OneTech, a non-profit organisation that supports underrepresented tech founders in London, has announced the appointment of a former Tech Nation executive as its new director. Amrit Kang, who was the head of partnerships and engagement at Tech Nation, will lead OneTech’s strategy and operations, and help the organisation achieve its vision of creating a more inclusive and diverse tech ecosystem in the capital.
OneTech is a non-profit organisation that was launched in 2018 by Capital Enterprise, a body that represents and supports the tech and startup community in London. OneTech’s mission is to increase the representation and success of tech founders from underrepresented groups, such as women, people of colour, people from low-income backgrounds, and people with disabilities.
OneTech provides various programmes and services to support the underrepresented tech founders, such as:
- Mentoring and coaching, which connects the founders with experienced mentors and coaches who can offer guidance, feedback, and advice on their business ideas and challenges.
- Training and workshops, which equip the founders with the skills and knowledge they need to start and grow their businesses, such as product development, marketing, fundraising, and pitching.
- Networking and events, which create opportunities for the founders to meet and connect with other founders, investors, partners, and experts, and to showcase their businesses and achievements.
- Funding and access, which help the founders access the funding and resources they need to scale their businesses, such as grants, loans, competitions, and accelerators.
OneTech also conducts research and advocacy to raise awareness and influence policy on the issues and barriers that affect the underrepresented tech founders, and to promote the benefits and opportunities of a more inclusive and diverse tech ecosystem.
OneTech: What It Has Achieved and What It Aims For
OneTech has achieved impressive results and impact since its inception, such as:
- Supporting over 1,000 underrepresented tech founders through its programmes and services, and helping them create over 300 jobs and raise over £20 million in funding.
- Increasing the number of women-led startups in south London by 358%, and the number of Black-led startups by 186%, according to a report by Nesta.
- Winning several awards and recognitions, such as the Diversity Initiative of the Year at the 2020 UK Business Tech Awards, and the Best Diversity and Inclusion Programme at the 2020 Tech London Advocates Awards.
OneTech aims to continue and expand its work and impact, and has set ambitious goals for the future, such as:
- Supporting 10,000 underrepresented tech founders by 2025, and helping them create 5,000 jobs and raise £100 million in funding.
- Increasing the representation of underrepresented tech founders in London to 20% by 2025, and to 30% by 2030, according to the Mayor of London’s Tech Manifesto.
- Creating a more inclusive and diverse tech ecosystem in London, and inspiring and influencing other cities and regions to follow suit.
OneTech: Who It Is Led and Supported By
OneTech is led and supported by a team of passionate and experienced professionals, who share the vision and values of the organisation, and who bring diverse backgrounds and perspectives to the table. The team includes:
- Amrit Kang, the new director of OneTech, who has over 15 years of experience in the tech and startup sector, and who was previously the head of partnerships and engagement at Tech Nation, the UK’s leading network for tech entrepreneurs and scaleups.
- Sarah Luxford, the chair of OneTech, who is a co-founder and director of TLA Women in Tech, a network that champions and supports women in the tech industry, and who is also a partner at Nexec Leaders, an executive search firm for tech companies.
- John Spindler, the founder and CEO of Capital Enterprise, the organisation that launched OneTech, and who is also a co-founder and director of AI Seed, a fund that invests in early-stage AI startups.
OneTech is also supported by various partners and sponsors, who provide funding, resources, and expertise to the organisation, and who share its commitment and vision for a more inclusive and diverse tech ecosystem. Some of the partners and sponsors include:
- J.P. Morgan, a global financial services firm, which is the founding and lead partner of OneTech, and which supports OneTech’s programmes and services, such as the FoundersDoor pre-accelerator, the Female Founders Academy, and the OneTech Talent programme.
- The Mayor of London, who is the patron of OneTech, and who supports OneTech’s goals and initiatives, such as the Mayor’s Resilience Fund, which provides grants to tech solutions that address the challenges and opportunities of the COVID-19 recovery.
- Microsoft for Startups, a global programme that provides technical and business support to startups, which is a partner of OneTech, and which supports OneTech’s programmes and services, such as the Microsoft for Startups London Accelerator, which is open to underrepresented tech founders.
For more information on OneTech and its programmes and services, visit uktech.news.
