10 Steps to Raising Your First Million
Raising VC funding brings with it responsibility. Ask yourself: is this the right path for my business? If yes, here’s how you do it…
Today, I want to dive deep into a personal, professional, and timely topic: how to raise your first million in funding. Whether you’ve just started building your dream business or you’re gearing up to scale, this newsletter will walk you through my tried-and-true roadmap to securing that critical first cheque.
Let’s start with the numbers—because they matter. Women-led startups receive just 2.2% of VC funding, and for Black women, that figure is a gut-wrenching 0.34%. Less than 1p of every pound invested in the UK goes to all-female teams. These stats aren’t just frustrating—they’re motivation. It’s clear we need to close the gap, and I believe the best way to do that is by sharing knowledge.
Over my career, I’ve raised £6M for my ventures, becoming the first Black woman in the UK to secure over £5M in VC funding. Since then, I’ve invested in and mentored incredible women who’ve raised funding themselves, and I’m here to tell you: it’s possible.
