Foundervine Future Awards

The Foundervine Future 40

Foundervine is proud to introduce the  Foundervine Future List. These visionary leaders are driving innovation, transforming industries, and making significant strides in underrepresented sectors, all while overcoming challenges and setting new standards for success.
Having been a leading platform for six years, the Future Awards have cultivated a strong and vibrant community of innovators, providing a powerful network of support and collaboration. As we approach this year’s awards, it’s time to reflect on the remarkable individuals and businesses that have emerged from this initiative. The 2024 Foundervine Future Awards is a moment to celebrate and honor the achievements of these extraordinary leaders, recognizing their contributions to the entrepreneurial landscape.

The 25 Individuals of Future 40

Afiya Chohollo
Co-founder of CloudFO
Beth Kume-Holland
Founder & CEO of Patchwork Hub
Bryony Cozens
Managing Director of Something Familiar
Dan Idhenga
Co-founder & Partner at London Venture Capital Network
Ian Merricks
Founder & Proposition Lead at Venture Path
James Adeleke
Founder & CEO of Generation Success
Jem Stein
Founder of Daring Capital
John Mayford
CEO of Olmec
Julie Baker
Head of Strategic Partnerships at NatWest Group
Junior Makame
Co-founder & CEO of SocialPro
Kim Stoute-Purvis
CMO of Zero Gravity
Kojo Marfo
Founder of My Runway Group
Ladi Greenstreet
CEO of Diversity VC
Lee Chambers
Founding Director at Male Allies UK
Lydia Amoah
Founder of The Black Pound Report
Moagi Onkabeste
Group CEO of Aurora Media Group
Nana Agyemang
Proposition Delivery Manager at Barclays Eagle Labs
Peter Monteza
CEO and Co-founder of MyArc
Raphael Sofoluke
Founder & CEO of The UK Black Business Show
Sarah Melbourne
Co-founder of Citizen Developer HQ
Sharon White
Director at Educating Horizons
Sonia Kaurah
Founder & CEO of Tala Thrive
Tinique Hay
Founder of Hay Events
Tommie Edwards
CEO & Co-founder of Tech1M
Vicky IIankovan
Executive Director at Equal Measures UK
Afiya Chohollo

Afiya Chohollo

Co-founder of CloudFO
Afiya co-founded CloudFO, introducing an AI Finance Colleague that revolutionizes business finance management, functioning much like a GPS for success. Her leadership secured pre-seed funding to empower SMEs by humanizing finance and helping them achieve their goals. As VP of Engineering at Onfido, Afiya led engineering teams responsible for the platform's core infrastructure and scaled the AI platform to serve millions. This growth helped increase Onfido's revenue from £10 million to over £120 million ARR, demonstrating her significant impact on the company's success.
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Beth Kume-Holland

Beth Kume-Holland

Founder & CEO of Patchwork Hub
Beth founded Patchwork Hub to bridge the gap between jobseekers and inclusive employers, drawing on her personal experiences with disability. As CEO, she has secured partnerships with major UK organisations, including FTSE 100 companies, and raised over £250,000 in investment. Patchwork Hub has created thousands of inclusive job opportunities, helped disabled jobseekers gain employment, and trained hundreds in disability inclusion.
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Bryony Cozens

Bryony Cozens

Managing Director of Something Familiar
Bryony, Managing Director of Something Familiar, has led impactful ESG initiatives focusing on gender equality, reduced inequalities, and climate action. Bryony’s initiatives include increasing female representation in leadership through the ‘Designer/Leader’ programme and pledging 1% of revenue to 1% for the Planet. Collaborations with organisations like Ripple Africa support tree planting and conservation, while partnerships with Hustle Crew enhance awareness of bias and promote inclusivity.
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Dan Idhenga

Dan Idhenga

Co-founder & Partner at London Venture Capital Network
In his leadership roles at LVCN and NTN Holdings, as well as his previous experience at 1818 Venture Capital, Dan has prioritised ESG considerations within the startups he supports. He developed an ESG tool to track key metrics and led the VC Fellowship programme, which enhances diversity in the tech industry by providing opportunities for young people from underrepresented backgrounds.
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Ian Merricks

Ian Merricks

Founder & Proposition Lead at Venture Path
Ian is committed to improving access to venture capital for founders from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds. His work has seen successful collaborations with prominent business support programmes such as Barclays Eagle Labs and Tech Nation, equipping diverse companies with the tools needed for growth. Through the UK Scaleup Investment Mission, Ian has attracted over £7 billion in venture capital to support these businesses, playing a key role in advancing innovation across the UK.
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James Adeleke

James Adeleke

Founder & CEO of Generation Success
James is the founder of Generation Success, a platform that has empowered over 10,000 young people from underrepresented backgrounds. He has facilitated 1,000 mentoring relationships annually and placed over 300 individuals into full-time jobs. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the organisation grew by 259%, expanding to 30 staff across two countries. James also launched the Race for Nature’s Recovery initiative, placing 125 individuals into sustainability roles.
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Jem Stein

Jem Stein

Founder of Daring Capital
Jem founded Daring Capital, an impact investment syndicate that supports overlooked founders building businesses to benefit disadvantaged communities. Since launching in September, the syndicate has raised £1 million for 10 founders, overcoming current investment challenges.
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John Mayford

John Mayford

CEO of Olmec
John has led Olmec, a Black-led social enterprise focused on race equality, for over 15 years. He has championed economic and social justice for marginalized communities, helping individuals secure jobs, businesses, and leadership roles. With a background in activism and social justice, John’s career has spanned roles in trades unions, co-operatives, and the third sector, driven by his personal experiences with racism and involvement in movements like Rock Against Racism.
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Julie Baker

Julie Baker

Head of Strategic Partnerships at NatWest Group
Julie Baker has 42 years of experience in banking, with 20 years as a Senior Leader. Throughout her career, she has consistently championed underrepresented entrepreneurs, particularly female founders and ethnic minority business owners.
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Junior Makame

Junior Makame

Co-founder & CEO of SocialPro
At just 14, Junior managed a record label and faced challenges getting artists' music on the radio. This experience inspired him to found RAPVILLE in 2021, a platform designed to help musicians gain radio airtime. Within eight months, RAPVILLE launched, attracting a waitlist of 1,000 musicians through extensive outreach. Despite an initial revenue of just $200, Junior turned to TikTok for promotion, growing the platform’s following to 37,000 and expanding the user base to over 3,000 musicians and 100+ radio stations, all while balancing his A-level studies.
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Kim Stoute-Purvis

Kim Stoute-Purvis

CMO of Zero Gravity
As CMO of Zero Gravity, Kim Stoute-Purvis leverages over 20 years of branding and marketing expertise to engage both Gen Z students and B2B partners. She transformed the brand strategy to enhance visibility and credibility through data-driven campaigns, supporting thousands of students with £1.5 million in scholarships and fostering a thriving community through mentoring and masterclasses.
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Kojo Marfo

Kojo Marfo

Founder of My Runway Group
Kojo founded the first Black-owned department store in London’s Carnaby Street, providing a platform for over 200 Black-led businesses and raising their visibility. Recognising the limitations of a physical store, he expanded the business into e-commerce, allowing customers worldwide to support Black-owned businesses, thus broadening the reach of his platform.
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Ladi Greenstreet

Ladi Greenstreet

CEO of Diversity VC
Ladi has been a driving force for DEI in the venture capital industry. She launched the Diversity Standard for VC firms, a framework that’s now adopted by over 100 firms globally. As founder of the FutureVC programme, she has helped place hundreds of individuals from underrepresented backgrounds into VC roles, building a pipeline of diverse talent for the industry. Additionally, Ladi has developed global and regional communities to hold firms accountable and foster collaboration.
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Lee Chambers

Lee Chambers

Founding Director at Male Allies UK
Lee is the chief psychologist and founder of Essentialise and Male Allies UK, focusing on promoting gender equity and allyship in organizations. With a background in corporate finance and tech, Lee has received multiple accolades, including a Great British Entrepreneur Award, and sits on the boards of several organizations.
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Lydia Amoah

Lydia Amoah

Founder of The Black Pound Report
BACKLIGHT is an award-winning Research and Insights Agency specialising in unlocking the spending power, habits, and behaviours of Black, Asian, and Multi-Ethnic audiences across the UK. Our mission is to empower Ad Agencies, Media Owners and Businesses to create inclusive products and marketing strategies by authentically engaging diverse audiences using our data-driven insights and cultural expertise.
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Moagi Onkabeste

Moagi Onkabeste

Group CEO of Aurora Media Group
Moagi serves the African diaspora, addressing their underrepresentation in monetization and multimedia. By engaging with the creative community, Moagi developed a MEA-focused streaming service that showcases African content with Hollywood-level production values. The service currently has over 50,000 monthly subscriptions and supports more than 1,500 creators and athletes, significantly enhancing Africa's presence in the media.
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Nana Agyemang

Nana Agyemang

Proposition Delivery Manager at Barclays Eagle Labs
Nana led the creation of "experience events" at Barclays, turning unused branch spaces into event hubs for underrepresented founders. These events connected diverse founders with major brands, resulting in significant partnerships and sponsorships.
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Peter Monteza

Peter Monteza

CEO and Co-founder of MyArc
Peter founded MyARC with a team of just four and under $300k in funding, aiming to empower creators to earn from minimum wage to six figures, with the goal of creating their first millionaires. The platform has positively impacted thousands globally, helping users overcome obesity and diabetes, and supporting a breast cancer survivor in gaining muscle after failing with other apps. MyARC was recognized as the Best SEIS company in the UK by the EISA at the House of Lords.
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Raphael Sofoluke

Raphael Sofoluke

Founder & CEO of The UK Black Business Show
Raphael is the founder of the UK Black Business Show, which he established in 2017. The event has since become the leading platform for Black entrepreneurs, attracting over 10,000 attendees in 2023. Raphael’s work expanded with the creation of UK Black Business Week, Birmingham Black Business Show, and the Black Tech Achievement Awards in the US. His strategic partnerships with major companies like HSBC and JP Morgan have enhanced the credibility of his initiatives.
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Sarah Melbourne

Sarah Melbourne

Co-founder of Citizen Developer HQ
Sarah leads Citizen Developer HQ, a CIC focused on making tech education accessible through low-code solutions. She prioritises inclusivity, particularly supporting individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds.
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Sharon White

Sharon White

Director at Educating Horizons
Sharon founded Educating Horizons in 2023, aiming to drive systemic change for vulnerable and marginalised individuals, particularly in education. Her initiatives, such as the Vulnerable Pupil Hot Clinic, have resulted in the lowest exclusion rates in London at the secondary school level. Sharon’s work addresses the disproportionate impact of oppressive systems and has earned her recognition, including a Global Impact Award and Distinguished Fellow status from the International Forum for Inclusion Practitioners.
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Sonia Kaurah

Sonia Kaurah

Founder & CEO of Tala Thrive
Since founding Tala Thrive, Sonia has built a waiting list of over 300 potential clients and onboarded 40 therapists dedicated to providing culturally sensitive mental health care. She exceeded her crowdfunding target, validating the mission and raising awareness for culturally competent services.
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Tinique Hay

Tinique Hay

Founder of Hay Events
As a Black female entrepreneur in the events industry, Tinique Hay empowers the next generation through education and hands-on opportunities. Her leadership focuses on community empowerment, educational integration, and client-focused creativity. By hiring students, particularly from multicultural backgrounds, she bridges the gap between academic theory and real-world experience.
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Tommie Edwards

Tommie Edwards

CEO & Co-founder of Tech1M
As CEO and Co-founder of Tech1M, Tommie Edwards has transformed talent acquisition through AI and data-driven solutions. With experience as a three-time tech founder, he has developed the skills to build and scale businesses. A key innovation at Tech1M is Ammie, their AI Recruiter, which autonomously manages sourcing, outreach, and skill assessments, setting a new standard for efficiency in recruitment.
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Vicky IIankovan

Vicky IIankovan

Executive Director at Equal Measures UK
Vicky founded Equal Measures UK, a non-profit focused on equity in the hospitality and drinks industries. Starting as a beneficiary in 2021, she became the first full-time employee in 2022 and has since transformed the organisation, expanding its beneficiary pool from 21 to over 1,100 by August 2024. Her work includes pioneering EDI services and the successful Forming Foundations programme, which helps diverse individuals enter the industry.
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The 15 Organisations of Future 40

Ada Ventures

Ada Ventures is committed to promoting diversity and sustainability within its investment portfolio. Currently, 70% of their portfolio companies feature at least one underrepresented founder, with 49% led by women and 45% by non-white founders. This contrasts sharply with the broader venture capital landscape, where only 11% of funding has gone to female founders and 4% to all-ethnic teams over the past decade. By intentionally supporting diverse founders, Ada Ventures aims to create a more equitable startup ecosystem and foster innovation that addresses the needs of underserved populations.
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Ascension VC

Ascension VC demonstrates that impact investing can go hand in hand with outsized returns. Their impact thesis proves that venture capital can focus on social and environmental change without compromising fund performance. With the recent launch of Ascension Fund III, targeting a £50m second close, the firm highlights the potential of impact-focused funds. This move further demonstrates the appeal of impact investing, attracting both Limited Partners (LPs) to the fund and outlier businesses to their portfolio.
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Beyond Representation

Beyond Representation combines innovative talent management with strategic advisory services to address pressing social and environmental challenges. They represent influential women leaders, amplifying their voices to drive systemic change. Their partnerships, such as the Welcome, New Parliament! Summit with BMW Group, engage young leaders and policymakers to create actionable solutions for climate action.
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Children's Home Quality

Children's Homes Quality (CHQ) focuses on enhancing the care provided in children's homes, addressing the complex needs of children who often come from traumatic backgrounds. These children may face mental health challenges, educational difficulties, and unstable family dynamics, highlighting the importance of safe, nurturing environments. Through their ongoing efforts, CHQ is revolutionising children's care, aligning with government initiatives emphasizing the importance of love, stability, and family in the lives of vulnerable children, ultimately contributing to better outcomes and economic growth in the sector.
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Driven By Us

DBU is an award-winning community-led organisation established in April 2023, dedicated to empowering individuals in motorsports, particularly focusing on STEM, Media, and EDI (Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion). With less than 1% of the motorsport workforce being Black, DBU aims to challenge this disparity by creating a supportive network for underrepresented groups and promoting diversity in the industry. The organisation focuses on developing programs to serve as a trusted job-seeker community for diverse talent in automotive and motorsport sectors. Partnerships with the British eSports Foundation and professional esports teams will train members in STEM skills, sim racing, and leadership.
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Flake Bake Ltd

Flake Bake, known for its delicious Jamaican patties, offers an enticing selection of meat and vegetable fillings seasoned with authentic Caribbean spices, including scotch bonnet peppers and thyme. With seven flavours, such as beef and chicken, Flake Bake brings the essence of Jamaica to its products, appealing to a diverse clientele that includes restaurants and event vendors, distributing over 20,000 patties weekly. This commitment to quality makes Flake Bake the largest handmade patty manufacturer in the UK, complemented by free nationwide home deliveries and participation in major summer events like Notting Hill Carnival.
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Impact Brixton

Impact Brixton is a black-owned creative workspace in Brixton that supports entrepreneurs, creators, and changemakers by providing affordable office services, coworking spaces, and educational workshops. In response to the cost of living crisis, they revamped their virtual office program to offer low-cost services, helping over 200 local entrepreneurs establish a credible business identity. They also host pitch nights for underrepresented founders to improve their funding readiness. With a focus on education, they provide free training and mentoring, receiving positive feedback from participants. Since their founding, they have supported over 5,500 creators and 2,000 startups, fostering collaboration and community engagement. Their founder, Gerald, brings extensive entrepreneurial experience to help empower the local business ecosystem.
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Juliemay Lingerie

JulieMay Lingerie is the UK's only allergy-friendly underwear brand, specialising in anti-allergy products designed to alleviate skin rashes and discomfort. Our primary customers are women aged 30 and older, particularly those with eczema or sensitivities due to menopause or breast surgeries. We offer certified products that are free from latex, synthetic fibers, and harmful dyes, made from sustainably sourced GOTS-certified Organic Pima Cotton.
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Kindred LCR

Kindred is a pioneering social impact movement based in the Liverpool City Region, comprising over 1,000 socially trading organisations (STOs) and the BlaST network, which represents 250 Black and Brown-led organisations. Established to promote collaboration among STOs, Kindred leverages over 200 years of combined experience to drive meaningful change within the community. The organisation focuses on supporting socially driven enterprises that prioritise social purpose alongside commercial viability.
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MIXD Reality

Just Like Me Books and MIXD Reality are pioneers in the consumer goods sector, integrating Augmented Reality (AR) technology with a strong focus on inclusivity and diversity. Their innovative approach transforms children's literature and educational tools into interactive experiences. Just Like Me Books, the UK's first children's picture books featuring AR, brings stories to life via smartphones and tablets, enhancing engagement and comprehension. MIXD Reality creates AR-based educational tools that blend real and virtual worlds, catering to various learning styles and benefiting children with learning difficulties.
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Nesta Impact Investments

Nesta was an early contributor to thinking on impact measurement within the sector, through its involvement with the Impact Management Project. Impact investing has grown tenfold in scale over the past decade, and NII continues to contribute to the dialogue around the importance of considering purpose alongside profit in investment strategies through our connections with other impact investors and purely commercial investors.
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Oatsu

Oatsu is the UK's pioneering dedicated overnight oat brand, redefining healthy and convenient breakfast options. What makes Oatsu unique is its exclusive focus on perfecting overnight oats, replicating the success of popular US brands like MUSH and Brekki. With a groundbreaking 45-day shelf life achieved through a specialized manufacturing partnership, Oatsu provides retailers with flexibility while reducing waste. In November 2024, the brand will launch the UK’s first high-protein ‘just add milk’ overnight oat mixes in exciting flavors, catering to the rising demand for nutritious, plant-based options.
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Pathway Fund

Pathway Fund works with Black and Ethnic Minoritised-led intermediaries and fund managers to develop responsive financial products. To date, they have created three grant and repayable grant products that address the needs of their communities. Pathway Fund continues to develop both financial and non-financial support through co-design in a responsive manner. By collaborating with intermediaries and fund managers, they focus on how their interventions can add value to their partners, emphasizing long-term partnerships rather than a traditional top-down funder-grantee relationship and power dynamic.
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She's Electric

She’s Electric was founded to address the gender gap in net-zero technologies by empowering women to make sustainable choices. Recognising that women are often underserved in traditional customer acquisition models, the organisation creates engaging, informative content and events that resonate with their interests and concerns. They focus on topics like electric vehicles and clean energy, utilising a flexible approach that appeals to women’s lifestyles. With a growing community of nearly 10,000 members and ten events held in its first year, She’s Electric combines education and entertainment to demystify sustainability.
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The Vegan Patty Lady

The Vegan Patty Lady is a trailblazer in the consumer goods industry, introducing the first Jamaican vegan gluten-free patty. This innovative product meets the growing demand for vegan and gluten-free options while retaining the authentic taste and texture of traditional Jamaican patties. By using natural ingredients, the patties cater to diverse dietary needs, standing out in a market often filled with bland, overly processed vegan products.
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