Join a supportive community of entrepreneurs and experts to get the support you need to launch, grow and scale your business.
Applications are now open!
Join a supportive community of entrepreneurs and experts to get the support you need to launch, grow and scale your business.
Applications are now open!
Addressing systemic inequalities and unlocking the entrepreneurial potential of Britain’s diverse communities
At Hatch Enterprise, we’re committed to dismantling the barriers that prevent ethnic minority entrepreneurs from accessing the same opportunities as their white counterparts. Our targeted programmes recognise that talent is equally distributed across all communities, but the systems and networks that enable business success are not. Yet despite this immense potential, they face a web of interconnected barriers that systematically limit their access to funding, networks, mentorship, and markets. The statistics reveal not a lack of ambition or capability, but a stark failure of our entrepreneurial ecosystem to serve all communities equally. This isn’t simply about fairness—it’s about economic necessity.
In an increasingly diverse Britain, businesses that understand and serve multicultural markets aren’t just socially responsible; they’re strategically positioned for the future. Ethnic minority entrepreneurs are uniquely placed to build these bridges, creating enterprises that reflect the full richness of modern British society whilst driving inclusive economic growth that benefits everyone.
I’ve had a lot of support which I’m really really grateful for. Sometimes it’s just small things where someone might say ‘oh have you tried this app or have you tried this platform’. Those little things will move the needle a little bit. What you learn from other founders, it’s really, really helpful.
Patrick Adom,
Founder of Very Puzzled and Incubator graduate
Ethnic minority entrepreneurs bring diverse perspectives, cultural insights, and innovative solutions to the UK economy, yet they face compounding disadvantages that reflect the systemic exclusion from business networks and financial systems. The challenges they encounter aren’t coincidental—they’re the predictable result of institutions that weren’t built with diverse communities in mind.
The obstacles facing ethnic minority entrepreneurs reveal deep structural inequalities that persist across every aspect of the business ecosystem:
When barriers are removed, ethnic minority entrepreneurs don’t just participate—they transform industries:
The evidence is clear: supporting ethnic minority entrepreneurs isn’t about social responsibility—it’s about economic necessity in an increasingly diverse Britain.
The stark disparities in funding access, business outcomes, and systemic support represent not just individual hardships, but a massive economic inefficiency that costs the UK billions in unrealised potential. When ethnic minority entrepreneurs do succeed despite these barriers, they consistently outperform their white counterparts in innovation rates, export activity, and community reinvestment—demonstrating that the problem lies not with entrepreneurial capability, but with the structures designed to support it. Every percentage point increase in ethnic minority business ownership could unlock thousands of new enterprises, countless jobs, and innovative solutions to challenges that mainstream businesses have failed to address.
We can continue perpetuating a system that wastes extraordinary talent, or we can redesign our entrepreneurial ecosystem to harness the full economic potential of Britain’s diverse communities.
4.4%
Only 4.4% of UK businesses are ethnic minority-led, despite ethnic minorities comprising 14% of the population
39%
Only 39% of Black entrepreneurs receive approval for their loan applications, compared to 67% of White entrepreneurs.
It’s been an amazing, incredible journey. The things I’ve learnt have been so helpful and useful. It’s not just about what you learn, it’s also about the opportunities, and that’s what I was looking for, a network of people and opportunities to grow my business. I was exposed to people and opportunities – and still am – who help me grow and take my vision to the next level. You have a team of people there [at Hatch] who are genuinely passionate about helping you grow, and that’s why I’m proud to be a Hatch graduate.
Sophie Ukor,
Founder of Violet Simon and Incubator graduate.
At Hatch Enterprise, we recognise that effective support for ethnic minority led businesses requires more than generic business advice—it demands a fundamental understanding of how racism, cultural expectations, and systemic exclusion shape the entrepreneurial journey.
Our methodology acknowledges that ethnic minority founders often navigate complex dynamics while building businesses. They may face pressure from families unfamiliar with UK business culture, encounter subtle discrimination in professional settings, or struggle to access networks that operate through unspoken cultural codes and established relationships that exclude newcomers.
We’ve developed an approach that celebrates cultural strengths while addressing systemic disadvantages. Our programmes create spaces where ethnic minority entrepreneurs can be authentic about their experiences, leverage their cultural knowledge and international connections as business assets, and develop strategies for navigating predominantly white business environments where they may be the only person who looks like them in the room.
Each cohort is designed to reflect the specific needs of its participants, whether that means understanding the unique challenges facing different ethnic communities, addressing intersectional barriers for ethnic minority women, or creating safe spaces to discuss experiences of racism and discrimination in business contexts whilst building practical solutions to overcome them.
Hatch absolutely had a positive impact on me as a founder, especially being able to get feedback on the initial idea and creating a network by meeting new people. I think founders know exactly what other founders are going through, so we automatically seek out that community. It’s great to see the founder communities grow and flourish.
Murvah Iqbal,
Founder of HIVEDWhile we support entrepreneurs of all backgrounds, we specialise in empowering ethnic minority founders—a focus informed by years of understanding the specific challenges these communities face. Over the past decade, more than 60% of the founders who have completed our programmes have been from ethnic minority backgrounds, giving us deep insight into the barriers they encounter. We understand the unique challenges ethnic minority entrepreneurs navigate: from accessing funding networks that lack diversity to overcoming unconscious bias in business settings, from leveraging cultural knowledge as a competitive advantage to managing family expectations around traditional career paths.
This extensive experience, combined with input from our diverse team and community of ethnic minority entrepreneurs, has shaped programmes that don’t just acknowledge these challenges—they’re designed to turn them into strengths. Through ongoing feedback from our community of thousands of ethnic minority founders, we’ve created a methodology that celebrates cultural diversity while building the skills needed to succeed in any business environment.
We offer a range of programmes tailored to different stages of the entrepreneurial journey:
For those with a business idea looking to start their entrepreneurial journey
For founders with established businesses looking to grow sustainably
For established businesses ready to scale their impact and operations
Our sessions are delivered by industry experts with relevant experience, providing practical knowledge that can be immediately applied to your business
Small cohorts of like-minded entrepreneurs create supportive communities where founders can share experiences, challenges, and solutions with others who understand their journey.
From one-to-one support to tailored feedback on business plans, we ensure every founder receives the specific guidance they need to succeed.
Our focus is on actionable strategies and tools that can be implemented straightaway, creating real progress throughout the programme.
Our programmes incorporate carefully designed accessibility features that address the specific barriers many disabled and neurodivergent entrepreneurs face:
We continuously improve these features based on what our participants tell us works best for them – because accessible support means listening to the people who know their needs best.
148%
increase in their ability to access needed funding
108%
increase in their ability to communicate the impact of their business
89%
improvement in measuring their business finances
Hatch was the beginning, the very first step and conception of Brainspark Games. I’m a great fan of Hatch, it was a fantastic start for me. I feel that it’s really important for women to see other women from diverse backgrounds in the sector
Reedah El-Saie,
Founder of Brainspark Games
We’re committed to removing financial barriers to entrepreneurship: