Boxx, FoodLama, Ruka, and Sojo have been named winners of a joint initiative between the Black Founders Fund by Google for Startups and JCDecaux UK Reach. This initiative, focused on innovative, diverse founders, sees each awarded the prize of Out-of-Home (OOH) media funded by JCDecaux. Additionally, JCDecaux will provide each of the four winners with support with campaign planning, targeting and delivery to ensure each campaign is impactful and effective.
The four winners represent a wide range of sectors; fitness, food, beauty and fashion:
- Boxx: Combining boxing-inspired fitness with smart tech to provide a fun and accessible way to work out.
- FoodLama: Online grocery shopping with preferences, made easy.
- Ruka: The Ruka vision is to become the definitive hair brand for black women globally, by building an ecosystem of hair solutions which truly work.
- Sojo: A sustainable fashiontech startup centralising & modernising the clothing repair and tailoring industry.
While the prize was initially intended for two recipients, the quality of the shortlisted businesses saw the judges extend the award to four winners.
The four winners were selected from 26 UK-based recipients of the Black Founders Fund by Google for Startups.
The $4 million Google for Startups Black Founders Fund is awarded to Black-led tech startups to help tackle racial inequality of venture capital funding. The fund provides businesses with up to $100,000 in non-dilutive cash awards. The founders also take part in Google’s acceleration programme that includes leadership training, workshops, mentoring and access to a community of fellow founders with an “Ask me anything” support network.
“What this joint initiative demonstrates is the innovation and entrepreneurship being shown by Black-founded businesses today. Having recently launched our Reach programme to support ethnically-owned brands in growing their businesses and increase representation in OOH, it’s exciting to be working with Black-led businesses from a range of sectors and helping them use the power of Out-of-Home to drive awareness and build their brands”Thanh Catachanas Programme lead for JCDeaux UK Reach
"The fact that JCDecaux UK has doubled the number of prize recipients speaks to the high calibre of Black-led businesses on the Google for Startups Black Founders Fund programme, and we're delighted that the winners have earned this opportunity to share their incredible products and services with a wider audience. This programme will play a key role in setting these startups up for success, and we can't wait to see the impact that this support will have on their businesses.”Rachael Palmer Head of VC & Startup Partnerships EMEA, Google