Ascend Accelerator

2025 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.
2.86M
Funding raised by cohort
84.6%
Minority-led businesses
50%
Female Founders
2.21M
Revenue earned
First Rate Tutors
First Rate Tutors
Tachyon AI
Tachyon AI
CANI
CANI
ROTHLEYS GROUP LTD
ROTHLEYS GROUP LTD
Techlerator
Techlerator
Mintelium
Mintelium
FYI Media
FYI Media
Contxt Media
Contxt Media
Metatalent.AI Ltd.
Metatalent.AI Ltd.
Our Lady of Greens
Our Lady of Greens
Ideas Genius Ltd t/a Unedited
Ideas Genius Ltd t/a Unedited
The Zoo XYZ
The Zoo XYZ
Twin City
Twin City
Frame Perfect, The Collective
Frame Perfect, The Collective
TESUUM LTD
TESUUM LTD
FirstTuch
FirstTuch
The Business Storytelling Centre
The Business Storytelling Centre
Hoja Ai
Hoja Ai
Gaia Pulses
Gaia Pulses
Samarkand Palav
Samarkand Palav
Opeyvariety
Opeyvariety
Generation C
Generation C
Lahira Lashes Ltd
Lahira Lashes Ltd
Mecantu Ltd
Mecantu Ltd
Kelp Social
Kelp Social
Smatch International Limited
Smatch International Limited

First Rate Tutors

Barbara Njau is the Founder of First Rate Tutors, an online education platform helping students achieve top grades through affordable, high-quality tutoring. Inspired by her own challenges in accessing educational support, Barbara created a solution that empowers learners to reach their full potential. Combining expert teaching, accessible resources, and digital innovation, First Rate Tutors ensures no student is left behind.
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Tachyon AI

Stuart Martin, Founder of Tachyon AI, leads a purpose-driven company transforming how the world views and values the Black perspective. Through storytelling, creativity, and community-driven innovation, Tachyon AI amplifies Black voices and culture, challenges stereotypes, and inspires global understanding—empowering the next generation of Black creators, thinkers, and leaders to shape the future.
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CANI

Barry Paisley, Founder of CANI, is building a blockchain-powered ecosystem redefining the creative economy by giving power back to artists. By removing middlemen from creation to distribution, CANI enables direct ownership, faster payments, and transparency. With $477,000 crowdfunded and 100 creators testing its tools, CANI is shaping a fairer, community-driven future for creatives.
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ROTHLEYS GROUP LTD

Jean Rumveye, Founder of MONOBRUSH, developed an innovative toilet cleaning system promoting hygiene and sustainability. Featuring flushable, biodegradable brush heads and an ergonomic side handle, it replaces traditional plastic brushes. Inspired by her nursing background, Jean created MONOBRUSH to enhance health safety, reduce waste, and make everyday cleaning smarter and eco-friendly.
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Techlerator

Fade Adeniyi is the Co-Founder and CEO of Techlerator, an award-winning HR tech company behind Xeruit, an AI-powered platform matching talent to roles and accelerating growth. With experience at Kroll, Reply, and Smartr365, she leads Techlerator’s strategy and partnerships, creating fair, data-driven hiring systems that empower professionals and organisations globally.
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Mintelium

Sashen Naicker, CEO of Mintelium, leads a decentralised data platform giving workers ownership of verified credentials. Using blockchain, AI, and self-sovereign identity, Mintelium secures data exchange between employers and employees via API or CRM integrations. The platform delivers automation, compliance, and 70% cost savings while enhancing security and privacy across HR system
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FYI Media

Patrick Zadok, Founder and CEO of FYI Media, leads a London-based digital out-of-home advertising company using fully electric vehicles with LED billboards. FYI Media delivers eco-friendly, high-visibility campaigns with live analytics and GDPR-compliant retargeting. With over 1.5 million weekly impressions, it’s setting new standards in sustainable, data-driven mobile advertising.
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Contxt Media

Edward French, Founder and CEO of Contxt Media, is transforming video advertising across CTV, FAST, and AVOD platforms. Using AI-powered natural language processing and computer vision, Contxt enables precise, cookie-free ad targeting. Its automated platform boosts efficiency, monetisation, and viewer experience, positioning Contxt Media as the data backbone of contextual video advertising.
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Metatalent.AI Ltd.

Rehan Haque, CEO of Metatalent.ai, leads an AI-powered Talent Intelligence platform revolutionising how companies match talent to roles. Using explainable AI and a proprietary skills graph, it automates sourcing, mobility, and career mapping. Metatalent.ai helps organisations make faster, smarter people decisions while promoting fairness, transparency, and growth in modern talent management.
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Our Lady of Greens

Blanca Peña-Méndez, Founder and CEO of Our Lady of Greens, leads a South West London start-up promoting healthy, sustainable living. Rooted in well-being, sustainability, community, and innovation, it creates practical solutions encouraging organic food growing and mindful living. Combining technology and nature, it empowers communities to live well and care for the planet.
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Ideas Genius Ltd t/a Unedited

Bernard Acheampong is the Founder and Director of Unedited, an award-winning audio production company amplifying underrepresented voices and transforming ideas into world-class content. With over 25 years in media and leadership at AudioUK, Bernard has delivered for Spotify and Amazon Music. Unedited pushes to position British audio as a global benchmark for creative excellence and cultural impact.
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The Zoo XYZ

Ongelique Sherman is the Executive Assistant to the CEO and Events Manager at The Zoo XYZ, a purpose-driven global event agency creating immersive, story-led experiences. The company partners with leading brands to authentically engage audiences while championing social sustainability through connecting local communities and diverse teams to deliver meaningful, unforgettable productions worldwide.
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Twin City

Jamiel Thompson is the Founder of Twin City, a members-only home swap network for creatives and design lovers. Active in 60 cities, the platform enables members to exchange homes, removing accommodation costs while promoting cultural connection. Focused on community-led travel and authentic experiences, Twin City celebrates creativity and design, redefining global travel for modern, conscious explorers.
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Frame Perfect, The Collective

Teelo Vasiliou is the Founder of Frame Perfect, The Collective, a hybrid fashion media production company that helps designers and brands realise their creative visions. Offering photography, film, and digital content, the company unites expert creatives under one roof. Frame Perfect streamlines production, saving time and cost while delivering high-impact fashion campaigns that inspire audiences and elevate brand identity.
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TESUUM LTD

Sisters Tess and Soom are the Founders of AWKN (TESUUM LTD), a wellness brand bridging traditional Korean remedies with modern lifestyles. Their signature detox recovery shot, made from eleven Korean superfoods, supports natural liver health and revitalisation. Rooted in cultural authenticity, AWKN combines heritage and science to promote holistic well-being and aims to share Korean wellness wisdom with the world.
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FirstTuch

Zeiynab Kane is the Founder and CEO of FirstTuch Inc., a company pioneering emotional technology to connect families. Her flagship product, Adori, shares pregnancy movements in real time, allowing loved ones to experience the journey together. With a background in media and business, Zeiynab is building an ecosystem of family-centered innovations redefining connection, care, and creativity worldwide.
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The Business Storytelling Centre

Beatrice Kabutakapua, Founder of The Business Storytelling Centre, leads a boutique leadership development organisation that helps global companies attract, retain, and engage talent through the power of storytelling. By combining communication strategy and leadership coaching, she equips leaders to inspire teams, strengthen culture, and drive meaningful organisational impact.
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Hoja Ai

Pavan Konanur is the Co-founder of Hoja AI, an education technology company transforming how students learn through AI-powered tutoring and interactive, gamified courses. With over 10,000 active users, Hoja personalises the learning journey to improve engagement and performance. Pavan and his team are reimagining digital learning to make quality education accessible globally.
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Gaia Pulses

Yolanda Antono is the Founder of Gaia Pulses, a sustainable food brand offering organic, ready-to-eat meals rooted in heritage recipes. Using wholesome ingredients like lentils, beans, and chickpeas, Gaia partners with retailers such as Planet Organic and Abel & Cole. Certified organic by the Soil Association, Gaia promotes nourishment, community, and environmental care through food that brings people home.
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Samarkand Palav

Sanoba Majidova is the Founder of Samarkand Palav, a family-run business sharing the culinary heritage of Central Asia. Its signature dish, Palav, is recognised by UNESCO as part of the world’s cultural heritage. Awarded for Best Dish (2023) and Best Storytelling (2024), Samarkand Palav creates authentic dining experiences that connect people, culture, and tradition through the art of food.
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Opeyvariety

Opeyemi Adeyemo is the Founder of OPV Beauty, a cosmetics brand celebrating diversity, creativity, and confidence. Through high-quality, cruelty-free products, OPV empowers individuals to express themselves boldly while embracing their unique beauty. With a mission rooted in inclusivity, Opeyemi champions beauty that inspires authenticity, self-expression, and empowerment across every shade, texture, and finish.
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Generation C

Ivor Tucker is the Founder of Generation C, an organisation bridging education and industry through sustainability-focused learning programmes. By integrating businesses’ climate solutions into school curriculums, Generation C equips students with practical green skills and companies with future-ready talent. Its technology-driven approach shifts recruitment from reactive hiring to proactive cultivation.
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Lahira Lashes Ltd

Zahira Odimayo is the Co-founder and CEO of Lahira Lashes, a beauty tech brand helping women find lashes suited to their eye shape. With over 20 years in the beauty industry, Zahira combines creativity and innovation to redefine the lash shopping experience. Lahira’s award-winning growth reflects her mission to empower women with confidence, convenience, and elevated beauty solutions.
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Mecantu Ltd

Kerron Parchment is the Founder of Mecantu, a wellness brand rooted in Jamaican tradition and dedicated to promoting health through authentic sea moss products. Mecantu’s offerings support energy, skin, and gut health, bridging natural remedies and modern wellness. Kerron’s mission is to share Jamaica’s rich heritage through simple, effective products that inspire vitality, balance, and connection with nature.
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Kelp Social

Mollie Kerr is the Founder and CEO of Kelp Social, a purpose-driven social media platform for animal lovers, ethical brands, and organisations. Combining gamification, affiliate marketing, and education, Kelp rewards positive engagement and advocacy. Mollie’s vision is to unite people and brands that care deeply about animals, inspiring compassion-driven communities both online and through real-world experiences.
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Smatch International Limited

Jasper Glenn is the Founder of Smatch, an AI-powered B2B trade network and marketplace simplifying global business communication. Designed for trade associations, SMEs, and enterprises, Smatch enables seamless networking, collaboration, and cross-border trade. With tools for messaging, smart quotes, and insights, Jasper is empowering millions of businesses to connect, communicate, and grow worldwide.
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