- INTOTUM: Fashionable, functional and comfortable adaptive clothing for the disabled community.
- AMBITIOUS ACADEMY SOCIAL ENTERPRISE CIC: a community-based programme dedicated to providing alternative methods of mentoring, education, and personal development opportunities to disadvantaged young people, using film as a catalyst.
- KNOWN SOURCE: a new platform which allows users to easily find and resell quality second hand clothes from a circular platform of curated dealers.
- STORYMIX: A fiction studio which creates inclusive children’s stories and opportunities for racially minoritised writers and illustrators.
- AUNTY SOCIAL CIC: A varied programme of arts and cultural activities designed to bring diverse people together in a safe, supportive and gentle creative space.
The Deutsche Bank Awards for Creative Entrepreneurs (DBACE), in partnership with MeWe360 last night (Thursday 11 July 2024, in LONDON) announced this year’s winners of the annual awards programme celebrating the brightest business leaders driving positive social impact through enterprise across the UK.
Awarded to five exceptional entrepreneurs every year, the 2024 winners were revealed at a prestigious award ceremony held at The Royal Society of Arts in London hosted by television presenter, radio broadcaster, and journalist Brenda Emmanus OBE.
Brenda Emmanus OBE says, “Creativity is essential in all aspects of our lives, but creative entrepreneurs are the builders of our BIG ideas. They have a unique way of thinking that both inspires and challenges us, and more importantly often devises solutions to society’s needs and problems. Therefore, it is important that we champion these thinkers and doers. That we salute their great work and spotlight their efforts to make the world a better place. It is for these very reasons that DBACE is important and the talent it attracts is celebrated.”
The winners will receive a collective prize fund of £60,000 and £100,000 of tailored business support and leadership development from MeWe360’s roster of influential industry mentors, consultants and extensive network of creatives. The six other finalists will be offered the opportunity of a 12-month incubator membership with MeWe360, providing business and leadership support and training.
This year’s winners are:
Hanan Tantush,Intotum – creates fashionable, functional and comfortable adaptive clothing for the disabled community, promoting independence and individuality. Awarded £15,000.
Shawdon Smith,Ambitious Academy Social Enterprise CIC– a community-based programme dedicated to providing alternative methods of mentoring, education, and personal development opportunities to young people. Awarded £5,000.
Henry McNeill-Njoku and Theo El-Kattan,Known Source – born from a vision that all clothing should lead multiple lives, this platform allows users to easily find and resell quality second hand clothes from a circular platform of curated dealers. Awarded £15,000.
Jasmine Richards,Story Mix – working to nurture the next generation of storytellers.
this fiction studio creates inclusive children’s stories and opportunities for racially minoritised writers and illustrators. Awarded £15,000.
Louise Ashcroft and Catherine Mugonyi,Aunty Social CIC – offers a varied programme of arts and cultural activities designed to bring diverse people together in a safe, supportive and gentle creative space. Awarded £10,000.
DBACE is open to all applicants over the age of 18 and is the UK’s longest running awards programme committed to supporting and nurturing entrepreneurs across the creative industries. By providing crucial start-up capital, business and leadership training as well as access to industry networks, the programme has worked with hundreds of leaders and over 400 creative ventures, with thousands more benefitting from expert mentorship. The partnership with MeWe360, a not-for-profit incubator championing Black, Asian, and minority ethnic entrepreneurs in the arts and creative industries, has further cemented DBACE’s impact and expanded its reach to those underrepresented groups who may not have access to traditional means of funding and support.
This year’s eleven finalists pitched their business ideas to a distinguished judging panel at Deutsche Bank UK Offices in central London, including: Karen Abbott, Managing Director, Global Head of CB & IB KYC Ops and Client Onboarding, Deutsche Bank; Bola Awoniyi, co-founder and COO of Black Ballad and DBACE 2019 winner; Mohan Yogendran, MeWe360 Board Chair; Tamara Howe, television executive and former Director for Commercial & Operations at Naked Television, and Felicia Meyerowitz Singh, co-founder of Engage Smarter.
“Deutsche Bank has been recognising and celebrating creative enterprise for over three decades. We are incredibly proud of the talented founders DBACE has supported over the years and look forward to witnessing the growth and impact the 2024 winners will have”
Karen Abbott, Global Head of Corporate & Investment Bank, KYC and Client Onboarding, Deutsche Bank
Louise Nkosi, CEO, MeWe360, added, “Each year, I continue to be wowed by the tenacity, commitment and talent of the hundreds of entrepreneurs we meet throughout the DBACE programme of activities. From this formidable company we have five enterprises selected to be DBACE 2024 prize recipients and I am proud to be celebrating them this evening. I look forward to MeWe360 working with the DBACE 2024 winners as we provide them with tailored business support and networking. I am excited to see how they progress and continue to increase their impact driving positive social and environmental change.”
Tamara Howe, Television Executive & former Director for Commercial & Operations, Naked Televisionsays, “DBACE and MeWe360 have done it again! What impressive array of entrees, all innovative and committed to making a positive change. I feel privileged to be judging for the second time and to see the impact of these prestigious awards. The entrants this year made our job very difficult – if only the pie was bigger. We very much look forward to watching the winners as they thrive and do good for their targeted communities.”
As the creative sector continues to face unprecedented challenges in the wake of economic, political and social uncertainty combined with an ongoing cost of living crisis, DBACE recognises the urgent need to cultivate new business talent. Over the last three decades the awards have driven innovation, recognising that creative entrepreneurship is a crucial tool in addressing some of the most challenging issues facing society. By foregrounding diversity and accessibility, the awards seek to allow as many people as possible, regardless of age or background, the opportunity to progress.
