Black Founders Programme
The Black Founders Programme is an accelerator targeted at pre-seed or seed stage, Black-founded companies creating innovative products and services...
Digital Catapult has announced that its Black Founders Programme has returned for a third year in partnership with Sony Music UK and Sony Music Publishing UK and, in a first for the programme, in collaboration with broadcaster Channel 4. Applications are open for the 2025 programme, which will support up to 15 early-stage, Black-founded deep tech companies to scale successfully and drive the practical application of deep tech within the UK’s creative economy.
Deep technologies are emerging capabilities that are built on longer-term innovation, and science and engineering advances such as spatial computing, advanced sensors, future networks, extended reality, blockchain technologies, quantum technologies, artificial intelligence and digital twins.
The 14-week innovation and acceleration initiative was established to help redress the disparity in investment directed into Black-founded startups, with only 38 Black founders receiving venture capital funding between 2009 and 2019 – just 0.24% of all venture capital funding in the UK. The Black Founders programme is open to early-stage startups and pre-seed companies whose product or service is solving a problem in the creative industries, and who must have at least one founder who is Black or of mixed ethic background with Black heritage.
Since 2023, the Black Founders Programme has supported 20 deep tech startups, providing industry and technology mentorship, coaching and masterclasses, investment knowledge building, innovation and product consultancy, and access to deep tech facilities. Alumnus Flossy AI, which uses artificial intelligence (AI) to allow fans to ‘remix’ merchandise from artists, secured pre-seed investment after completing the programme, with other alumni set for similar success.
The Black Founders Programme is open for applications until midnight on Sunday 5th October 2025 – apply here. Previous solutions supporting during the programme range from virtual clothing design for online games to building a digital fine art gallery in extended reality. Discover more about the Black Founders Programme here.