People of colour and young women face many challenges when they’re dreaming to become entrepreneurs. Izzy Obeng is the founder and director of Foundervine, a social enterprise who specialise in start-up and scale-up acceleration programmes for founders from disadvantaged communities in the United Kingdom and Africa. “I was working in corporate at the time, in talent development consulting at KPMG. I was absolutely fed up of going to start-up events and being the only person of colour and one of very few women.” Foundervine’s programmes address the social and economic inequality that’s faced by women, ethnic minorities and young adults (18-30) from disadvantaged backgrounds when starting a business.

In this Episode together with Izzy were are going to talk about inclusive entrepreneurship. The challenges young women and young people of colour experience in starting a business, how Foundervine is supporting these disadvantaged communities and what development cooperation can learn from inclusive entrepreneurship. 

Izzy Obeng is the Founder and Director of Foundervine. Foundervine was featured in the BBC, Times, Telegraph and TedX and Izzy shared her successtory with Prins Harry and Meghan Markle. Izzy started her career at professional services firm KPMG, where  she delivered transformation projects  for some of the world’s largest brands, to help build organisations that  are great places to work for people. She now leads Foundervine and holds an enterprise advisory role within the University of London.  She is a passionate diversity campaigner and is committed supporting small business creation across the UK and Africa.

If you’re interested in the work of Foundervine across Africa, feel free to reach out at [email protected]