast track high-growth potential startups from a business and investment perspective, providing the support needed to increase their investment readiness level.

Successful applicants will benefit from:

• business and investment health scans
• masterclasses, mentoring and coaching from industry experts
• potential for funding opportunities
• opportunities to engage with industry partners
• access to potential partners, investors and customers
• access to state-of-the art facilities and deep tech expertise

Sony Music UK and Sony Music Publishing UK are collaboration partners for this programme and will play an active role in supporting business growth, facilitating connections where possible.

Who should apply?

To be eligible for the programme, applicants must:

• be UK based pre-seed and seed stage companies in the creative deep tech sector
• be looking to raise investment in the next 12 months
• have at least one founder that self-identifies as Black or multiracial with Black heritage
• be currently working within the creative space (for example music, arts, gaming and advertising)
• be eligible to receive £20,000 in State Assistance (De Minimis Aid)

To be considered, Digital Catapult supports companies using advanced digital technologies including:

• future networks and advanced digital infrastructure
• immersive and extended reality technologies
• artificial intelligence and machine learning
• distributed ledger technologies such as blockchain
• quantum

How to apply?

Applying to and participating in the programme is free. You can apply online via the Digital Catapult website.

To offset costs to a business by participating in the programme, each startup will receive an equal share of £30,000 pot as a financial contribution towards completing the programme.

Find out more about the Black Founders Programme.

Further information and support

Digital Catapult will host a briefing webinar on Monday 17 June 2024 to give an overview of the programme and the application process.

You can also book a timeslot to speak to the Digital Catapult team about your application before submitting it.

First published 5 June 2024