Inclusive Innovation Catalyst launched to champion entrepreneurship in the region

A groundbreaking initiative, the Inclusive Innovation Catalyst, has been launched by TIN Ventures to transform inclusive entrepreneurship across the region.

The project has been introduced in collaboration with The Open University, the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce Black Business Collective (GBCC-BBC), and the Innovation Alliance for the West Midlands (IAWM)

The Catalyst is the output of a series of National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement (NCCPE) Catalyst Conversations, which explored the role of Civic Universities as key partners in driving inclusive community innovation and enterprise.

These conversations highlighted how universities, local organisations, and business networks can collectively overcome systemic barriers to growth for diverse founders.

Too many diverse founders in the UK continue to face systemic barriers to validating ideas, accessing capital, and scaling businesses.

This gap stifles innovation, limits economic opportunity, and prevents communities from realising their full potential.

The Inclusive Innovation Catalyst is designed to overcome these barriers, building investible and net positive businesses with overlooked talent.

Alex Cole, CEO, TIN Ventures and Chair of the GBCC – Black Business Collective, said: “The Inclusive Innovation Catalyst comes at a pivotal moment.

“Too much entrepreneurial talent is still overlooked.

“By embedding inclusive venture-building in community hubs across the Midlands, we’re turning untapped potential into investible, net positive businesses aligned with the UK’s Industrial Strategy and West Midlands Growth Plan.”

Building on TIN Ventures’ role as a No Limits: Impact Partner of UKRI, the Catalyst will anchor a regional network of ‘Digisheds’ Community Innovation Hubs, starting in Birmingham, offering inclusive access to venture-building and investment readiness support.

At the heart of the Catalyst is a venture studio model, aligned with the Venture Studio Forum’s Venture Studio Index (VSI). It brings together the:

• Operator role – delivering infrastructure, systems, and strategy.

• Entrepreneur role – supporting founders to build, test, and scale their ventures.

• Investor role – creating inclusive and regenerative capital pathways.

This structure is reinforced by the five pillars of Regenerative Leadership (Adapt, Bridge, Collaborate, Trust, Integrity), enabling the Catalyst to deliver sustainable, inclusive, and net positive impact for people, place, and planet.

The Community Innovation Hub Birmingham, hosted at the Legacy Centre of Excellence, will act as a gateway for grassroots founders, connecting them into national and global networks.

Keith Shaayam-Smith, CEO, Legacy CoE, said: “We are delighted to be hosting the Inclusive Innovation Catalyst within the Legacy Centre of Excellence.

“By anchoring this inclusive programme within trusted community spaces, we’re ensuring that entrepreneurial support reaches the grassroots while connecting founders into national and global innovation and investment opportunities.”

The Inclusive Innovation Catalyst is now inviting expressions of interest from founders at the curious, serious, and grow stages of their entrepreneurial journey to align with the Open Business Creators programme from The Open University.

Interested founders, investors, and partners can register to take part in four launch initiatives.

Click here for more information.

Pictured from left to right: Jack Francis Kelly, Karl George, Yetunde Dania, and Alex Cole