Black Business Fund

What Black Business Fund does

Black Business Fund is a dedicated support programme for Black-owned small businesses in the United Kingdom, established by Uber Eats in collaboration with Be Inclusive Hospitality and Enterprise Nation. Functionally, it operates as a focused distribution layer on top of Enterprise Nation's broader small business support platform, which connects more than 500,000 UK entrepreneurs and small business owners to funding discovery, learning resources, networking groups, and flagship events such as the annual StartUp Show. The programme sits within a wider ecosystem that also includes AI-powered funding recommendations (StartRight), partnerships with Capitalise and Experian giving access to 100+ lenders, and commissioned delivery of the UK government's Help to Grow: Management Course alongside Newable and the Association of Business Mentors.

The underlying technology is Enterprise Nation's web-based community platform, which combines personal dashboards, funding discovery tools, a learning management system with e-learning courses and recorded lunch-and-learn webinars, online community forums organised by topic and region, a peer-to-peer Service Swap Shop for bartering skills, and a StartRight AI tool that converts natural-language business descriptions into personalised funding suggestions. The AI layer is positioned as a feature rather than a core architectural element: it wraps the Capitalise lender catalogue and Experian credit-profile signal rather than running on a disclosed proprietary model.

The business model is freemium at the platform level, with free basic membership for SMB owners and a paid Adviser Membership tier at £20 per month or £192 per year (20% annual discount) that grants business advisers, coaches, and consultants enhanced profile visibility, the ability to publish services and host events, and speaking opportunities. Monetisation beyond subscriptions depends on enterprise partnerships and sponsorships with NatWest, Google, JP Morgan, Sage, TikTok, EDF, VistaPrint, Canva, Square, Constant Contact, and HM Government, plus affiliate-style referral economics through Capitalise (where over £1 billion in funding has been facilitated to 8,500+ small businesses). No revenue, headcount, funding rounds, or ownership structure are disclosed for either Black Business Fund or its operating partner.

Name

Black Business Fund

Legal name

Enterprise Nation Limited

Website

https://enterprisenation.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Black Business Fund is a UK programme set up by Uber Eats with Be Inclusive Hospitality and Enterprise Nation to support Black-owned small businesses through funding discovery, learning, and community resources.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Small Business Grants and Support

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Other Grantmaking and Giving Services (813219)

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate Foundations & CSR Grantmaking (BPAGAKAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Grantmaking & Philanthropic Funds (Institutional Donors) (BPADAOAB), Social Impact & Inclusive Finance Funds (FSANAJAH)

Keywords

• Small business grants
• Entrepreneur funding programs
• Business support services
• Black-owned business grants
• Hospitality business funding

Headquarters

HQ city

Maidenhead

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Adviser Membership: Premium tier membership for business advisers at £20/month or £192/year (save 20%). Includes enhanced profile visibility, ability to publish services, host events, and access exclusive business building opportunities.
2. Funding Platform Referrals: Partnership with Capitalise providing funding recommendations. Capitalise has helped 8,500 small businesses access over £1 billion in funding through the platform.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Black Business Fund is a grant and support initiative set up by Uber Eats in collaboration with Be Inclusive Hospitality and Enterprise Nation, targeted at Black-owned businesses in the UK. It is delivered through the Enterprise Nation platform, providing eligible small businesses with funding, business support resources, learning content, networking, and access to a community of over 500,000 UK small business owners.

Product overview

Enterprise Nation operates as a comprehensive small business support platform offering both free and paid membership tiers. The core offering includes the Start right AI-powered funding recommendation tool, a Funding Discovery Platform partnered with Capitalise (accessing 100+ lenders), and various campaigns (NatWest Accelerator, Google Digital Garage, Supply Connect). Learning resources encompass Lunch and Learn webinars and e-learning courses. Community features include member groups for networking (Women in Business network, Finance, Marketing groups) and the Service Swap Shop for peer skill exchange. The Adviser Membership (£20/month or £192/year) provides enhanced visibility for business advisers with profile showcasing, event hosting, and speaking opportunities. The Help to Grow: Management Mentorship programme, delivered in partnership with Newable and the Association of Business Mentors for the UK government, provides 10-hour mentorship to growing businesses. Tools and partner offers include exclusive discounts on energy (EDF) and talent hiring (Unibeez). The platform culminates in the annual StartUp Show flagship event featuring multiple stages and expert speakers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Black Business Fund
• Start right AI-powered tool that generates personalised business funding recommendations for users, including Black Business Fund applicants, by describing their business in their own words.
• Enterprise Nation Membership Free membership tier providing access to the member section, learning resources, events, networking groups, personalised dashboard, and funding recommendations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 8,500+ small businesses accessed over £1 billion in funding through Capitalise partnership
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship, major and minor.

• CapitalisecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFunding partner providing platform access to 100+ lenders. Capitalise has helped 8,500 small businesses access over £1 billion in funding. Platform provides credit profile monitoring through Experian partnership.
• NatWestflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerNatWest Accelerator programme offered through Enterprise Nation, providing nationwide founder community, co-working hubs, events, and expert support for members.
• VodafonemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner providing digital tools and technology support for small businesses. Google Digital Garage workshops hosted by Google through the platform.
• GooglemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerGoogle Digital Garage providing free in-person digital skills workshops with expert coaching on growing a small business and reaching new customers.
• EDFmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerEnergy partner offering exclusive tariffs for Enterprise Nation members with reward incentives for finding best business energy deals.
• JP Morgan Chase & ComajorGTM or Marketing PartnerTrusted partner supporting small business community through campaigns and initiatives.
• SagemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerAccounting software partner supporting small business members with financial tools and resources.
• SquareminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPayment processing partner for small business operations.
• TikTokmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerTikTok Shop partnership for small businesses to access social commerce tools and reach new customers through TikTok's platform.
• VistaPrintminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPrinting and design partner offering member discounts for business branding and marketing materials.
• CanvaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDesign platform partner providing visual content creation tools for members.
• HM GovernmentflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerGovernment partner providing funding programmes and support schemes for small businesses across the UK.
• NewablecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelivery partner for Help to Grow: Management Course alongside Enterprise Nation and Association of Business Mentors, commissioned by UK government BEIS.
• Association of Business MentorscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraining provider for mentors in the Help to Grow: Management programme. Provides compulsory training for mentors joining the programme.
• Small Business CharterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAccreditation body supporting delivery of Help to Grow programme and small business development.
• Constant ContactflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerDigital marketing platform sponsor of StartUp Show. Partnership for TV ad competition offering £300,000 combined marketing support and TV advertising on Channel 4 for small businesses.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Tory Burch Foundation: Foundation backing women entrepreneurs through grants, education, and networks. Comparable as a corporate-backed philanthropic programme providing capital and capability-building to underrepresented founders.
• Backstage Capital: US-based VC fund investing in underrepresented founders including Black, women, and LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs. Comparable as a capital-deployment mechanism focused specifically on founders from underrepresented groups.

Broad incumbents

• Startup Grind: Global startup community running events, content, and programmes for entrepreneurs. Comparable in community-led SMB education and networking, with events serving as a primary engagement channel — similar to Enterprise Nation's StartUp Show.
• Start Up Loans: UK government-backed scheme providing personal loans and mentoring to early-stage entrepreneurs. Comparable as a publicly-supported capital-plus-mentorship intervention for new UK SMB founders.
• British Business Bank: UK government development bank delivering programmes like Start Up Loans and smaller-business funding. Comparable as a state-backed facilitator of capital to UK SMBs and underrepresented founders.

Direct peers

• Enterprise Nation: Enterprise Nation is the operational platform hosting the Black Business Fund. As a UK SMB support platform with 500,000+ members, it is the most direct operational peer — comparable in community-led SMB support, learning resources, and funding facilitation.
• Google for Startups Black Founders Fund: Google's Black Founders Fund provides cash grants and support to Black-led startups in the US, Europe and Africa. Directly comparable as a corporate-backed CSR grantmaking programme supporting Black entrepreneurs via cash awards and ecosystem support.
• Federation of Small Businesses (FSB): FSB is the UK's largest membership organisation for small businesses, offering advice, networking, lobbying, and benefits. Comparable as a UK SMB community platform with similar membership and partner-funded economics.
• Small Business Britain: UK organisation supporting small businesses with a focus on underrepresented groups. Comparable in mission and audience — community and resources for UK SMBs including women, ethnic minorities, and disadvantaged founders.
• Be Inclusive Hospitality: Co-collaborator on the Black Business Fund, Be Inclusive Hospitality is a UK industry body supporting Black professionals in the hospitality sector. Directly comparable as the specialist industry partner addressing the same target community.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/enterprisenation
• Facebookfacebook.com/EnterpriseNation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/enterprise-nation
• Instagraminstagram.com/enterprisenation
• TikToktiktok.com/@enterprisenation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments10 records

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

Frequently asked questions about Black Business Fund