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Digital Catapult and Sony Music UK announce the 2025 Black Founders Programme cohort
Sony Music UK, in partnership with Digital Catapult and Sony Music Publishing UK, and in collaboration with Channel 4, has unveiled the 12 pioneering start-ups selected for the 2025 cohort of the Black Founders Programme.
This year’s cohort brings together exceptional creative-tech innovators tackling challenges across music, entertainment, and culture, with solutions spanning AI, immersive technologies, accessibility, and education.
Hari Ashurst-Venn, Senior Director of Digital & New Tech at Sony Music UK, said: “We are proud to announce the third cohort of the Black Founders Programme, alongside Digital Catapult, Channel 4 and Sony Music Publishing. The calibre of this cohort is exceptional and aligns with the rapid advancements we’re seeing in the industry, spanning the full spectrum of music and entertainment. We look forward to continuing to offer world-class mentorship, hands-on support, and routes to partnership to help guide these ideas to market alongside the cohort of entrepreneurs.”
Jessica Rushworth, Chief Partnerships Officer at Digital Catapult, added: “This wave of start-ups represents the UK’s diverse creative economy and the innovative ideas driving new deep tech breakthroughs into music, entertainment and culture. The Black Founders Programme helps unlock growth through access to tools and connections, and we’re delighted to continue working with Sony Music Group and Channel 4 to support these creative deep tech companies to scale successfully.”
Meet the 2025 Cohort
- Halo + Echo – AI-native creative studio helping brands stay relevant online
- Limitless XYZ – Music-tech platform for financial clarity, growth insights and career education
- Lurexo – Fan-first ticketing platform
- Melunos – Beauty-tech business
- MIXD Reality – Award-winning AR technology company
- Storyhouse – Family history platform using voice, video, photos and transcripts
- Loujo – Educational songs to help dyslexic children learn
- PRYNTD – Physical ticketing converged with accessibility-focused streaming for disabled audiences
- SportQube – Affordable video tech and AI analytics for grassroots sports
- Symolem – Digital trade passports for creative goods across music, film and fashion
- That’s My Jamm – AI-driven trend intelligence for creators
- Undarated – Football investment simulation platform for talent identification
With these 12 companies now onboard, the programme continues to champion diversity and innovation, paving the way for transformative ideas that will shape the future of music, entertainment and creative technology.