Akil Benjamin

Akil Benjamin is a Serial Entrepreneur who has developed award-winning incubator and accelerator programs to support thousands of businesses to grow. His superpower is to distill ideas through researching and developing insight, creating a plan, and then organizing people to bring work to life. Across his roles at COMUZI, an innovation lab, and DOES, a social enterprise supporting disadvantaged communities in business, Akil has leaned on his skills as a researcher, business strategist, and fundraiser to:

Built COMUZI with his co-founders to become an innovation lab that has been delivering work for a decade.

Raised £3m in revenue and/or project funding in the last 5 years.

Led the delivery of several Digital Health and Wellbeing projects focused on South London, impacting over 500,000 residents.

DOES has now supported over 8,500 businesses since its launch in 2019.

Partnered with Somerset House to deliver the award-winning Black Business Residency sponsored by Morgan Stanley, which is now on its 5th Cohort, offering mentorship, masterclasses, and office space to Black businesses and entrepreneurs.

Some of Akil’s previous partners include Channel 4, Lloyds Bank, Somerset House, Morgan Stanley, Southwark Council, Leeds City Council, Pinterest, Google, Sky, M&C Saatchi Group, and Ravensbourne University London. Akil has received an Honorary Fellowship from Ravensbourne University London’s Institute of Creativity and Technology for his ‘exceptional standing and distinction in the creative industries, enterprise, and technology’.