Foundervine Future Awards

The Foundervine Future 40

Foundervine is proud to introduce the  Foundervine Future40 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 2025 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

Ahyeesha Dembele
Charity Trustee, At The Heart
Anish Daddar
Founder and Director, EcoSource
Antoinette Vandy
Founder, AgrekaBuild
Barbara Njau
Founder, First Rate Tutors
Bilkis Miah
Founder, You Be You
Chioma Wilson-Dike
Co-founder, Lexlytic
David Adjei
Co-founder, AICHITECT
Denise Myers
Founder & CEO, Evenfields
Dr Pauldy Otermans
Co-founder, Teddy AI
Ekene Ukemenam
Founder, Aerial Icon
Ella Greenwood
Founder, Broken Flames
Gabriella Anderson
Founder, Braids Gang
Henry McNeill-Njoku
Co-founder, Known Source
Hong Zhou
Founder, Mile Rainbow CIC
Jelica Obician
Exchange Manager, Somerset House
Lilijan Sulejmanovic
Founder, Bardo
Marlon James-Edwards
Director, Artcha Series
Mitch Chibundu
Founder, Designer Babe
Nadu Placca Rodriguez
Founder & CEO, The Zoo XYZ
Nuria Manuel
Founder & CEO, Veriom
Ona Newton
CEO & Founder, Tobams Group
Shain Khoja
Founder & CEO, Thriving.ai
Tendai Moyo
Founder & CEO, Ruka hair
Titilola Bello
Co-Founder & COO, Dataleum
Zeinab Kane
Founder & CEO, FirstTuch
Ahyeesha Dembele

Ahyeesha Dembele

Charity Trustee, At The Heart
Ahyeesha Dembele is a Charity Trustee (Voluntary) at At the Heart UK, bringing over a decade of experience in using technology for good. Her career spans healthtech projects within the NHS to innovative solutions in the edtech sector. In her role, she focuses on empowering hard-to-reach groups—including refugees and prison leavers—by creating pathways into business and technology careers. Alongside her work with At the Heart UK and social enterprise Breakthrough, Ahyeesha is committed to harnessing innovation for social impact, driven by her mission to leave the world better than she found it.
LinkedIn
Close
Anish Daddar

Anish Daddar

Founder and Director, EcoSource
EcoSource is a UK-based sustainable packaging company helping businesses eliminate plastic and PFAS from their supply chains. Since launching in 2023, they've grown organically to over £1.5M in revenue, supplying certified compostable, recyclable, and plastic-free packaging to global brands including ABInBev & Hyatt Regency. With manufacturing rooted in the UK and international expansion across the US, EU, and UAE, EcoSource is on a mission to make sustainability scalable - proving that high-volume packaging can be both eco-friendly and commercially viable.
LinkedIn
Close
Antoinette Vandy

Antoinette Vandy

Founder, AgrekaBuild
Antoinette Yetunde Vandy is an award-winning RIBA II architectural designer, educator, and founder of Agreka Build, a pioneering startup advancing regenerative construction. With a focus on sustainable innovation and community-driven design, her work bridges construction and agriculture to address the climate crisis. Co-founded at the Imperial College London Climate Entrepreneurs Pre-Accelerator alongside My Linh Nguyen and Han Ming Lai, Agreka Build transforms agricultural waste into high-performance building materials. Its flagship innovation, WHEATEX®—a thermal wall cavity insulation made from waste wheat straw—demonstrates the potential of circular economy solutions to decarbonise the built environment and reshape the future of sustainable construction.
LinkedIn
Close
Barbara Njau

Barbara Njau

Founder, First Rate Tutors
Barbara Njau is the Founder of First Rate Tutors (FRT), the UK’s first Black female-led online tuition platform. FRT provides affordable, high-quality GCSE support, with £10 interactive weekly masterclasses in English, Maths, and Science. Barbara launched the platform to make tutoring accessible for working-class and underserved minority communities, many of whom have been priced out of private education. With over 138,000 YouTube subscribers and 100+ five-star reviews, FRT has supported hundreds of students in gaining top grades and progressing to universities such as Oxford and Cambridge. In 2024, FRT won Bauer Media’s £50,000 nationwide billboard campaign.
LinkedIn
Close
Bilkis Miah

Bilkis Miah

Founder, You Be You
Bilkis Miah is the Founder of You Be You, a social enterprise dedicated to championing youth voice, representation, and equity through creative education and leadership programmes. Founded in 2019, You Be You was created to challenge the invisibility many young people experience and to build inclusive spaces where identity, culture, and voice are celebrated. Working across London, Birmingham, and Bradford, the organisation delivers youth voice workshops, anti-racism training, and social action programmes that centre marginalised communities. From local youth councils to global law firms, You Be You ensures young people’s ideas are not only heard but acted upon.
LinkedIn
Close
Chioma Wilson-Dike

Chioma Wilson-Dike

Co-founder, Lexlytic
Chioma Wilson-Dike is a Nigerian-born lawyer turned RegTech founder building the future of regulatory infrastructure. Drawing on experience at Aluko & Oyebode, adidas, and KPMG UK, she co-founded Lexlytic in 2025—an AI-powered legal intelligence platform that transforms complex laws into real-time, actionable insights for compliance teams across Africa and the UK. Currently in beta, Lexlytic has secured LOIs from enterprise clients, earned “Best Pitch” recognition at the Cambridge–Stanford Hack the Law Finals, and was selected for Web Summit’s ALPHA program (top 2,000 out of 12,000 startups). Recognised as one of the 100 Leaders Shaping Africa by Crest Africa and preselected for the Women in Africa Young Leaders Program, Chioma leads strategy, product, and partnerships—while raising a toddler in London.
LinkedIn
Close
David Adjei

David Adjei

Co-founder, AICHITECT
David Adjei is the co-founder of AICHITECT, an AI-powered platform that helps construction teams de-risk projects by predicting issues before they escalate - saving time and cost on every project. Before launching AICHITECT, David led Cognition, his own architectural studio, for a decade, delivering award-winning projects while pioneering tech-driven design practices. He has also taught architecture at university level and served on the RIBA Council, giving him a unique vantage point at the intersection of practice, academia, and professional policy.
LinkedIn
Close
Denise Myers

Denise Myers

Founder & CEO, Evenfields
Denise Myers is the Founder and CEO of Evenfields, a purpose-led organisation dedicated to building a more equitable, inclusive, and representative working world. With a background in recruitment and a lifelong commitment to social justice, she launched Evenfields to challenge systemic inequalities and create meaningful opportunities for underrepresented talent, particularly Black professionals. Through Evenfields Careers, she provides culturally competent coaching, mentoring, and access to inclusive employers. Denise is also the founder of the Black Talent Awards, a national platform celebrating the excellence and impact of Black professionals across every sector.
LinkedIn
Close
Dr Pauldy Otermans

Dr Pauldy Otermans

Co-founder, Teddy AI
Dr. Pauldy Otermans is a multi-award-winning UK tech leader, neuroscientist, and psychologist, internationally recognised for her pioneering work in AI for education and social impact. She is Head of Research in AI Technology in Education and COO at Otermans Institute (OI), the UK-based organisation behind the world’s first public AI teacher. Under her leadership, OI has deployed “voice-first” and “offline-first” AI learning platforms in 17 countries, from UN refugee camps in Iraq to female students in Afghanistan. Her groundbreaking work in EDGE AI has enabled privacy-first, scalable education, reaching over 160,000 learners in Kenya and driving national initiatives across Africa.
LinkedIn
Close
Ekene Ukemenam

Ekene Ukemenam

Founder, Aerial Icon
Ekene Ukemenam is a Chartered Aerospace Engineer and the Founder of Aerial Icon, a deep tech company using AI to create immersive 360° environments for mental health therapy. Inspired by his own experiences with mental health challenges, Ekene developed Ubidio, the company’s flagship platform that enables users to generate ultra-realistic VR environments through simple prompts. Aerial Icon’s current focus, UbiFloat, is designed to support treatment for depression, anxiety, phobias, and PTSD. Backed by over £310,000 in UK innovation grants, partnerships with the NHS and academic institutions, and upcoming clinical trials, Aerial Icon is on a mission to transform global mental health care.
LinkedIn
Close
Ella Greenwood

Ella Greenwood

Founder, Broken Flames
Ella Greenwood is an award-winning filmmaker and the Founder of Broken Flames, a mental-health-focused production company creating films that spark global conversations on self-harm, anxiety, grief, and depression. Under her leadership, Broken Flames has partnered with leading charities, collaborated with BAFTA winners, and been featured by outlets including Grazia, Variety, Huffington Post, Refinery29, and Deadline. The company also runs low-cost workshops, a Film Fund, and Mentorship Programmes with free access for emerging creatives. Drawing from lived experience, Ella is an ambassador for teenage mental health charity stem4 and a recipient of the Diana Award for social action.
LinkedIn
Close
Gabriella Anderson

Gabriella Anderson

Founder, Braids Gang
Gabriella Anderson is the Founder of Braids Gang, a global platform and digital community empowering women and girls through the celebration of textured hair, beauty, and self-love. What began as her journey to overcome hair loss has grown into a vibrant community of nearly 600,000 followers, reaching over 120 million people worldwide. Braids Gang has collaborated with brands including Dyson, Cantu, and The Mane Choice, amplifying representation in the beauty industry. Featured in ELLE, Essence, and Cosmopolitan, Gabriella also mentors at Our Pain 2 Power CIC, supporting youth programs in self-love, confidence, and career advancement.
LinkedIn
Close
Henry McNeill-Njoku

Henry McNeill-Njoku

Co-founder, Known Source
Henry McNeill-Njoku is the co-founder of Known Source, a ground-breaking community-first marketplace reshaping the future of second-hand fashion. Named a Vogue Business 100 Innovator, Henry has over a decade of experience driving cultural change in the resale industry - shaping how consumers engage with pre-loved clothing and elevating second-hand fashion to the forefront of culture.
LinkedIn
Close
Hong Zhou

Hong Zhou

Founder, Mile Rainbow CIC
Hong Zhou is a preventive medicine specialist (MBBS MSc MPH MHFA) and founder of Mile Rainbow CIC (MR.CIC), a London-based social enterprise delivering culturally responsive mental health solutions. With experience in the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Centre and mental health initiatives, and informed by her lived experience of immigration and trauma, she created the Preventive Emotional Vaccine (PEV) to address mental health inequalities before they become crises. Since 2022, MR.CIC has run 40 projects reaching 3,700 participants, 80% from underserved BAME communities, and raised over £183,000 from 14 funders, including the NHS, Compass Wellbeing, local councils, the London Marathon Foundation, and Groundwork. The organisation has also gained national recognition, including winning the Enterprise for All Award 2025, and finalist positions for the National B.A.M.E Health & Care Awards, NatWest SE100, BDO Social Enterprise, and WISE100 2025.
LinkedIn
Close
Jelica Obician

Jelica Obician

Exchange Manager, Somerset House
Jelica Obician is the Manager of Somerset House Exchange, a hub for cultural innovators within one of London’s most dynamic creative communities. Since taking on the role in 2019, she has built the business model, membership offer, and community from the ground up, transforming the Exchange from a building site into a thriving space of 700+ creatives. The Exchange champions progress, diversity, and innovation by offering affordable, flexible memberships and an inclusive environment where collaboration thrives. From film and fashion to AI and VR, the community fosters cultural innovation, sustainability, and social impact at the heart of Somerset House.
LinkedIn
Close
Lilijan Sulejmanovic

Lilijan Sulejmanovic

Founder, Bardo
Lili is an operator, investor and entrepreneur whose career blends global experience in consulting and private equity with pioneering diaspora investment in Bosnia. More recently her focus has been on unlocking capital for founders and communities from forced-migration backgrounds. Drawing on her own experience of displacement, she brings a unique refugee-lens to investment, working to catalyse funding flows into ventures that advance refugee and newcomer economic and social empowerment. Her leadership bridges private capital with social impact, mobilising resources not only to grow businesses but to transform narratives, proving that investing in refugee and newcomer talent is both a moral imperative and a compelling economic opportunity.
LinkedIn
Close
Marlon James-Edwards

Marlon James-Edwards

Director, Artcha Series
Marlon James-Edwards is the founder of Marlon James-Edwards Consultancy and Artchaseries, blending education, creativity, and social impact. With 17 years’ experience in community work and education as an English teacher and Head of Department, Marlon launched his consultancy to support learners through strategies for engagement, retention, and aspiration. Through Artchaseries, a London fashion brand led by neurodivergent designers, he champions inclusion while reinvesting profits to support secondary learners awaiting diagnosis. A dyslexic educator and advocate, Marlon has partnered with schools, corporates, and researchers globally, and was recognised as a UK 100 Black entrepreneur by Beyoncé’s BeyGOOD Foundation.
LinkedIn
Close
Mitch Chibundu

Mitch Chibundu

Founder, Designer Babe
Mitch Chibundu is a nationally appointed tech leader, award-winning educator, author, and founder dedicated to reshaping how creative people access opportunity, ownership, and fulfilment worldwide. She is the founder of Hourze®, an AI-powered learning platform transforming growth into verifiable proof for the future of work, and the creator of Designer Babe®, a global platform empowering over 75,000 creatives, especially African women, to build tech careers on their terms. With a decade designing fintech and Web3 products at Flutterwave, Wise, and Ledger, Mitch also leads DB Media and curates Mitch of Taste, blending food, culture, and connection through sold-out London dining experiences.
LinkedIn
Close
Nadu Placca Rodriguez

Nadu Placca Rodriguez

Founder & CEO, The Zoo XYZ
Nadu Placca Rodriguez is the Founder and CEO of The Zoo XYZ, a global purpose-driven event agency dedicated to creating culturally significant and impactful experiences. With over 18 years of international experience, she has worked with leading brands including Red Bull, Spotify Africa, Afro Nation, and Afropunk, bringing complex ideas to life through creativity, expertise, and community. Under her leadership, The Zoo XYZ champions access, diversity, and representation in the events industry, equipping professionals with the training, resources, and opportunities to succeed. Nadu’s vision continues to shape global events with purpose, precision, and lasting impact.
LinkedIn
Close
Nuria Manuel

Nuria Manuel

Founder & CEO, Veriom
Nuria is the Founder & CEO of Veriom - the AI brain for cybersecurity. Veriom continuously scans your cloud, code, and systems to detect vulnerabilities, trace them to their root cause, and surface the remediation. No more false positives. No more fragmented tools. Just proactive security that works - autonomously. Nuria has spent over a decade in fault detection, infrastructure auditing, software vulnerabilities, quality assurance and cybersecurity across manufacturing, enterprise and mid-market tech, and high regulated industries like financial services and healthcare.
LinkedIn
Close
Ona Newton

Ona Newton

CEO & Founder, Tobams Group
Ona Newton is the CEO and Founder of Tobams Group, an organisation advancing talent development, leadership, and innovation across 14 countries. Through Tobams Group, she has supported over 100,000 individuals with skills for sustainable career growth, powered by AI-driven talent assessments and learning platforms. Ona is also the founder of Rare Eat, a premium food brand championing sustainability and local suppliers, and Laughing Women, a global NGO established in 13 countries that has impacted more than 200,000 women. She is currently leading Recycled Learning for Kids, an AI-powered platform piloted in 350 schools worldwide to transform children’s learning.
LinkedIn
Close
Shain Khoja

Shain Khoja

Founder & CEO, Thriving.ai
Shain Khoja is the Founder and CEO of Thriving.ai, a digital health platform transforming elder care and chronic disease management through proactive, community-based solutions. Inspired by her own caregiving journey, she created Thriving.ai to empower older adults, families, and caregivers with tools that promote independence, dignity, and quality of life. With a background in physical therapy and health technology, Shain has built and led enterprises across four continents, including serving on the founding team of Roshan, Afghanistan’s largest telecom operator. Recognised globally for her impact, she continues to champion technology that ensures aging is healthier, more connected, and more fulfilling.
LinkedIn
Close
Tendai Moyo

Tendai Moyo

Founder & CEO, Ruka hair
Tendai is a co-founder and CEO at Ruka Hair, which she started after being exhausted by her own laundry list of horror stories when it came to purchasing hair extensions: everything from an allergic reaction to the silicon used to hide the counterfeit nature of Aliexpress hair, to it just… never arriving. She’s creating Ruka to become the go-to brand for Black women globally when it comes to their hair – a company challenging a historically unregulated industry to create higher quality and better performing hair solutions without compromising on health or ethics.
LinkedIn
Close
Titilola Bello

Titilola Bello

Co-Founder & COO, Dataleum
Titilola Bello is the Co-Founder and COO of Dataleum, a global tech talent development company dedicated to equipping young people across Africa and beyond with digital skills, mentorship, and career opportunities. With a background in fintech and product management, Titilola co-founded Dataleum to bridge access and create generational change. Since its launch in Lagos, the organisation has expanded internationally, training over 35,000 learners across 25+ countries and awarding more than 5,000 scholarships to low-income youth. Under her leadership, Dataleum partners with governments and companies to transform workforces and dismantle barriers to opportunity.
LinkedIn
Close
Zeinab Kane

Zeinab Kane

Founder & CEO, FirstTuch
Zeinab Kane is the CEO and Founder of FirstTuch, an emotional technology company redefining prenatal connection. Her flagship innovation, Adori, is the world’s first wearable device that transmits pregnancy movements in real time, enabling non-carrying parents, surrogates, and distant loved ones to feel a baby’s kicks instantly across any distance. Inspired by her personal experiences and a mission to improve life’s quality “one tuch at a time,” Zeinab built FirstTuch to bridge emotional gaps in pregnancy and set new standards for family connection. The company champions inclusivity, particularly for LGBTQ+ and surrogacy communities worldwide.
LinkedIn
Close

The 15 Organisations of Future 40

AWKN

AWKN® is redefining the functional beverage market with the world’s first Korean-inspired recovery shot, fusing centuries-old Korean wellness traditions with modern science. Founded in 2022 by Korean sisters Tess and Soom, the brand harnesses 11 superfoods—including Korean pear, milk thistle, and reishi mushroom—to prevent hangovers and support liver health, empowering consumers to celebrate without compromise. What began as a weekend project has grown into a wellness movement, selling over 150,000 units through organic growth and word-of-mouth. With a remarkable 35.85% retention rate, AWKN® is more than a recovery shot—it’s a transformative ritual for today’s health-conscious lifestyle.
LinkedIn
Close

Alix

Alix is an AI-agent platform transforming the way social housing services are delivered. Founded in 2023, Alix breaks down digital barriers by meeting staff and residents where they already are—on WhatsApp. Through this familiar interface, the platform turns complex processes into personalised conversations, bite-sized videos, and smart automations that make support more accessible. For housing providers, local authorities, and charities, Alix streamlines tenant services, from repairs and damp reporting to wellbeing support. Guided by Charisma’s vision, Alix ensures technology empowers rather than excludes, improving quality of life for communities nationwide.
LinkedIn
Close

Ebonix

EBONIX is a creative and cultural tech social enterprise driving meaningful representation in gaming and digital spaces. With nearly a decade of experience, she has pioneered Afrocentric custom content for The Sims 4, reshaping diversity in virtual environments and empowering creators globally. Founded in 2015, EBONIX sits at the intersection of creativity, technology, and inclusion—developing innovative 3D design and advocating for the authentic representation of Black communities in gaming and tech. Under Danielle’s leadership, EBONIX is redefining digital experiences to make inclusivity and diversity a standard, not an option.
LinkedIn
Close

HumaniTea

HumaniTea is the UK’s first chilled, ready-to-drink plant-based tea latte brand, proudly crafted as a social enterprise supporting wellbeing and sustainability. Inspired by the Taiwanese bubble tea tradition and British tea culture, HumaniTea blends creamy oat milk with ethically sourced tea leaves to create refreshing Matcha and Earl Grey Oat Milk Tea Lattes. Packaged in recyclable aluminium cans, our drinks are vegan, lactose-free, low sugar (<5%), and low calorie (<70 kcal/can), providing natural energy without the caffeine crash. With every sip, HumaniTea promotes mindful tea breaks while driving positive impact for both people and the planet.
LinkedIn
Close

Onalaja

ONALAJA is a contemporary womenswear brand redefining African luxury through demi-couture that empowers women worldwide. Founded by a Nigerian-born designer educated in London and Rome, the brand draws on advanced training at Istituto Marangoni and experience with Christopher Kane, Giles Deacon Couture, and luxury embroidery studios in London and Paris. ONALAJA merges African heritage with modern design, creating immersive, three-dimensional pieces that celebrate femininity and individuality. With size inclusivity from XXS to XXXXL, the brand champions sustainable, accessible luxury. Internationally stocked by Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdale’s, Revolve, and Zalando, ONALAJA has dressed icons like Jennifer Hudson, Kelly Rowland, Chloe Bailey, and Tiwa Savage.
LinkedIn
Close

Otermans Institute

Otermans Institute is a UK-based AI research and education organisation transforming access to learning for underserved communities worldwide. Since 2020, the Institute has pioneered offline-first AI teaching platforms that deliver personalised education in 17 countries, from refugee camps in Iraq to rural areas with limited internet access. Its flagship AI teacher, OIAI, achieves a 95% learner completion rate and has supported learners during crises, including in Palestine. With recent initiatives addressing Africa’s AI literacy gap, Otermans Institute has already reached over 160,000 learners and forged global partnerships with governments and institutions.
LinkedIn
Close

PH247

PH247 is a 24/7 plumbing and heating company built on truth, simplicity, and trust. Inspired by his family’s experience of homelessness after being exploited by a rogue plumber, Louchavan Lemard created PH247 to raise industry standards and protect customers. The company delivers transparent services backed by a lifetime labour guarantee and innovative job reporting, ensuring clarity for every client. Beyond business, Louchavan tackles the UK’s skills shortage through apprenticeships and mentorship, equipping young people with lifelong skills. Recognised with multiple awards, including the Master Plumber Award, he blends professional excellence with social impact.
LinkedIn
Close

SuperFoodLx

SuperFoodLx is a nurse- and nutritionist-led hair wellness brand dedicated to plant-based, science-driven solutions for stress, diet, and hormone-related hair loss or slow growth. With 15.4 million people in the UK experiencing unexpected hair thinning, the brand was born from lived experience when founder’s hair fell out and, through family remedies, was successfully restored. Today, SuperFoodLx helps thousands regain confidence with targeted, nutrient-rich formulations. As Director, the founder is pursuing a qualification in Trichology and drawing on her psychology background to better understand customer habits, creating personalised routines that foster lasting hair health and holistic well-being.
LinkedIn
Close

The Vegan Patty Lady

The Vegan Patty Lady is an award-nominated food brand founded by Tasha Orumbie, bringing authentic Jamaican patties to the UK market with a modern twist. The range features vegan and gluten-free options with bold flavours that appeal even to non-vegans. Launched in June 2023 from her home kitchen, the brand grew rapidly—tripling revenue in its first year and securing a national listing with Ocado within 18 months, all while Tasha worked full-time. Her mission is to make culturally rooted, allergen-friendly food widely accessible, while championing representation for women and people of colour in underrepresented food industry spaces.
LinkedIn
Close

TiffinWalli CIC

TiffinWalli CIC is a social enterprise where women are empowered to step into flexible employment, build new skills, and take on responsibilities they never imagined possible. The organisation provides real opportunities for growth by mentoring volunteers into leadership roles, supporting women to start their own businesses, and creating pathways into sustainable work. TiffinWalli CIC takes a holistic approach, encouraging women to embrace every aspect of their development with patience, discipline, and heart. Its impact is reflected in success stories such as long-term volunteers progressing into paid staff and even Director positions, transforming potential into lasting change.
LinkedIn
Close

Explore award categories

Future Awards 2024 Sponsors
Want to learn more about the Future Awards?
Get in touch