
As 1000 Black Voices® and Royal Pearl Society unite to launch London’s Women’s Entrepreneurial Development Lab, female founders with ambitions to grow in the UK will have the opportunity to participate in an eight-week programme launching on April 24th, 2024
1000 Black Voices® (an organisation dedicated to advancing equitable inclusion), announced yesterday that it has joined forces with Royal Pearl Society (an official interest group of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®) to launch a new eight-week programme aimed at empowering Black female tech founders. [Apply here].
Set to launch on April 24th, 2024 the Women’s Entrepreneurial Development Lab will allow founders who have ambitions to grow their business to benefit from mentoring sessions and advice from partner organisation, The Royal Pearl Society.
Black female founders still receive too little support and investment with only 3% of investment flowing to female entrepreneurs. This significant lack of funding has resulted in an extremely difficult environment for Black female founders to start and grow their businesses.
The Lab, which seeks to break down barriers faced by Black female founders when starting and growing their businesses, will help female founders mentally prepare to navigate the investment landscape where biases are still prevalent. As such, the programme covers everything from investor expectations to maintaining mental health and perfecting pitches.
Dr. Elizabeth Shaw, founder of 1000 Black Voices®, said, “Urgent action is needed to rectify the imbalance in funding to Black Female founders. The tech industry must invest in women to bridge the gender gap, especially as technology reshapes our lives and work. It’s crucial for economic and social empowerment. Initiatives like the Alison Rose Review and the Investing in Women Code underscore the importance of increasing investment in female-led ventures. We are delighted to be working with a values-aligned all Black female partner for our latest programme where we aim to resolve this issue directly and provide Black female founders with the opportunity to grow and thrive. We continue to act for change and empower inclusive perspectives into technology development and advancement, resulting in increased recognition of the competitive financial value of the technology solutions Black female founders are building.”
Mena Cammett, President of The Royal Pearl Society, said, “We are passionate about service to all mankind and in supporting 1000 Black Voices’ mission to break down the hurdles that Black female founders face when starting and growing their businesses. Working with an organisation like 1000 Black Voices enables us to leverage our shared commitment and determination to make real change in the community through incredible Black female founders.”
The Women’s Entrepreneurial Development Lab is open to any applicant who is a female founder of Black heritage. Other requirements are that the founder has a technology solution; idea or product. If you are a Black female founder building innovative technology solutions and you would like to find out more about the Women’s Entrepreneurial Development Lab and apply, please apply here.
Applications close Thursday, April 04, 2024.
ABOUT
About 1000 Black Voices®: Founded by Multi-award winning trailblazer, Dr. Elizabeth Shaw, the 1000 Black Voices global ecosystem helps Black founders succeed. Founded in 2020, 1000 Black Voices began with three simple ideas—economic resilience gives voice, inclusive perspectives drive innovation and growth, and authentic equity changes lives. Now 1000 Black Voices is on a mission to redefine the startup ecosystem empowering inclusive perspectives at the centre of technological development and advancement enabling everyone to benefit from the success of diverse founders. In addition to operating accelerator programs, 1000 Black Voices conducts trade missions and roadshows connecting founders to social and financial capital in cities with a concentration of investors, ecosystem partners, and Government support. You can find out more about 1000 Black Voices here.
For press enquiries, please contact 1000blackvoices@clarity.global