Abi’s Highlights #8
As 2022 comes to a close, every year I do a introspective and retrospective, set my new goals (privately) and post my last year’s achievements online. So here are my ’22 highlights!
Normally I post my tweets in these highlights but one of my goals last year was to live more in the moment and not force myself to tweet or post if I don’t feel like it. Looking at my ’22 twitter tweets, I didn’t tweet much, but busy working offline. But I have pictures. Excited to share my highlights with you, mainly all my work building on the Libra programme, ecosystem events and more.
January & February
I added my 2022 predictions on Rude VC blog, which mainly said:
“ My prediction for 2022 is that we will see more UK Black founders being funded by micro/solo funds, ex-founder turned angel investors or international institutional funds.”
I’m excited to say I have seen a few new micro/solo/SPV funds pop out this year, investing not just in Black founder(s) but underrepresented founder(s). Finally, we saw seed capital invested into awesome underrepresented-led startups, most of them are Tech Nation Libra Alumni. So proud!
Underrepresented founders: those founders that belong to a group that the venture industry as a whole underinvests in relative to the percentage of the overall UK population. Let me know in the comments below if I should create a list of new UK investors who are actively investing in underrepresented founders.
Over at Tech Nation, we are halfway through the Libra 1.0 programme. We started to host more specific events for Libra founders.
One thing I wanted to do more of was video content around incredible scaling UK Black founders, you can’t be what you can’t see. Most Black founder stories are American-centric, but where can you find UK Black founder-led content? Especially non-London-based founders. So of course to kick off the pilot we headed to Bristol, to start filming Libra Talks. Also, throughout the year, we filmed in London.
March
Was featured in International Women’s Day: six women leading the way in tech, and excited to see Abadesi Osunsade — founder of Hustle Crew, author, and co-host of Techish sharing her honest tech experience too. Also, was a judge for the Zinc & UKRI Healthy Ageing Catalyst Awards. Over at Tech Nation, we hosted the last Libra session and closed the programme via our cross-programme closing ceremony.
April & May
Libra 2.0 applications opened, and I started to attend some in-person UK ecosystem events, so great seeing people in real life rather than Zoom. I think it’s important to surround yourself with like-minded people to get inspired, brainstorm and have fun.
Libra 2.0 criteria changed slightly from Libra 1.0 to help even more founders who self-identified themself as an Underrepresented Founder in the UK. In the UK, Black founder(s) are still facing little/no access to equal opportunities across the tech ecosystem when scaling, but also some other ethnic groups are feeling blocked on the same issue. See HERE for more information about the new programme’s purpose.
I moderated a panel at the Tech Nation x Google “A decade of UK tech” event.
June, July & August
I had the opportunity to speak at London Tech Week.
I closed the Libra applications process and am excited to see over 100 applications after using a new process. Glad to have an amazing programme advisor to help me score & select the new cohort.
September
Launched the Tech Nation Libra 2.0 programme!
October, November & Decemeber
Moderating a panel at Colorintech’s Black Tech Fest, during Black History Month.
Also, I had the opportunity to host a few events for the Libra cohort and attend some in-person social events in the UK startup scene.
To conclude
I haven’t got much to add. I’m proud of who I am today and excited to see who I will be tomorrow. My mantra this year will be:
“If you lose, don’t lose the lesson.” ~ Dalai Lama
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