Wray Forward has named 25 Black entrepreneurs from across the UK in its 2026 Powerbook, published to mark Black History Month and the fifth anniversary of the business accelerator. The release is accompanied by new survey data on the commercial priorities of Black-owned businesses and details of the programme's inaugural conference.

The Powerbook features founders working in technology, food and beverage, dentistry and the creative industries. Those included lead companies such as Loud Parade, Flake Bake, Don Dada Studio and Dove Dental & Wellbeing Spa. Organisers say the list is intended to give greater visibility to Black business leaders and to address the historical barriers to entry that entrepreneurs have faced.

Jointly managed by enterprise support organization Foundervine and Jamaican rum brand Wray & Nephew, Wray Forward was established to support Black entrepreneurs. Over five years, the programme reports that it has reached 2,750 businesses and delivered more than 226 hours of free training and masterclasses. Since 2021 it has distributed £35,000 in grant funding to Black-owned businesses. A further £15,000 is scheduled for allocation in 2026.

The accompanying survey sets out where owners see the greatest scope for growth. Just over half of Black founders, 51 per cent, identified improved access to finance and funding as the main driver of expansion. Some 32 per cent said they pay for business support services that they find difficult to afford, because accessible advisory networks are limited. A further 29 per cent have delayed expansion plans and 27 per cent have missed funding opportunities, which respondents linked to gaps in their support networks.

Payment practices also featured in the findings. Some 55 per cent of Black business owners reported late payments from customers, compared with 38 per cent of non-Black owners. Among Black owners, 60 per cent are currently owed £1,000 or more, against 27 per cent of non-Black owners. The programme says the data will help shape the advice and resources it offers on cash flow.

The research was carried out by Research Without Barriers through an online survey between 12th and 27th August 2026. It covered 546 UK business owners, of whom 290 were Black and 256 were non-Black. Fieldwork followed the UK Market Research Society code of conduct.

The inaugural Wray Forward Conference takes place in London on 30th October 2026 and is designed to bring founders together with industry speakers. Sharmadean Reid will deliver the keynote address, titled "Culture as Currency". Her session will address how cultural trust and social momentum can be turned into enterprise value. The rapper Krept will lead a session called "Retail Reimagined: AI and the New Consumer", looking at how artificial intelligence is being applied to brand building and modern retail.

Training, grants and networking events form the core of the accelerator's offer, and the Powerbook adds a public showcase for the founders it features. The list itself is one of the programme's visibility measures, giving each entrepreneur a platform alongside the businesses already working with the accelerator.

With the 2026 grant round still to be allocated and the conference weeks away, the coming months will show how the programme's funding and training reach the founders it serves. The survey results give organisers a baseline on finance, advice and payment experience against which later programme activity can be assessed.

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