OneTech

The decision by SHRM to drop "equity" from its DE&I strategy has sparked significant concern across the HR community. At OneTech, we believe in the power of equity as a cornerstone of a truly inclusive workplace ⚖️ Emma Joy Obanye, our CEO, recently shared her insights on this issue in WorkLife, emphasising that "changing an acronym is not going to make the noise go away." Removing the E doesn’t quiet the DEI naysayers, even if the acronym isn’t perfect. It's about implementing real actions that lead to genuine change. We're committed to maintaining our focus on equity, ensuring our initiatives promote fairness, celebrate diversity, and foster inclusive environments. Read more about Emma’s thoughts on this critical topic in the full article linked here: https://lnkd.in/gSZgdQ4i

“We’ve found that diverse founders are not just about building a business, they’re all about ‘how can we impact society in a positive way?’ Those are the types of businesses we need to be supporting, because we’re facing so many challenges, not just as a country but as a world.” ^ That was our CEO Emma Joy Obanye in The Times today. The article shines a spotlight on our OneTech alumni Trudie Fell of BelleVie | B Corp™, who is revolutionising social care with a community-based model, and Kike Oniwinde Agoro's BYP Network, which connects Black professionals globally, challenging corporate diversity norms. These two founders exemplify what we've always known at OneTech. Diverse entrepreneurs don't just build businesses - they solve critical societal problems.But here's the kicker—all-women teams received less than 2% of UK VC funding last year, and for Black female founders, it was a mere 0.14% over the past decade. This isn't just a diversity issue. It's a catastrophic missed opportunity for innovation and economic growth. At OneTech, we're tackling this head-on. There is no fluff or jargon—just practical support, genuine connections, and real opportunities for underrepresented founders. Thank you to Richard Tyler and Naomi Ackerman for giving these founders the spotlight they deserve. Want to know more? Read the full article here:  https://lnkd.in/eN-85BZb

The future of work is changing rapidly, with AI projected to replace 85 million jobs by next year. But there's one skill set AI can't replicate: an entrepreneurial mindset. At OneTech, we believe entrepreneurial education is critical for the next generation of innovators and job creators. It's not just about business plans and tax returns - it's about fostering creativity, problem-solving, and resilience. That's why Emma Joy Obanye created The StartUp Game, a digital and board game that simulates the journey of building a business. We've partnered with universities like University of Derby to bring this hands-on entrepreneurial experience to students across disciplines. Read more about Emma’s thoughts on this topic in Startups Magazine in the comments below.

Thanks to North London Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise and to all the founders who joined!

🚀Last chance to apply- Get ready to scale your business using business model innovation Under Amplify Ventures (a partnership between OneTech, Startup Discovery School Capital Enterprise and Foundervine), we're running another Business Model Innovation Module. Learn to scale by future-proofing and revolutionising your business model - hosted by Andy Davis, founder of 10x10 Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/e8sSaJGA

Our friends over at Colorintech are hosting Black Tech Fest, the annual tech gathering . This year by popular demand, they will be hosting their first summit dedicated to entrepreneurs and founders - The BUILD Summit at BTF 2024. The founders' summit is dedicated to entrepreneurs, Investors, policymakers and SMEs. Hear from trailblazing founders, investors and those who truly shape the future of the growth of our ecosystem. Gain insights on Fundraising, Scaling and Exiting from the most successful businesses in Europe. You'll get to:  - Accelerate your business plans at in-person workshops  - Attend panels on how successful CEOs raised capital  - Meet like-minded entrepreneurs Get your tickets for just £30 at JoinBTF.com/build

🚀 Get ready to scale your business using business model innovation Under Amplify Ventures (a partnership between OneTech, Startup Discovery School, Capital Enterprise, and Foundervine), we're running another Business Model Innovation Module. Learn to scale by future-proofing and revolutionising your business model - hosted by Andy Davis, founder of 10x10 Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/e8sSaJGA

“High-level promises and quotas are useful…but they’re meaningless if not backed up” Our CEO Emma Joy Obanye was recently featured in UNLEASH to highlight the critical role of data in advancing DEIB. At OneTech, we know that comprehensive data and regular review can help organisations improve diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. But achieving real progress is more than just lip service; it requires dedication to building a diverse organisation. Read more about the discussion here: https://lnkd.in/daF_3ncb

At the fab Local Government Chronicle ceremony last night, delighted that the 4-borough LIFT futures programme came home with the 'Highly Commended' Award for #EconomicDevelopment. 👏 The smiles at the table say it all, really. This is a team with such passion and creativity for driving inclusion in the #tech and #digital sector. Already, they've: - engaged over 7,000 people, with over 2,000 people into jobs, #internships and #employability programmes - with OneTech, incubated new entrepreneurs and helped local start-ups raise a whopping £3.4m investment - created new partnerships with the private sector - large and small - enabling #inclusive recruitment practices - supported an additional 15,000 sq ft of affordable workspace. They're just an amazing bunch. LIFT really shows the power of collaboration between the boroughs. We have so many businesses who want to do good on our doorstep - and the #LIFT programme makes it as easy as possible for them to do that for local people! In terms of inclusion, there's much more still to do. But last night was a moment for celebration, reflection and some laughter. Onwards! Islington Council | London Borough of Hackney | London Borough of Camden | London Borough of Tower Hamlets (Watch this space for the next instalment... 😉)

Congratulations to OneTech graduate Eva Magnisali and DataForm Lab for completing their £1.1M Seed Round! Eva is a graduate of OneTech's Build Your App Programme (in partnership with J.P. Morgan) and Access to Funding (in partnership with LIFT futures), and we couldn't be more proud to hear the delightful news 🚀