What UKBlackTech does

UKBlackTech (UKBT) is a UK non-profit community innovation organisation founded in 2017 and headquartered in London, with regional hubs in the Midlands and an expanding footprint across Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham, West Yorkshire, the Humber and Newcastle. Its stated mission is to make the UK the most ethnically diverse tech ecosystem in the world. The organisation operates a community innovation platform serving Black and underrepresented tech professionals, alongside employer and institutional partners seeking access to diverse talent, speakers and audiences.

The core platform consists of an Innovation Hub showcasing diverse innovators and startups, a Speaker Database of 30+ speakers, a Jobs Board reaching 14,000+ professionals with paid listings (£249 per post / £1,100 for five), an Articles blog, a Toolkit resource hub, and a Discord/Meetup community. Underlying technology is non-proprietary — the value sits in the curated community, content, events and partnership network rather than in a software product. Supporting programmes include the Peckham Digital Accelerator Zone (DAZ) for digital skills training, the UKBT Institute (research and tech beyond DEI), and the 2025-launched Women's Health Venture Builder in partnership with Diverse & Equal, WIRED Consulting and CGI.

The business model is a hybrid of non-profit sponsorship/partnership revenue and small commercial fees. Revenue streams comprise (i) bespoke event hosting services for organisations, (ii) sponsorship packages for events, articles, roundtables and reports, (iii) advertising placements on the website and social channels, and (iv) self-serve paid job board listings. The customer base is two-sided: organisations/businesses seeking diverse tech talent or DEI engagement on one side, and Black/ethnic-minority tech professionals and founders seeking visibility, training and employment on the other. Distribution is primarily community-led, event-driven and direct sales to enterprise and government partners (Microsoft, PwC, HSBC UK, CGI, KPMG, Sony Music, Southwark Council, Hull City Council, LSBU, UAL, Leeds University, among others).

Name

UKBlackTech

Legal name

UKBlackTech

Website

https://ukblacktech.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

UKBlackTech is a UK non-profit community innovation organisation founded in 2017 that runs a 20,000+-member platform connecting Black and underrepresented tech professionals with employers, sponsors and event partners through a jobs board, speaker database, innovation hub, and 35+ annual events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Diversity-focused Tech Community Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (61171), Business Associations (81391)

akta.pro primary industry

STEM, Digital Literacy & Maker Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Education Access & EdTech for Equity (Low-cost Learning, Skills Platforms) (BPAGALAH), Professional & Business Services Marketplaces (Freelancers, SMB Services) (BPAMAHAG)

Keywords

• Diversity tech community
• Tech event hosting
• Jobs board marketplace
• Innovation showcase platform
• Speaker database services

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Services — Event Hosting: UKBT offers event hosting services to organisations, including professional event planning, speaker sourcing, venue sourcing (optional), and multi-channel promotion. This is a service-fee-based revenue stream.
2. Sponsorship: Organisations can sponsor UKBT events, articles, roundtables, or reports to gain brand visibility and credibility with a targeted tech and innovation audience.
3. Advertising: UKBT sells advertising placements for job listings, events, and informational content on its website and across social media channels.
4. Job Board Listings: Employers pay to post jobs on UKBT's platform. Listings run for 30 days. Pricing is tiered: £249 for a single post or £1,100 for five posts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

UKBlackTech is a nonprofit community innovation organization that delivers services to advance Black and underrepresented talent in the UK tech sector. Its core offerings include professional event hosting (with speaker sourcing and venue sourcing), sponsorship packages for events and articles, a paid jobs board reaching 14,000+ professionals, an Innovation Hub showcasing diverse innovators and startups, and a curated Speaker Database for booking. The organization does not sell its own software; its value is delivered through community, events, and curated digital platforms.

Product overview

UKBlackTech is a technology innovation group offering a portfolio of services focused on advancing diverse talent in the UK tech ecosystem. The core offerings include an Event Hosting Service for professional event management with speaker sourcing and promotion; Sponsorship Opportunities for events, articles, roundtables, and reports; a Content Advertising Platform for job listings and events; a Jobs Board reaching 14,000+ professionals; an Innovation Hub platform showcasing tech innovators and startups; a Speaker Database for event booking; free Stock Photos under Creative Commons license; and a Toolkit of curated learning resources. These services work together to support, promote, and represent diverse innovators and tech talent across the UK.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• UKBT Institute: Research and tech initiative focused on research beyond the DEI movement
• Peckham Digital Accelerator Zone (DAZ)
• Women's Health Venture Builder
• 100 Year Plan

Products and services

• Event Hosting Services Professional event hosting tailored to client needs, including speaker sourcing from UKBT's extensive network, optional venue sourcing for in-person events, and comprehensive promotion across the events platform and social media channels. Targeted at organisations that want to engage diverse tech audiences.
• Sponsorship Opportunities Sponsorship packages for events, articles, roundtable discussions, and in-depth reports, providing brand visibility and credibility while connecting sponsors with industry leaders in the diverse tech community.
• Content Advertising Platform Platform for advertising job listings, events, and information content, with targeted promotions and multi-channel exposure across UKBT's website and social media channels.
• Jobs Board Job listing platform reaching over 14,000 professionals, ranging from new graduates to senior-level technicians. Job postings cost £249 for a single post or £1,100 for five; listings run for 30 days. Targeted at employers seeking diverse Black and underrepresented tech talent.
• Innovation Hub Showcase platform for tech innovators and startups, featuring profiles with location, type, speaker availability, and links to individual innovator pages. Innovators and startups can self-nominate to be featured.
• Speaker Database Database of event speakers, keynote speakers, motivational speakers, and conference facilitators available for booking for conferences, schools, webinars, and events. Organisations can request speakers via online request forms.
• Stock Photos Collection of 50 diverse, free stock photos licensed under Creative Commons 2.0, available for personal and commercial use with attribution required.
• Toolkit Curated collection of learning resources, training materials, and opportunities including coding tutorials, founder support programs, campaigns, and media content such as Coding Black Females, Learn to Code, OneTech, and Scott Spence Tutorials.

Quantifiable outcome

• 80 professionals attended UKBT's last innovation showcase
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

28 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Economist ImpactcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 March 2026UKBT is a partner for the AI for CFOs Summit (March 24, 2026) and AI & Business Innovation Summit (March 25, 2026), hosted by Economist Impact at Convene 155 Bishopsgate, London. UKBT's involvement brings diverse tech perspectives to these enterprise-level AI summits.
• Diverse & EqualcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2025UKBT partnered with Diverse & Equal to co-launch a Women's Health Venture Builder programme with support from WIRED Consulting. The programme is a 24-month initiative supporting 12 community-grounded innovators in Leeds and Manchester to tackle overlooked women's health challenges. Diverse & Equal provides mentorship, guidance, and collaborative support, with backing from academic partners, NHS innovation networks, and UKBT Institute.
• WIRED ConsultingminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 December 2025WIRED Consulting (Condé Nast) hosted the official launch of the Women's Health Venture Builder at WIRED's London headquarters, providing venue and hosting support for the event.
• BPI & Sony Music & CastRoomsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 June 2025UKBT partnered with BPI, Sony Music, and CastRooms for the Music x Tech event on 9 June 2025 at Bradford University and online, exploring music technology and innovation.
• Tech Show LondoncoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025UKBT is an official partner for Tech Show London 2025 (March 12–13, 2025, at ExCeL London). UKBT Institute residents will share expertise on AI, data, and tech innovation. The partnership includes five co-located shows: Cloud & AI Infrastructure, DevOps Live, Cloud & Cyber Security Expo, Big Data & AI World, and Data Centre World.
• MicrosoftcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUKBT partnered with Microsoft to explore solutions around COVID-19, demonstrating Microsoft's support for diverse tech community initiatives.
• PwCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUKBT partnered with PwC to travel around the UK supporting local communities in tech. PwC also supported UKBT with Apprenticeship Level 6 and Level 7 courses and has team members (Dara Kirton) on the UKBT collective.
• LSBU University (London South Bank University)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUKBT collaborates with LSBU University's Computer Science Department across 5 institutions. The partnership involves talent development, innovation programmes, and academic collaboration to support diverse students in tech.
• Future Learn, Tech Mums & Leeds UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUKBT collaborated with Future Learn, Tech Mums, and Leeds University to design and create 16 digital courses focused on diverse innovation, expanding digital skills education across the UK.
• UAL Creative Computing InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUKBT partnered with the Creative Computing Institute at University of the Arts London to deliver the Peckham Digital Accelerator Zone (DAZ), part of the wider Click Start initiative. The programme provides AI, data, and web development training to young people from diverse backgrounds.
• Southwark CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSouthwark Council supported community-based tech initiatives, including the Peckham Digital Accelerator Zone (DAZ) programme delivered in partnership with UKBT and UAL.
• Hull City CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHull City Council supported community-based tech initiatives as part of UKBT's expanding regional presence in the UK.
• Sony Music & Digital CatapultminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUKBT collaborated with Sony Music and Digital Catapult through the Black Founders Programme, supporting emerging Black entrepreneurs in the UK.
• Leeds Digital FestivalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerUKBT attended and participated in Leeds Digital Festival 2024, engaging with the Yorkshire regional tech community across over 200 events.
• CivominorGTM or Marketing PartnerCivo hosted UKBT's Christmas Social event, bringing together over 100 community members to celebrate collective progress and network for future collaborations. UKBT also held a Women's Health event at Civo in Shoreditch.
• King's College London / NHS South-East LondonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUKBT held a hackathon with NHS South-East London during London Data Week at King's College London, focusing on health tech innovation.
• TLA (Tech London Advocates), GLA & London Tech WeekminorGTM or Marketing PartnerUKBT collaborated with TLA, GLA (Greater London Authority), and London Tech Week to launch London Borough Day, promoting digital skills and upskilling across London boroughs.
• Bloomberg Tech LondoncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerUKBT participated in and covered Bloomberg Tech London 2024, a major global technology conference. UKBT's Mark Martin attended and provided event reviews, increasing visibility for diverse tech voices.
• Design MuseumminorGTM or Marketing PartnerUKBT hosted a Sickle Cell Hackathon at The Design Museum, bringing together doctors, data scientists, patients, and web developers to address health challenges through technology.
• AFBE-UK (Engineering)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUKBT (Tech) teamed up with AFBE-UK (Engineering) to profile 10 inventors in their respective fields, promoting cross-sector innovation and representation.
• Go CardlessminorGTM or Marketing PartnerUKBT participated in the Go Cardless BHM (Black History Month) panel discussing the intersection of technology and Black history.
• BYP HealthminorGTM or Marketing PartnerUKBT contributed to the BYP Health Event, showcasing diverse stories within the tech space focused on health technology.
• Tech UKminorGTM or Marketing PartnerUKBT attended Tech UK's Regional Tech Spotlight on West Yorkshire event, gaining insights on supply chain and procurement in the public sector.
• Kingsley Napley LLPminorGTM or Marketing PartnerKingsley Napley LLP contributed content to UKBT's 'Lifecycle of a Tech Startup' series (Episodes 4), providing legal guidance on preparing to raise investment.
• HSBC UKminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHSBC UK and UK Black Business Show announced a partnership for Black entrepreneurs, with UKBT involved as a key technology ecosystem partner.
• KPMGminorGTM or Marketing PartnerKPMG hosted the Women in Leeds Digital (WILD) Social & Careers Digital Drop-in Clinic where UKBT's Phil Benson spoke to diverse talent about tech careers.
• Ai Summit / CogXminorGTM or Marketing PartnerUKBT actively participated in major conferences including the Ai Summit and CogX, contributing to discussions on the role of AI and innovation in tech.
• BTA Awards (UK Black Business Show & UK Black Business Week)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerUKBT is a proud supporter of the BTA Awards since inception. UKBT promoted the BTA Top 50, the first definitive list of the most influential Black professionals in UK tech, launched by the BTA Awards in 2026.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• OneTech: UK community organisation tackling underrepresentation in tech through events, training, and employer engagement; directly comparable to UKBT in scope, geography, and audience.
• Colorintech: UK nonprofit helping underrepresented people enter and lead in tech via events, mentorship, and employer connections; closely comparable to UKBT in mission, community-led model, and corporate partnership strategy.
• Coding Black Females: UK-based nonprofit community supporting Black women in tech through mentorship, training, and networking — directly comparable to UKBT as a community-led DEI tech organisation in the UK with overlapping member base and corporate partnership model.
• Tech Talent Charter: UK industry-led membership body driving diversity and inclusion in tech hiring; comparable to UKBT on the employer/DEI side with overlapping corporate partner ecosystem.
• AFBE-UK: Association for Black and Minority Ethnic Engineers in the UK, focused on STEM education, professional development, and industry engagement — directly comparable to UKBT's STEM/diversity mission and enterprise partnership approach.

Others

• Digital Catapult: UK innovation agency that runs the Black Founders Programme alongside UKBT (Sony Music partnership); comparable as a tech innovation/inclusion ecosystem partner rather than a direct competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Women Who Code: Global nonprofit focused on women in tech with events, jobs board, and training programmes — a larger, broader peer covering a different demographic but with highly analogous operating model (community + events + jobs + sponsors).
• UK Black Business Show: Larger UK platform celebrating Black entrepreneurship through events, awards, and media; broader than UKBT but overlapping in audience and corporate sponsorship ecosystem (UKBT is a partner/supporter).

Regional players

• Blacks in Technology: US-based community organisation supporting Black professionals in tech with comparable community/events/jobs model, but operating primarily in North America rather than the UK.

Emerging players

• Inclusive Tech Alliance: Emerging UK network focused on inclusive hiring and retention in tech, overlapping with UKBT's employer-services and jobs board value proposition but smaller and more recently established.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/UKBlackTech
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ukblacktech
• Instagraminstagram.com/ukblacktech

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about UKBlackTech