A new UK-wide programme will train 160 founders from underrepresented groups—women, people from low socioeconomic backgrounds, and those with primary care responsibilities—to raise at least £20 million within 12 months of completing the course. Access to finance is the single biggest barrier for all startup founders, but underrepresented groups face additional hurdles: too few decision-makers who look like them, weaker professional networks, and unconscious bias. Existing accelerator programmes often over-coach founders without delivering actual funding. This consortium of five organisations across England and Scotland aims to close that gap. The programme runs eight 10-week accelerators featuring full-day fundraising workshops, one-to-one coaching, and investor events. It also launches an Underrepresented Investor Charter, which asks 100+ UK investors to commit to measurable meetings with diverse founders. The consortium’s combined network covers 76% of the UK early-stage ecosystem. If successful, the programme could shift who gets funded in UK startups—not just for the 160 participants, but by creating public fundraising tools and changing investor behaviour at scale. The ambition is a 25x return on the programme’s cost.
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**New programme to accelerate funding for under-represented founders** Access to finance remains one of the biggest challenges facing all founders, and underrepresented groups are the most impacted, due to a lack of representation within decision-makers, network gaps, and biases. Our project will support 160 underrepresented founders, equipping them with the necessary tools, resources, and investor connections to raise funds and scale their businesses successfully. Our ambition is to target a minimum of £20m raised within 12 months of programme completion, delivering a 25x return. Bringing together a unique consortium of experts---Mountside Ventures & Foundervine based in London, The Growth Company in Manchester, FirstPort in Edinburgh and Stronger Stories in the South of England---the project will take an innovative approach to tackling the funding gap experienced by diverse funders. The project will consist of eight 10-week accelerators alongside continued founder support groups, investor engagements and conferences across the UK, focusing on female founders, individuals from non-traditional or low socioeconomic backgrounds, and those with primary care responsibilities. _Each accelerator will feature:_ * Six full-day fundraising workshops led by industry experts. * 1:1 coaching and mentorship sessions. * Access to centralised resources, investor & founder events, and alumni support. * Local meet-ups to foster strong regional communities and connections. **The project brings unique initiatives, including:** * Launch of the Underrepresented Investor Charter: A groundbreaking initiative aiming to engage 100+ UK investors in supporting underrepresented founders through measurable commitments to meetings and engagement, leveraging our consortium's 3,000+ investor network. * Best-in-Class Fundraising Tools: A suite of comprehensive, investor-backed resources made accessible to all participating founders and the wider UK startup community. * Nationwide Reach: Our geographic spread will cover 76% of the UK early-stage ecosystem, a first-of-its-kind initiative targeting underrepresented founders at scale. * Outcome-Driven Approach: Unlike existing accelerators that focus on mentorship alone, we prioritises tangible outcomes such as investor meetings, follow-ups, and fundraising milestones, ensuring founders move beyond being "overcoached and underfunded." * Inclusive Structure: Tailored to even out the playing field and opportunities available to non-London-based founders, accommodate founders with primary care responsibilities and various backgrounds. The programme is expected to have a tangible impact on access to capital, allowing founders to carry out an effective fundraising campaign. The project will drive further meaningful change across the entire UK ecosystem through initiatives, including investor engagements and educational materials made available to the public.
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