Startup Grind London

It’s been a week since I attended the Startup Grind event hosted by the The ICE Network at Google for Startups! It was an honour to be among such passionate innovators and leaders committed to uplifting diverse voices in the startup world. Listening to Gosbert Chagula MBE from Startup Discovery School, Cecil Adjalo of Foundervine Yewande Odumosu and Emma Osman on fostering inclusive growth and empowering underrepresented founders was both motivating and energizing. Sharing the stage with fellow founders Sade Amale and Afiya Chohollo in a fireside chat was a personal highlight. A huge thank you to the brilliant Startup Grind team—Matthew Lamb 🔜 Slush 🇫🇮 Sam Adekunle and Elinor Honigstein for creating such a warm and engaging space. The connections I made with fellow founders, VCs, and industry professionals left me excited for what lies ahead. The application for the new Cohort for Ice Propel is closing on the 11th of November. See application link below: https://lnkd.in/dCE6n3dM

Last week, we were at the Startup Grind London event, where Yewande Odumosu joined a panel with Gosbert Chagula MBE (Startup Discovery School), Cecil Adjalo (Foundervine) and Emma Osman (Google Cloud). The panel addressed essential resources, funding opportunities, and strategies that empower founders from underrepresented backgrounds. Together, they shared experiences supporting founders, highlighted key programs, and discussed actionable insights for scaling startups within the London ecosystem. Big shoutout to Yewande Odumosu for representing the team! Catch the full discussion and gain valuable insights from these ecosystem leaders here - https://lnkd.in/d-XCFVZ6

How much potential do we miss when the startup ecosystem doesn’t level the playing field? 🤔 Last week, I had the privilege of speaking at Google’s newly revamped Startup Hub, diving into a vital conversation about how diverse founders are supported—or held back—within the startup world. We all know the data: underrepresented founders are often underfunded and underserved. Yet, as I shared on the panel, this is a moment of opportunity. More than ever, organisations like Foundervine, HoaQ, The ICE Network, and Startup Discovery School are stepping up, creating networks and resources that make space for innovative minds from all backgrounds. Because ultimately, the power of a transformative idea doesn’t care where it comes from—and neither should we. Some of the most groundbreaking innovations can come from the corners we least expect, and sometimes, it only takes one person to change the course of a country—or even the world. Why limit that potential by not addressing the barriers that hold talented people back? It was inspiring to see Foundervine alumni Sade Amale and Tommie Edwards FRSA, along with Foundervine expert Afiya Chohollo, share their journeys of raising investment and expanding their networks through the ICE Network. They exemplify the resilience and creativity that is often needed to break through. Big thanks to my fellow panellists, Yewande Odumosu and Gosbert Chagula MBE, for such an enriching discussion, brilliantly moderated by Emma Osman. And, of course, gratitude to Elinor Honigstein who suggested I take part and Sam Adekunle, Matthew Lamb 🔜 Slush 🇫🇮 and the rest of the team for their work in making it all happen. #InnovationForAll #DiverseFounders #InclusiveEcosystem #StartupSupport #GoogleStartupHub #Foundervine

Brilliant panel discussion at last night’s Startup Grind event, ‘Building a Startup Ecosystem That Empowers Diverse Founders’. The panel covered the unique challenges that underrepresented founders face when raising capital, particularly high-risk capital, and the barriers often encountered in accessing essential networks. There were also insightful discussions on how support networks can help founders avoid burnout, the fast-paced learning curve required as a founder, and the mainstream startup world’s reluctance to acknowledge the personal responsibilities many founders face. Thank you to Yewande Odumosu, Cecil Adjalo, Gosbert Chagula MBE & Emma Osman for an incredibly insightful discussion! #Startup #StartupGrind #DiverseFounders #Founders

✊🏾 Honoured to have moderated this incredible panel for Black History Month for Startup Grind at the Google Cloud startup hub! ✊🏾 What a privilege to share the stage with these inspiring leaders: Gosbert Chagula MBE, Yewande Odumosu and Cecil Adjalo. Their insights on building a more inclusive startup ecosystem were powerful and thought-provoking. We explored the challenges faced by Black founders, the importance of representation, and the role we can all play in creating a more equitable future. Let's keep the momentum going and continue to champion diversity and inclusion in the tech world and beyond! For more events at the Google Cloud startup hub and technical hacks from Oisin O'Flaherty go to the link below. ⬇️⬇️⬇️ #BlackHistoryMonth #StartupGrind #London #Diversity #Inclusion #RepresentationMatters #BlackFounders

This story is insane! Michia Rohrssen started a software company in his twenties, and then sold it just a few years later for $110 Million 💰 I interviewed Michia for a live episode of the DECODED Podcast, where he revealed all of his secrets on building companies, going viral on social media, and beyond. Event hosted by Startup Grind London Link in comments! 👇

ICE Propel Applications Are Now Open! 🚀 We’re thrilled to announce that applications for the ICE Propel Programme are now live!  A huge thank you to everyone who joined us at the Startup Grind event last night — the energy was incredible as we shared insights on ways to support underrepresented founders better. About the Programme:  The ICE Propel Programme is a free, 3-month initiative running from January to March 2025. We’re looking for 10 founders from underrepresented backgrounds to join a unique programme designed to help you build, fundraise, and scale. What You’ll Get: 📌 Investor Network Access: Connect with ICE’s angel and VC community and explore investment opportunities 📌 Personalised 1:1 Coaching: From refining your business plan to building your pitch deck, our coaches are here to support you 📌 Dedicated ICE Mentor: Partner with an experienced ICE mentor who understands the founder’s journey 📌 Community Membership: Join our network with access to exclusive webinars, panels, and monthly events Eligibility: 🌀 Black or Mixed Race Founder 🌀 Able to attend in-person events in London 🌀 Pre-seed or Seed stage (raised less than £350k) 🌀 Technology-focused or tech-enabled business ICE Propel is all about backing ambitious founders who are ready to take their next steps. Applications are open now, and we’re excited to support the next generation of impactful entrepreneurs!   ✨ Apply via the link in the comments. #ICEPropel #Founders #TechCommunity #DiversityAndInclusion #Fundraising #Entrepreneurship #ICECommunity

Delighted to be telling so many new attendees at Startup Grind about the Howard Kennedy Ignite programme, our own programme for start-ups - and at Google’s East end offices no less as well.

🔥 Big News! Tomorrow, I’ll be representing ETA Technologies at Startup Grind – and we’re tackling a game-changing topic: Empowering Diverse Founders. 💥 As someone who's been on both sides of the table—ex-VC and entrepreneur—I’ve seen how bias (both conscious & unconscious) still sneaks into the #startup ecosystem. That’s unacceptable. 🚫 At ETA Technologies, we’re fighting back by offering investors a data-driven way to invest in people, eliminating bias from the process. 📊 Our solution quantifies & measures teams to let the numbers speak for themselves. 💡 And here’s the exciting part: We’re offering our test #FREE to all attendees! Don’t miss out! 👉 Register now and join me tomorrow to discuss how we can create a more equitable #future in #entrepreneurship. Let's talk solutions! 🙏 Huge thanks to Matthew Lamb 🔜 Slush 🇫🇮 and Sam Adekunle for making this collaboration possible. It’s an honour to work together towards a better #future!

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