Jemima Antwi launched Black Founders Studio after her own reusable-bottle business failed and she discovered many Black founders faced the same barriers: isolation, limited funding and little representation. Founded as a Community Interest Company in September, BFS has incubated 50 founders without external funding and helped 30 reach launch stage. The programme provides practical training on company setup, trademarking and mentorship, and prioritises problem-solving ventures such as inclusive makeup and period-confidence products. Antwi plans to expand BFS's role to secure funding for founders and drive systemic change in the UK.
I Started The Black Business Network I Wish I'd Had — How One Founder Is Turning Isolation Into Opportunity
'I started the black business network I wish I had'
Jemima Antwi, 27, from Ghana, has launched Black Founders Studio (BFS) after experiencing firsthand how isolating entrepreneurship can be for early-stage Black founders — especially Black women. Antwi began her first venture, Mimes Reusables, while studying at the University of Chester, selling reusable water bottles at local markets. After that business folded, she spoke to other Black founders and found many faced the same barriers: lack of networks, limited access to funding and scarce representation.
From Failure To Purpose
After two years of running Mimes Reusables, Antwi says the business 'crashed'. Following a period of reflection, she identified the structural gaps that had contributed to the closure and decided to act. In September she established Black Founders Studio as a Community Interest Company (CIC) — a not-for-profit focused on supporting early-stage Black entrepreneurs to move from idea to launch.
Practical Support And Community
Antwi left her finance job and worked locally so she could dedicate herself to building BFS. Without external funding, the studio has enrolled 50 founders into an incubator programme that offers practical training in company registration, trademarking and legal structure, plus mentorship and peer networking. Thirty of those founders are now preparing to launch their businesses at an upcoming event at Chester Racecourse.
Problem-Solving Ventures With Social Impact
BFS prioritises ventures that solve real problems. Examples include ADWO Makeup, an Afro-luxury, inclusive, vegan and cruelty-free cosmetics brand created to serve under-represented skin tones; a wellness brand helping girls navigate their first period with confidence; an African cuisine business; a menopause support network; and a skincare line developed for melanin-rich skin, including sunscreens formulated for darker tones.
'With entrepreneurship it is so easy to give up,' Antwi says. 'Having that network, having that community that's actually pushing you through, it makes a hell of a difference.'
Looking Ahead
Antwi plans to expand BFS’s work to help founders access funding and to push for deeper, systemic change in the UK so that Black entrepreneurs have both representation and tangible opportunities. She describes the moment products arrive for a launch as emotional proof that the work is real and making a difference.
Facts At A Glance: BFS was founded in September as a CIC; it has incubated 50 founders without external funding and 30 businesses are set to launch at Chester Racecourse. The programme focuses on foundational business skills, legal setup, trademarking and community support.
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