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A group of British black-owned tech start-ups are to take part in a special trade mission to the US in December as part of efforts to tackle a lack of diversity in the industry.

1000 Black Voices, an organisation that works to help eradicate racism through positive change, is partnering with the British Consulate in New York to organise the trip, which is taking place between 5 and 7 December.

It has selected 13 start-ups from its accelerator programme to take part, all of whom will be given opportunities to network and learn more about expanding their businesses in the US while there.

According to 1000 Black Voices, the trade mission will also offer the entrepreneurs the chance to gain expert advice from industry-leading founders, investors, and tech executives on how to scale businesses successfully in the US and globally. There will also be small group sessions, events, and one-to-one meetings in New York to develop relationships with key members of the investor community.

Dr Elizabeth Shaw, founder of 1000 Black Voices, said: “We are delighted to announce the founders participating in the trade mission to New York. 1000 Black Voices is committed to bringing a first-hand understanding of black struggles and a positive, practical approach to overcoming them in today’s world, and our accelerator programme, with this added element of the trade mission, brings our commitment to fruition.

“The founders will hugely benefit from the trade mission experience, including opportunities and connections provided by the British Consulate. This is another key component needed to resolve tech’s diversity issue directly and provide black founders with all the support required to overcome hurdles."

Emma Wade-Smith, trade commissioner to North America and consul general New York at the British Consulate in New York, said: “We are so pleased to partner with 1000 Black Voices on this trade mission. At the British Consulate, we are passionate about and committed to promoting social inclusion and racial equity in all of our work, including in the technology sector.

“Giving the founders on the mission access to knowledge on how to expand into the US market as well as providing them with the connections to do so, is a crucial step towards increasing diversity in the tech sector.”