The Barclays Black Founder Accelerator is a dedicated 12-week programme designed to champion Black founder-led businesses through a series of masterclasses and one-to-one mentoring to help them accelerate and grow. Bringing expertise from sales, marketing, technology, business and investment, the programme will provide you with the tools you need to take your business to the next level.
There are only 50 spaces available on this unique 12-week accelerator programme, delivered in a combination of virtual and in-person events from July 2022 to October 2022.
This accelerator is packed with masterclasses each week, spread over the 12-week programme. Each week you will attend expert-led live masterclasses, with some of the best-in-the-business, teaching you a range of topics from financial metrics, cash flow, product development, marketing, recruitment, pitching, and raising capital.
Specially chosen mentors will be paired with the selected startups and will work closely with them during the programme and beyond to help them grow and scale.
This unique experience will enable you to develop new skills, gain support, learn vital tools and improve your pitch to help you successfully scale your business.
Key Benefits
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Mentoring and coaching from leading scaleup and industry experts
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Dedicated Barclays Champion for each cohort member for the duration of the programme
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Assistance in a dynamic and collaborative community working environment with cutting-edge resources
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The chance to pitch your company to the tech community's most influential people
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Access to the Eagle Labs & Barclays network
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Lifetime membership of the prestigious Vine alumni community
Applicant Criteria
Application Process
In order to apply and benefit fully from this amazing opportunity it is important that you meet the application criteria and your business is at the right stage to get the maximum benefit from the programme.
Competition is fierce for this transformative programme, so we have a 4-stage application process to ensure applicants and their businesses are at the right stage of their journey and are able to gain the most benefit from the programme.
Your Business
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Uses digital technology to operate/deliver their value proposition
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Ready to scale i.e.
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Either seed stage or beyond
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Received investment
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Launching your MVP
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A UK registered business
You/Your Team
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At least 1 founder (or C-suite) self-identifies as Black or of Black heritage
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You have proven expertise in your industry
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You are available to attend all the masterclasses over the 12-week period
Stage 1: Written Application
Please check that you meet the criteria mentioned above. If you do, then complete the application form using the link below.
Stage 2: Video Submission
Shortlisted applications from stage 1 will be asked to submit a video answering a few questions.
Stage 3: Interview
Shortlisted applicants from stage 2 will go through a video interview with Barclays and Foundervine lasting 30 minutes
Stage 4: Final selection
Shortlisted applicants from stage 3 will be sent an invitation to join the accelerator. They will have 2 days to accept the invitation. If we do not receive the acceptance we will invite the next applicant.
Terms and Conditions


Foundervine and Barclays Eagle Labs are working together to deliver the Barclays Black Founders Accelerator. For this purpose, we are acting as a joint data controller in order to assess the start-ups who would benefit most from our support and to deliver the programme.
For more detailed information on how and why Foundervine or Barclays Eagle Labs use your information, including the rights in relation to your personal data, and the legal grounds for using it, please go to:
Barclays Eagle Labs Privacy Policy Barclays T&C's Foundervine Privacy Policy
To participate in the Programme, you must (i) be over 18 years old; (ii) be based in the UK; (iii) self-identify as Black or of Black heritage; (iv) have founded (either alone or with another or be a ‘C-suite’ executive within) a UK registered technology business employing a minimum of 2 employees (with a maximum of 2 people from your company being allowed to participate in the Programme) and (v) have been informed in writing by Barclays that you have been accepted on to the Programme.