Google for Startups select VerifyMy for Black Founders Fund award

We are proud to report that Google for Startups has selected VerifyMy as a recipient of its second Black Founders Fund in Europe.

The award provides not only access to capital, but also global networking opportunities and the chance to access the very best of Google’s people, products and practices.

VerifyMy’s CEO Ryan Shaw said: “We are absolutely delighted to have been chosen by Google Startups as part of their 2022 cohort.

“Our purpose is to make the internet a safer place for children and wider society, and given that there were more than 700 applications made from 18 countries, we see this recognition from Google as a glowing endorsement of our mission.”

Marta Krupinska, head of Google for Startups UK said: “If we want technology to work for everyone, it needs to be built by everyone.

“Black founders in Europe disproportionately lack access to the networks and capital needed to grow their businesses. In 2020, with less than 0.5% of venture capital (VC) funding going to Black-led startups, Google announced the Black Founders Fund and has since deployed $20M in equity free funding to founders across the US, Europe, Africa and Brazil.”

This week, as part of London Tech Week, the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan held a meet-up for London-based founders.

He said: “London celebrates the diversity of its business community, and it’s fantastic to see that 60 percent of the companies selected for Google’s latest Black Founders support programme are from London.”

The startups selected in 2021 have raised an additional $81m in follow-up funding and increased their headcount by 121%.