A Bristol-based digital platform championing underserved and minoritised founder communities has announced a new member to its advisory board.
Martino Burgess, partner at Knights and chair of the Black South West Network (BSWN) has joined the board of Ethical Equity, which works to help those that suffer from the structural difficulties that exist in private markets, when attempting to raise capital or get access to products and services that will enable to scale and grow.
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Ms Burgess said: "I am thrilled to be joining the Advisory Board of Ethical Equity as I am completely aligned with their aim of bridging the diversity and inclusion gap within investment finance, offering essential support to entrepreneurs from the underserved communities, so that they can secure capital for their growth."
Earlier this year BusinessLive spoke with Ms Burgess at BSWN's headquarters in Stokes Croft.
She told BusinessLive: “If the investment from private equity matched the population, it would make a huge difference in terms of how that money can be used and create different economic activity within the Black and minoritised community. If you’re fighting for justice and that is what you are fighting for - the right amount of investment going to certain communities.”
Ethical Equity uses its tailored initiatives, extensive network of private and institutional investors, robust angel investment network and investment platform, to provide entrepreneurs with a diverse range of funding sources. The organisation also works to connect entrepreneurs with a wide array of investors and offers substantial financial backing.
Ms Burgess added: “I am excited to be joining the mission to connect the minoritized communities and women with value-aligned investors, providing a dedicated platform for underrepresented founders to secure funding and catalyse industry evolution.”
In a statement Ethical equity said: "We are elated that Marti is on the journey with us, as we look to solve the inequity problems that are inherent in the Private Markets, so that capital is more evenly deployed for the betterment of the Ƶ economy as a whole."
