Barclays Black Founder Accelerator 2022 member
Millicent
Millicent is building a Layer 1 blockchain to serve as the foundational layer for the future of financial services, including GBP-pegged stablecoins, backed full liquid reserves.
Why did you join the Barclays Black Founder Accelerator?
To improve my network, meet a likeminded group of people on a similar path (and facing similar struggles), as well as gaining support and advice from a leading retail bank, which is particularly relevant to us.
Why did you want to start your business?
Growing up in the UK, having arrived as a refugee, the way the financial service industry is more difficult to navigate for those with lesser means has stuck with me all my life.
What would be your desired outcome from this programme?
To learn grow my network of peers, mentors, business partners, and potential investors. To learn more about how blockchain could be useful for a retail bank.
Which entrepreneur inspires you the most and why?
Oprah. There's no better rags to riches story in the world, and she was extremely nice when I met her.
What has been your biggest win in your entrepreneurial journey?
Leaving the world of traditional finance to move into the charity sector. It really made me realise that money isn't everything, and that the fulfilment you can gain from serving others is invaluable.
What has been your biggest challenge?
Getting up to speed with the world of blockchain technology, both in terms of tech, and working style...
Where did you go for business advice and how did it help you?
One of our advisors, Bill, is fantastic at offering grounded, common sense advice. My brother has worked in startups in the past and has been instrumental in helping me learn to love the controlled chaos of building something novel from scratch.
What drives you to make your business a success?
The knowledge that what we are building has a chance at genuinely making the world a better place for a lot of people, from everyday people in the UK like you and me, to the 1.7 billion unbanked around the globe.
What advice would you give other founders thinking about starting their own business?
Jump in and go for it! Don't spend your life wondering "what if".