BlaST Network’s Reverse Pitch at Liverpool’s prestigious Spine building was packed with energy, insights and a twist on tradition – 11 investors pitched to 70+ ethnic minority businesses. The event was designed to break down barriers to finance and spark conversations and confidence about access to money, with investors showcasing the support they can offer and exploring potential partnerships and investment opportunities.
“We weren’t sure how it would go, but it blew expectations out of the water with a rapid-fire masterclass on funding opportunities – from venture capital to social investment,” says BlaST director Joanne Anderson. “It was an opportunity to connect businesses directly with investors passionate about driving social impact, innovation and inclusive growth. This was just the start – so many more honest, open conversations about money are coming.”
Investors pitching on the day included Kindred, alongside Livv Investment, Lyva Labs, Baltic Ventures and Citizen First LCR – as well as national investors like NatWest Social and Community Capital, KeyFund, Growth Company and Praetura Ventures.
Designed to showcase how innovation, inclusivity and diversity drive business success across the region, the day’s key question – posed by host Izzy Obeng MBE – was ‘who has experience of raising venture capital?’ Few of the diverse businesses in the room had experienced venture capital – a third of attendees were interested in venture and a third again in social investment; many more were curious about local angel networks.
Research from the Diversity Beyond Gender: The State of the Nation for Diverse Entrepreneurs report shows that Black and multi-ethnic communities make up 14% of the UK population – yet all-ethnic teams received an average 1.7% of venture capital investment between 2009 and 2019. While all ethnic entrepreneurs are underfunded, Black-led organisations receive the smallest share, with 0.24% of the total sum; Black female entrepreneurs experience the poorest outcomes, at just 0.02% over the decade.
Paula Brown is an investment manager at Livv Investment. “At Livv Investment we’re all about getting social investment to the people making a difference,” she says. “The Reverse Pitch Day was a fantastic opportunity to engage directly with founders from diverse backgrounds, who are creating innovative, impact-led businesses. Events like this help shift the narrative around investment and inclusion, and we’re proud to support it.”
Alison Navarro from the Liverpool City Region Race Equality Hub also sponsored the event: “It’s a brilliant way to connect with the incredible talent across our region. It’s a powerful platform for building relationships, sharing ideas and championing the value of diversity in business,” she said.
The event was sponsored by Livv Investment and the LCR Race Equality Hub, with support from the BlaST and Kindred teams.