Amplify Venture: Midway Through a Collaborative Initiative for Entrepreneurial Diversity

people sitting around a table

Loughborough University London is celebrating a key milestone in its evaluation of the Amplify Venture project, a collaborative initiative designed to support underrepresented business founders.

The research is being carried out by a dedicated team: Vanessa Brown (PhD candidate and lead researcher), Julie Sane-Pezet (research consultant), Jennie Wong (project manager), and Dr. Angela Martinez Dy (research supervisor). Together, they are ensuring that the project meets its goals to drive sustainable change in London’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

What is Amplify Venture?

Amplify Venture, in collaboration with OneTech, Foundervine, and Startup Discovery School, is a program designed to support 120 business owners from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities, women, and individuals from diverse socio-economic backgrounds. Over its 18-month duration, the initiative seeks to create 50 new jobs and foster inclusivity and growth within London’s startup sector.

Learn more about Amplify Venture.

Key milestone: Theory of Change Workshop

At this midway point, the Loughborough University London team hosted an online Theory of Change (TOC) workshop, gathering participants and stakeholders from four continents. This global effort was vital in refining the project’s evaluation framework, ensuring it accurately captures the program’s impact on its diverse participants.
 
“Having such a diverse mix of voices has enriched our evaluation process,” said Brown. “The workshop allowed us to clarify goals and ensure we’re addressing the unique needs of the underrepresented business owners Amplify Ventures is supporting.”
 

What’s next? 

As the project progresses, the team will continue gathering data through interviews, focus groups, and case studies, aiming to capture the lived experiences of participants. These insights will play a crucial role in assessing the effectiveness of the program and identifying best practices for future initiatives.

Get involved 

Loughborough University London encourages students and staff to engage with Amplify Venture as it continues to promote diversity and inclusion in London’s entrepreneurial scene. The team remains committed to driving meaningful change and is eager to share the project’s insights and outcomes. 

Background

This project builds on research led by Dr. Angela Martinez Dy, Loughborough University London as project evaluator of OneTech between 2018-2020.  This work led to an innovative set of policy recommendations for diversifying technology entrepreneurship ecosystems that are now in use by multiple organisations.
 
For more information, contact V.Brown@lboro.ac.uk or j.wong@lboro.ac.uk