Google for Startups Immersion: Black Founders
The Google for Startups Immersion for Black founders is a three-month remote program for Seed to Series A technology startups based in Europe and the UK. The program is designed to bring the best of Google’s products, people and technology to Black founders. Being part of the cohort provides founders with the opportunity to learn from their peers and share learnings, challenges, wins and losses. Partnering experienced Googlers with selected Black-founded startups from the local ecosystem, this program is designed to better prepare Black founders to grow their businesses or raise their next rounds while further advancing their leadership skills.
Black founders are well-connected at a peer level within their eco-systems, but research has proven they consistently lack access to VCs and accelerator programs. This puts Black founders at a considerable disadvantage when it comes to raising funding and gaining the skills needed to scale their companies. Google for Startups is well-positioned to address these gaps through our programmatic efforts, partnerships, brand and marketing resources.
Meet the Team
Click the team photos below to learn more!
Marta Krupinska
Head of Google for Startups UK
Mariama Boumanjal
Startup Partner Manager, Google for Startups UK
Oliver Turnbull
Program Coordinator, Google for Startups UK
Anika Henry
Operations & Community Manager, Google for Startups UK
Andy Davis
Investor in Residence, Google for Startups UK
Michael Cavanagh
Marketing Lead, Google for Startups UK
Program Journey
The program kicks-off with a welcome session on September 7th where you have the opportunity to hear from Google for Startups Head of the UK Marta Krupsinka (three times founder) and learn about the inspiring journey of Jewel Burks Solomon, Google for Startups Head of the US (founder and VC). You will hear more about the program framework, agenda and all resources available to you by the program team and ultimately, you will meet your cohort - 12 brilliantly founded startups by 18 impressive founders!
Our Support
Startups accepted into the Black Founders Immersion can expect the following equity-free support from Google.
Ongoing virtual classroom: training sessions with content “themes” - assistance with technology, product, design, growth (including fundraising), and leadership development.
September: Welcome + OKRs, Product + Design UX & Tech/ML
October: Growth, Business & People
November: Pitching, and Graduation
Ongoing 1:1 mentorship (remote): Work with your dedicated mentors on a regular basis on your key objectives and key results through 1:1s throughout the duration of the program and furthermore be connected to specialists and subject expert matters in your industry
After you've completed 1:1s with Craig O'Boyle, diving into your individual leadership approach, you will be joining 3x 90mins leadership sessions on the following topics
1. Connecting with your authentic leadership style,
2. Understanding the individual leader and the link with the organisation
3. Charting your leadership journey from here, and committing to invest.
The leadership initiative will conclude with final 1:1s with Craig to customize the leadership best practices to each startup founders.
Weekly Friday's Founder Standups: Every Friday, we aim to come together with you, a cohort of 18 brilliant founders.
One of the most valuable parts of our programs for founders is the relationships they form with other founders. How do we foster that? Founder Standup a 60 minute group session where startup founders share challenges and get advice from others in a similar situation. Facilitated by Andy Davis, it's a space for each participant to openly discuss their highs, lows and obstacles, while the group offers practical help, answers to problems, and emotional support. Based on a tried-and-tested Google for Startups format, it’s designed to help founders help each other, and navigate the way forward, together.
Andy Davis will be working with you on a bi-weekly basis on your pitch deck and fundraising strategy. Andy is a Founding Partner of the 10x10 fund, a pre-seed fund investing in exceptional black founders, and an Angel Investor with Atomico.
Inspirational keynote talks, panel discussions, and firechats with relevant experts and leaders.
Networking events within the global network of black founders, i.e US GFS cohort
OnGoing Feedback
Feedback is a gift! If you have any suggestions on how we can improve the program, please email Mariama at: mboumanjal@google.com