Introducing Cohort 6 of the Black Business Residency

Now in its sixth year, the Black Business Residency (BBR) returns with another powerful cohort of early-stage Black founders working across the creative industries.

Developed in partnership with DOES and with Morgan Stanley as Anchor Sponsor, this 12-month incubator programme supports bold, innovative entrepreneurs – championing those reshaping industries and pioneering new cultural conversations.

This year’s cohort represents a vibrant spectrum of creative disciplines – from gaming, publishing and performance, to tech, strategy, and storytelling. They joined the Somerset House Community this September, bringing fresh energy, new ideas and exciting cross-sector projects into our shared creative space.

To mark the occasion, we welcomed the new cohort with a special networking evening in the Exchange on Thursday 25 September, bringing together creatives, industry peers, and Somerset House colleagues to celebrate the launch of this year’s programme.

Explore the 2025 cohort below and discover the boundary-pushing work they’re doing across the creative economy.

Performing Arts & Film

Pointe Black

• An award-winning Black ballet company blending classical technique with African-Caribbean culture to create a powerful new dance language.

FOC It UP! Comedy Club

• A ground breaking platform for comedians of colour who aren’t cis men – showcasing the best talent from TV, radio, and live circuits.

Purple Moon Drama

• Creative drama, dance and arts programmes for young people aged 5–30 in Tower Hamlets, alongside artist development opportunities.

Them Ones Productions

• A genre-fluid studio working across film, television, live events, and artists’ moving image to tell radical, interdisciplinary stories.

Waju Studios

• A bold storytelling company exploring African identity, masculinity and emotional truth through theatre, film and visual arts.

State of the [Art]

• Designing participatory performances and public installations that transform art into civic infrastructure and social engagement.

The Kinesthetic Assembly

• Creating embodied experiences using movement and VR to help transform social anxiety into authentic self-confidence.

Tech & Media Platforms

Pocoglot

• A cultural intelligence app offering bite-sized, one-minute lessons to help users connect through global language learning.

Happaning

• An interactive media platform that redefines live storytelling with AI-led features and multi-angle video navigation.

Pryntd

• An accessibility-first tech company using AI to deliver real-time captioning, sign language, spatial audio, and adaptive interfaces.

Creative Agencies & Strategy

This Connect Sports

• A sibling-led sports and entertainment agency reconnecting communities through inclusive, fan-led live experiences.

New Comma

• A creative platform and community hub for African and Black creatives – championing talent and enabling collaboration.

Fashion, Beauty & Lifestyle

The Canerow Company

• Offering a sustainable alternative to synthetic braiding hair – blending environmental consciousness with Afro haircare needs.

Gaming & Interactive Media

Sovereign Comics

• An “edutainment” studio turning maths and literacy into cinematic comic books, games and workshops aligned with the UK curriculum.

NNESAGA

• Bridging gaming, culture, sport and entertainment through inclusive content, campaigns and community-first storytelling.

Picilian Entertainment

• A game development studio creating narrative-driven titles inspired by underrepresented communities and working-class life in the UK.

Melanin Gamers Global

• A consultancy empowering gaming organisations to build inclusive spaces through policy advice and grassroots engagement.

Naniverse

• A cross-media anime portal redefining the industry by championing diverse creators and authentic storytelling.

Music, Nightlife & Events

Wndrlst

• Championing Black nightlife through partnerships with Black Eats Fest, the Horniman Museum, Glastonbury, and more.

Strangers in the City

• Designing playful, in-person experiences that help adults forge meaningful, offline connections.

Diffused Agency

• Helping event organisers repurpose long-form content into high-impact, social-first video – fast and at scale.

Publishing, Writing & Storytelling

The Abundant Word

• Supporting over 700 Black and underrepresented writers with editorial services, creative feedback and sensitivity reading.

Chicken + Bread

• A print magazine and platform where food becomes a lens for storytelling, cultural expression and community building.

House of Dread

• An anti-disciplinary heritage studio reimagining how African and Caribbean histories are archived, remembered and retold.

Franklyn’s Forum

• A talent consultancy backing underrepresented creators across fashion, fitness, beauty and lifestyle sectors.

Creative Pulse

• A strategic consultancy helping arts and culture organisations grow with intention through audience insights and equity-driven approaches.