Ascend Accelerator

2024 Cohort

Say hello to the cohort of the Ascend Accelerator. Find out the amazing companies that made this cohort an absolute success.

Interesting stats about Ascend Programme

Our Ascend Accelerator is designed to support 35 businesses with high growth potential, helping them secure the necessary funding and connections to scale their operations and reach their full potential.
227+
Applications received
71%
Minority-led businesses
30%
Have raised funds from Angels or VCs
17
Different industries
Agreka Build
Agreka Build
Amboora
Amboora
Atomic Innovation
Atomic Innovation
Adventures in the Wild
Adventures in the Wild
Bardo
Bardo
Cece Finery
Cece Finery
Clip Knix
Clip Knix
Detovo
Detovo
ColorBlend Makeup London
ColorBlend Makeup London
Different Productions
Different Productions
Educating Horizons
Educating Horizons
Gilguzi
Gilguzi
Hey! Food is Ready
Hey! Food is Ready
IDGO
IDGO
JFA Music Group
JFA Music Group
Joy's Crown
Joy's Crown
Just Fab Kitchen
Just Fab Kitchen
Kids Black History
Kids Black History
Luxwells
Luxwells
Med Tech Solutions
Med Tech Solutions
Messiah and Eve
Messiah and Eve
Off Piste Ski Trip
Off Piste Ski Trip
Pour Decisions FMB
Pour Decisions FMB
PRIM
PRIM
Probr
Probr
Project Alix
Project Alix
Proudtobeme
Proudtobeme
Red Dog PPC
Red Dog PPC
Rest Space
Rest Space
Reloop
Reloop
Marion Ayonote
Marion Ayonote
Sibling Arts
Sibling Arts
Story of Me
Story of Me
Stratpilot
Stratpilot
SweetDoughThings
SweetDoughThings
TextMine
TextMine
The ADHD Advocate
The ADHD Advocate
The Deborah Day Theatre School
The Deborah Day Theatre School
The Keto Elf
The Keto Elf
Videolity
Videolity
Yard and Parish
Yard and Parish
Zak Health Limited
Zak Health Limited
Zephyr Ease
Zephyr Ease
Junction 5 Studios
Junction 5 Studios
The Motherhood Group
The Motherhood Group

Agreka Build

Agreka Build is a pioneering team at the forefront of a regenerative movement, transforming agricultural byproducts into eco-conscious building solutions. They are propelling society towards zero-waste and net-zero carbon goals through material innovation.
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Amboora

Amboora is a Moroccan food brand based in London. They specialise in selling a range of premium authentic Moroccan packaged products, including tagine sauces, preserved lemon paste, harissa, couscous, tea, and spices. Their aim is to bring the vibrant flavours and rich culinary traditions of Morocco to your kitchen, offering high-quality ingredients that make it easy to create delicious Moroccan dishes at home.
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Atomic Innovation

Atomic Innovation provides technology consultancy and platforms to fast-growing tech companies, particularly in regulated industries. The company aims to transition its current platform offerings into a self-service PaaS model.
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Adventures in the Wild

Adventures in the wild helps female travellers ditch the worry of travelling alone by connecting them on life changing worldwide group adventures, leaving them with amazing new friends, a new found confidence, and incredible stories to tell.
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Bardo

Bardo creates 100% real food snacks infused with traditional healing plants, delivering mood-boosting benefits and exceptional nutritional value in a convenient, resealable bag. Made with fruits, nuts and seeds, with no added sugar or sweeteners, Bardo snacks feature powerful botanicals and adaptogens that naturally support mood and holistic wellbeing. Bardo snacks are a response to growing consumer interest in natural ways to support mental and emotional wellbeing.
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Cece Finery

Cece Finery is a brand that celebrates African culture through handmade bags and accessories. Each design showcases West African heritage, reflecting exceptional craftsmanship and innovation. Their mission is to bring vibrant African colours and stories to the mainstream high street, offering customers unique, high-quality products that blend traditional craftsmanship with modern design.
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Clip Knix

Clip-Knix, the revolutionary adaptive patented front-fastening underwear designed to restore independence and confidence for women of all ages. It negates the need to bend or stretch. Perfect for the elderly, pregnant women, those with limited mobility, and anyone recovering post-operation, Clip-Knix offers a life-changing solution that empowers women to dress effortlessly, whether sitting, standing, or lying down.
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Detovo

Detovo Limited is an IT consultancy firm that offers end-to-end Employability Solutions, training, and placement services to young people from predominantly black communities and those pivoting to Tech related roles.
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ColorBlend Makeup London

ColorBlend Makeup London is an award winning and high performance cosmetics brand created to provide more options and better availability and accessibility to black and brown beauty consumers.
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Different Productions

Different Productions company is a multifaceted entertainment business. We produce award-winning television content, host innovative music events, and manufacture unique consumer products.
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Educating Horizons

Educating Horizons believes in changing systems to change lives. They support local authorities, teachers, leaders and third sector organisations to build resilience and capacity when addressing the needs of our most vulnerable in society.
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Gilguzi

Gilguzi is an innovative skincare brand offering organic solutions for acne, eczema, and sensitive skin. Founded by someone who personally battled these conditions, Gilguzi deeply understand their customers' needs. Their mission is to nourish and protect skin using minimal, high-quality ingredients.
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Hey! Food is Ready

Hey! Food is Ready is an online marketplace that connects businesses with diverse food vendors. By providing a platform for underrepresented cooks to share their cuisine, the company aims to promote cultural diversity and support local communities.
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IDGO

IDGO is a UK-based company that develops secure age and identity verification solutions, focusing on individuals facing socio-economic challenges. Currently offering a standard proof of age card, the company is raising investment to launch a dual-sided smartcard combining identification and financial functionality. IDGO's mission is to empower marginalised communities by providing accessible and affordable proof of age solutions.
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JFA Music Group

JFA Music Group, focuses on talent management, artist development, and creating strategic partnerships to elevate the brand and its artists. They drive the creation of visually captivating content that enhances brands' social and digital presence, aspiring to transform both entities into global leaders in the creative and music industries.
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Joy's Crown

Joy's Crown is a brand committed to honouring the beauty of textured hair through innovative, premium satin-lined headwear. Our mission is to solve the challenges faced by individuals with curly, coily, wavy, and afro-textured hair in finding headwear that preserves hair health and reflects their personal style.
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Just Fab Kitchen

Just Fab Kitchen is a diet-inclusive restaurant where everyone, regardless of dietary needs, can enjoy a meal without compromise. Whether you're gluten-free, vegan, halal, vegetarian, or a meat-eater, there's something delicious for everyone. It's the perfect spot for diverse groups to dine together.
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Kids Black History

Kids Black History Classroom is an innovative EdTech platform that delivers engaging black history lessons through video-led content, presented by an inspiring 8-year-old teacher. Designed to foster inclusivity and cultural awareness, the platform supports global schools with high-quality, curriculum-aligned resources that enhance students' academic skills. Revenue is generated through school subscriptions, licensing partnerships, and sponsorships, with plans to expand content and global reach in the coming months.
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Luxwells

Luxwells is a black-owned, female-founded British brand offering a botanical-infused water beverage range designed to encourage better hydration. With three award-winning flavors, Luxwells uses only real flowers, free from artificial colors, preservatives, or flavorings. Handmade in the UK, Luxwells combines luxury with wellbeing, symbolized by their logo's arrow and circles representing enhanced hydration and wellbeing.
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Med Tech Solutions

Med Tech Solutions empowers patients and reduces administrative burdens for health professionals across Africa by leveraging AI-driven, real-time insights to improve global health. Their global data ecosystem, consisting of three apps and two Digital Twin-enabled dashboards, connects patients, health professionals, and organisations. By harnessing this data, Med Tech Solutions enhances patient outcomes and advances healthcare worldwide.
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Messiah and Eve

MESSIAH and EVE is a multi-award winning body and fragrance brand, beautifully merging face grade skincare with sensorial fine fragrances. Elevating your total body and mind rituals with transformative body-skin outcomes and joyous, sophisticated scent experiences that move and last with you. MESSIAH and EVE channels all the most desirable aspects of beauty, skincare and fragrance into luxury vegan body care with real purpose, excitement and difference.
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Off Piste Ski Trip

Off Piste Ski Trip is a rapidly growing community and lifestyle brand transforming the Winter Sports industry by offering curated ski trip packages that blend adventure, Black culture, and music. Catering to Gen Z and Millennials, their trips feature world-class skiing and vibrant après-ski parties with Afro-Caribbean DJs and cuisine. As the largest Black-led Winter Sports brand in the UK, Off Piste Ski Trip aims to become the leading platform for booking experiential outdoor and sports-based experiences, with a focus on community and entertainment.
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Pour Decisions FMB

Pour Decisions FMB creates food and beverage products inspired by global majority and diaspora cultures. Their flagship product, Asoro, is a unique yam-based spirit made from West African yams and botanicals, marking the first of its kind in the market.
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PRIM

PRIM is a digital platform for storytelling launching soon. The focus is to make stories by African, Caribbean and Afro-Latinx fam available and readily accessible. From pieces to read to narrative podcasts and an authors catalogue, PRIM aims to showcase the varying mediums used for storytelling, created and told by us.
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Probr

Probr is a medical research platform facilitating multiple research solutions from start to finish.
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Project Alix

Project Alix provides organisations with intuitive software to help people overcome common financial challenges. As more individuals face financial struggles despite overall UK wealth growth, organisations are increasingly affected in areas like service provision and engagement. Alix enables these organizations to offer scalable, effective support, leading to better outcomes for both parties.
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Proudtobeme

Proudtobeme is a non-profit organisation dedicated to equipping young adults aged 13-25 from BAME backgrounds with essential life skills. The organisation empowers teenagers by boosting self-esteem, confidence, and employability through peer coaching, mentoring, and therapy. Recognised for its excellence, Proudtobeme and its founder have won multiple awards for their impactful work.
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Red Dog PPC

Red Dog PPC is a digital marketing agency specialising in pay-per-click (PPC) advertising to help businesses maximise their online visibility and ROI. They offer tailored PPC strategies, including campaign setup, management, and optimisation across platforms like Google Ads and Bing. With a focus on delivering measurable results, Red Dog PPC enhances brand reach and drives targeted traffic to businesses.
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Rest Space

Rest Space is empowering people to be more productive, healthier and happier, especially in the moments that matter most by providing a proper space to rest at work. They're a group that dares to revolutionise the future of workplace wellbeing through rest.
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Reloop

Reloop is a professional network designed for independent professionals, including freelancers, consultants, advisors, and portfolio careerists—anyone whose career doesn't follow a traditional path. Prioritising quality connections over noise, Reloop fosters a community where individuals who prefer to steer their own careers can connect, collaborate, and discover new opportunities.
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Marion Ayonote

Marion Ayonote is a luxury footwear label specialising in the design and manufacture of innovative Women's footwear and handbags and small leather goods. Made in Italy.
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Sibling Arts

Sibling Arts is a marginalised-led community interest company that amplifies underrepresented voices through theatre, music, dance & film. They deliver multi-arts projects around lived experience, develop underserved artists & organisations & multiply impact in the arts ecology through cross-s
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Story of Me

Story Of Me streamlines brand building for businesses by blending story-led marketing, meticulous strategic planning, and hands-on content management into one streamlined service. This unique approach simplifies marketing, enabling brands to build meaningful connections with their audience effortlessly.
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Stratpilot

Stratpilot is the world's first AI assistant designed specifically for founders and executives, boosting their efficiency by 30% and promoting work-life balance. Focused on the SME sector, Stratpilot understands and addresses the unique challenges faced by small and medium-sized enterprises. Their AI assistant serves as an assistant, coach, mentor, and partner, revolutionizing productivity and empowering professionals to achieve greater results.
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SweetDoughThings

SweetDoughThings is an award winning innovative confectionery company dedicated to crafting innovative sweet treats tailored to individuals with dietary limitations and those embracing healthier living. The company's’ mission is to revolutionise the confectionery sector by presenting guilt-free, next-level sweet indulgences that are vegan, sugar-free, and free from common allergens. Proudly the UK's first company to manufacture vegan friendly sugar-free candy floss, made with a healthy alternative to sugar, marking a milestone in its innovative journey.
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TextMine

TextMine, combines legal and engineering expertise to address the inefficiencies of manual document data extraction. Their platform leverages proprietary large language models and knowledge graphs to automate workflows, streamlining operations, reducing errors, and boosting productivity for enterprises. By transforming unstructured data into actionable insights, TextMine revolutionizes how businesses manage and analyse document data.
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The ADHD Advocate

The ADHD Advocate is a company that provides certified ADHD coaching and training to individuals with ADHD, their families, schools and workplaces to help ADHDers fulfil their unique potential.
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The Deborah Day Theatre School

The Deborah Day Theatre School has been operating in the London Borough of Newham for the past Forty years. The school is inclusive and offers classes to children from the age of 3 to late teens in the performing arts.
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The Keto Elf

The Keto Elf produces premium, keto-friendly crackers that are gluten-free, vegan, and made with clean, high-quality ingredients. Catering to health-conscious consumers, they offer convenient and nutritious snacks that align with modern dietary preferences. With a focus on quality and innovation, The Keto Elf is positioned to capture a significant share of the health food market and deliver strong value for investors.
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Videolity

Videolity transforms video consumption by making all videos interactive and shoppable across any platform. Using advanced AI, Videolity identifies products in videos, allowing consumers to make real-time purchases. Partnering with major retail brands and streaming platforms, their solution enhances conversion rates, boosts customer engagement, and provides detailed marketing analytics.
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Yard and Parish

Yard & Parish is a trailblazing digital resource and community platform offering eco-luxury products, editorial content, and elevated wellness experiences aimed at BPOC communities worldwide. As a beacon of sustainable luxury and empowerment for the African diaspora, the platform is dedicated to curating an inclusive selection of independent brands and lifestyle innovations across beauty, wellness, fashion, home décor, and much more.
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Zak Health Limited

Zak Health Limited, is set to revolutionise healthcare in Nigeria and across Africa with its AI-powered telemedicine services, launching in Summer 2024. The company aims to enhance healthcare accessibility and quality by providing advanced AI diagnostics and telehealth consultations, reducing the need for in-person visits, especially in remote areas. Zak Health also focuses on upskilling local healthcare workers through collaborations with international medical institutions, elevating the standard of care and fostering sustainable development within the region's healthcare infrastructure.
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Zephyr Ease

Zephyr Ease is a Black-owned brand that specialises in providing post-surgery underwear designed specifically for C-section mothers. Their products offer comfort, support, and aid in the recovery process, ensuring that new mothers have the necessary care and protection following their surgeries.
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Junction 5 Studios

Junction 5 Studios has created the Figures of Black British Society (FOBBS) app. FOBBS is an educational, age-agnostic app that highlights Black British figures historical and contemporary leaders using a range of media to be truly accessible.
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The Motherhood Group

The Motherhood Group, addresses the stark maternal health disparities faced by Black women in the UK. Their digital platform, is a perinatal support designed specifically for Black mothers. It offers culturally relevant content, community support, access to culturally competent healthcare professionals, health tracking tools, and mental health resources.
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