#10
Let’s cut through the BS out there
Let’s cut through the BS out there
Fundraising in the UK as an immigrant founder is a different ballgame.
You don’t have the old school ties.
You don’t have a warm intro to some investor’s cousin.
And if one more VC asks whether you “really understand the UK market,” you might actually lose it.
There is money out there, and investors are backing immigrant founders.
They’re just not advertising it.
So where’s the real funding coming from?
Here’s what actually works:
Angel Investors Who Back Global Talent
- Ada Ventures – Invests in overlooked founders, including immigrants.
- Diversity VC-backed Angels – A network funding underrepresented founders.
- Angel Investment Network UK – Where a lot of first cheques come from if you know how to pitch.
VCs That Don’t Just Talk About Diversity, They Fund It
- Seedcamp – They don’t care where you’re from, just how big you can go.
- LocalGlobe – Backed immigrant-led companies that scaled beyond the UK.
- Pentech Ventures – If you’re building in tech, this one’s worth looking at.
Free Money (Yes, It Exists)
- Innovate UK Grants – If your start up is solving a big problem, they might fund it.
- Prince’s Trust Enterprise Programme – For under-30 founders, no UK passport required.
- British Business Bank’s Start Up Loans – They don’t need you to have an investor intro.
Investors in the UK are backing immigrant founders, but you won’t find them by pitching random VCs on LinkedIn.
You need to know where to look, how to position yourself, and which doors to knock on.
Need to get into the right rooms? Let’s make it happen.