Founders, brands and creatives
GET READY FOR CAPITAL ASK
Understand your numbers, find the capital that fits and arrive with one clear ask.
MELLA SUPPLY
Right business. Right capital.
MELLA Supply connects Black and Afro Lusophone businesses with the capital, customers, expertise and partnerships they need to grow.
Partners and ecosystem
The gap
Under 0.5% of European venture capital has reached Black led businesses since 2000.
In Portugal, 11% of Black led ventures have joined an incubator, against a national rate of 40%. Most rely on savings and family.
Closing this gap takes preparation on both sides: founders fit to receive, backers prepare to support .
Our program
What is Black Capital Exchange?
Right business. Right capital. Not every business needs venture capital: the right next step might be finance, a customer, market access or specialist knowledge.
We research the ecosystem, work with founders to identify what their businesses need next, and bring them together with relevant investors, buyers, specialists and institutions. Then we follow through on agreed next steps.
Investors, allies and institutions
LEARN TO BACK DIVERSES VENTURES
Professionals, diaspora leaders and allies learn to support with money, access or knowledge.
This November
MELLA at Web Summit
Two events during Web Summit week, hosted together by
MELLA Supply × Strategic Disruption Consulting
10 Nov
Tuesday · Black Capital Exchange
Tuesday 10 November · 19:00
district.space, Lisbon ·
11 Nov
Wednesday · Redefining investment and innovation
Wednesday 11 November · 14:00 · 50 minutes
Community Space, Web Summit · pass required · Inside Web Summit
MELLA TABLE
MELLA TABLE. Three editions that shaped Black Capital Exchange.
Three rooms in Lisbon: community, mentorship, then capital. What we heard there shaped the programme.
See past editions →Black Capital Exchange · First cohort Q1 2027
Right business. Right capital.
We prepare founders to make the right ask, and backers to make the right offer. Register now. Applications open January 2027.
No fees · No equity · Confidential intake