1000 Black Voices

Connect to investment

Founder Spotlight

1680502904083

Tommie Edwards
Founder Tech1M

With her participation in the 1000 Black Voices Black Tech Accelerator + Trade Mission, where we connected her to Gary Stewart, MD of Techstars NYC powered by J.P. Morgan, Tommie has now been selected to join the first Techstars New York City accelerator, gaining access to investment and world-class resources.

Tech1M will revolutionise the global workplace by simplifying the talent recruitment and retention process for hiring managers while staying aligned with ESG principles. 

Apply NOW to join the next 1000 Black Voices Accelerator + Trade Mission

With the backing and scale of the British Consulate, Industry Leaders and Venture Capitalists, you are enabled to achieve your next stage of growth. Join 1000 Black Voices Accelerator + Trade Mission and achieve your fundraising and growth milestones.

During the 12-week 1000 Black Voices Accelerator, December 2023 - March 2024, you will have access to

  • Interactive workshops relevant for growth providing relevant and practical insight into the Investment Journey, fundraising, technologies, employee and customer engagement, branding, innovation and technologies, pitch practice.

  • Mentor relationships providing advice and guidance for you to achieve business goals. These are facilitated through 1-2-1 mentoring, monthly mentoring circles and specialist mentors available for a deep dive into specific areas of need. 

  • Support for investment readiness – pitch deck, pitch practice and Investor insights
  • The opportunity to join the high-profile 1000 Black Voices Trade Mission into London.

During the 3-day Trade Mission early October 2023, you will have access to

 

  • Build lasting connections through small group sessions, events and 1-2-1 meetings in London to develop relationships with the investor community.
  • A step-by-step process on how to land in the UK, access capital and scale.
  • Discuss innovation, business models, partnerships and customers with market leaders to understand what helps to gain traction in the UK
  • Gain expert advice from industry-leading founders, investors, and tech executives about scaling businesses in the UK and globally.
  • Showcase products and services to investors
  • Develop relationships with our world class partners such as the British Consulate, Barclays Rise, Visionario VC, Pierce Yates Ventures, Visible Hands, Project W and more.

Gain access to the knowledge, deep relationships and funding for your business needs.

Join an ecosystem of Enterprise, Incubators, Venture Capitalists, Angels and Industry Leaders

One of our Speakers

Kange Kaneene

Kange is the Vice President of SAP.iO Foundries North and Latin America and Caribbean, SAP’s global network of no-equity ask external startup accelerators. SAP.iO Foundries provide technical and go-to-market support to help startups integrate into SAP’s portfolio and accelerate entry into SAP’s ecosystem to be easily accessed and deployed by SAP customers. 

She has spent her career in enterprise software at SAP and Manhattan Associates focusing on partnerships, acquisitions, go-to-market strategy and consulting. 

Kange has a passion for diversity and creating equally distributed access to opportunity. She is an angel investor with Pipeline Angels group, a group of female investors who invest in female founders. She is a mentor for entrepreneurs as a volunteer for Defy Ventures, a non-profit organization that invests in founders who are currently or formerly incarcerated. Finally, Kange is the chair of the board of KIPP NYC, a network of 18 public charter schools that focuses on education parity. 

Kange has a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the University of Michigan and a Master of Business Administration from New York University Stern School of Business. She lives in Brooklyn, New York and loves international travel, cooking, Michael Jackson, dance and theater. 

Take the next step in connecting to investment  and scaling! 

#1000BlackVoices Accelerator+Mission

For more information, please contact:

elizabeth@1000BlackVoices.com

Frequently Asked Questions

There are 2 parts 1000 Black Voices. You can participate in the 1000 Black Voices Accelerator on its own, or you can take the opportunity to participate in both the Accelerator + Trade Mission (See eligibility criteria).

The Accelerator includes

  • Interactive workshops and surgeries relevant for growth providing relevant and practical insight into the Investment Journey, fundraising, technologies, employee and customer engagement, branding, innovation and technologies, pitch practice. In addition, we offer participating founders the chance to develop deep relationships with industry
  • Dedicated 1-2-1 mentoring with industry experts and monthly mentoring circles.
The Trade Mission includes
 
  • The Trade Mission is a program where founders benefit from unique access to the London investor community with the opportunity to learn about doing business in London.
  • Networking with ecosystem partners, founders and VC’s
  • Pitch to VC’s

First and foremost you have a safe trusted space to talk about the challenges you face as a Black founder with authentic and active support provided to remove barriers for you to grow and scale. We understand your challenges as a Black Founder and are always acting to bring in the value you need.

You will have the benefit of online/hybrid sessions of varied lengths ranging average an hour. The first few weeks are intensive with around 6 hours per week, primarily Tuesdays (a few exceptions).

From week 1, you will be focused on developing your pitch deck, pitch practice and gaining advice and feedback to strengthen your investment readiness.

We strongly recommend that you take full advantage of the sessions, 1-2-1 mentoring, AMA’s as well as developing relationships with industry experts, VC’s and fellow cohort members.

These are critical to your efforts to further understand the tech landscape, scale up your business, increase customer acquisition,  and expand your pool of suitable investors.

To be eligible for the Accelerator:
 
  •  
  • Business with a product or service in the market
  • Technology business, in tech subsectors such as: FinTech, B2B tech, SaaS platforms, AI/ML, GameTech, GreenTech, Data analytics, HRTech, Retail Tech, PropTech, RegTech, LegalTech, HealthTech, Wellness Tech etc. 
  • Registered anywhere in the world
  • Black Heritage with 50% or more ownership and making the key strategic decisions for the company.
  • You are available to attend all the sessions over the 12-week period

To be eligible for the Trade Mission into London : Have gone through the Accelerator
  • Seeking to raise capital 
  • Registered company 
  • Technology business, in tech subsectors such as: FinTech, B2B tech, SaaS platforms, AI/ML, GameTech, GreenTech, Data analytics, HRTech, Retail Tech, PropTech, RegTech, LegalTech, HealthTech, Wellness Tech etc. 
  • Interested in doing business in the UK and specifically developing London investor and business connections
  • You are available to attend the Trade Mission into London early October 2023 (date to be confirmed)

Stage 1: Written Application with Video Submission. Closing date 7 July 11.59pm BST. Early submissions are encouraged. 

Please check that you meet the eligibility criteria mentioned above. If you do, then complete the application form using the link below.

Stage 2: Selection and Acceptance on 1000 Black Voices Accelerator

Shortlisted applicants will be sent an invitation to join the accelerator. They will have 2 days to accept the invitation. If we do not receive the acceptance we will invite the next applicant.

Stage 3: Interview

During the course of 1000 Black Voices Accelerator, participating founders who have applied for the Trade Mission will be invited to interview. 

Stage 4: Selection and Acceptance on the Trade Mission to London 

Shortlisted applicants will be sent an invitation to join the Trade Mission. They will have 2 days to accept the invitation. If we do not receive the acceptance we will invite the next applicant.