Empowering Black Founders with a Flexible and Sustainable Workspace

Client showcase

#

Flexibility

UK

Black Seed is Europe’s first venture capital firm exclusively dedicated to supporting Black founders. They were founded to address the chronic underfunding of Black-led startups, providing both capital and strategic support to bridge critical gaps in the venture ecosystem. Based in Brixton Village, their mission is to empower Black entrepreneurs by giving them access to resources, mentorship, and a vibrant community network. Through their commitment to fostering a diverse, inclusive entrepreneurial landscape, they aim to create lasting impact and drive systemic change across industries.

Less climate impact

73.5%

Office location

UK

Office size

187 m²

Design style

Nordic Light

"NORNORM’s subscription model has allowed us to allocate funds we might have spent on furniture into other core areas, supporting our business growth and allowing us to remain agile."

Yvonne Nagawa, Chief Operating Officer

Challenges & Objectives

Their new 24,000-square-foot office space in Brixton was an exciting step forward, but with a completely empty, newly renovated space, they needed a solution that could bring it to life. They wanted a space they could be proud of, somewhere that would foster collaboration and inspiration, but finding the right balance was challenging. They considered hiring an interior designer, sourcing modern and flexible furniture, and staying cost-efficient, but it was difficult to find a single solution that addressed all these needs. NORNORM offered a complete package, from design support to high-quality, flexible furniture, which was exactly what they needed.

NORNORM's Solution

By partnering with NORNORM, Black Seed VC has created a dynamic office environment that aligns with their mission and values. The flexibility of the subscription model has enabled the team to remain agile as they grow, reallocating funds previously earmarked for furniture into core business initiatives. Additionally, the circular model has helped the firm meet its sustainability targets, reducing waste and their carbon footprint while contributing to an eco-friendly workspace.

Impact

The results speak for themselves. Black Seed VC now operates from an office that perfectly balances functionality, flexibility, and sustainability. By choosing NORNORM, they’ve been able to avoid the upfront costs and waste associated with traditional furniture purchases, instead reallocating resources to other business priorities. Our circular model has also helped them meet their sustainability targets, reducing waste and their overall carbon footprint while creating a workspace they can be proud of.

Yvonne Nagawa, Chief Operating Officer

"NORNORM has been a transformative partner in setting up our new office, offering the perfect blend of style, flexibility, and sustainability.

Their circular model allows us to grow and adapt without waste or significant upfront costs, aligning our workspace with our values and helping us focus on what matters most: empowering Black founders.

Looking to furnish your own office?

Empowering Black Founders with a Flexible and Sustainable Workspace

Client showcase

#

Flexibility

UK

Less climate impact

73.5%

Office location

UK

Office size

187 m²

Design style

Nordic Light

Looking to furnish your own office?

Black Seed

Black Seed is Europe’s first venture capital firm exclusively dedicated to supporting Black founders. They were founded to address the chronic underfunding of Black-led startups, providing both capital and strategic support to bridge critical gaps in the venture ecosystem. Based in Brixton Village, their mission is to empower Black entrepreneurs by giving them access to resources, mentorship, and a vibrant community network. Through their commitment to fostering a diverse, inclusive entrepreneurial landscape, they aim to create lasting impact and drive systemic change across industries.

This partnership demonstrates how a workspace can be more than just an office—it can be a catalyst for innovation and growth while staying true to values of sustainability and adaptability.

Black Seed

Black Seed is Europe’s first venture capital firm exclusively dedicated to supporting Black founders. They were founded to address the chronic underfunding of Black-led startups, providing both capital and strategic support to bridge critical gaps in the venture ecosystem. Based in Brixton Village, their mission is to empower Black entrepreneurs by giving them access to resources, mentorship, and a vibrant community network. Through their commitment to fostering a diverse, inclusive entrepreneurial landscape, they aim to create lasting impact and drive systemic change across industries.

This partnership demonstrates how a workspace can be more than just an office—it can be a catalyst for innovation and growth while staying true to values of sustainability and adaptability.

Nanna Gelebo (BCG) on Bridging Linear and Circular Business Models
Nanna Gelebo has been a Partner at the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) in Stockholm for 12 years, with a strong track record of driving transformative change in the retail sector on everything from strategy to implementation.
Key Insights
Nanna discusses the concept of 'cross-fertilisation' between linear and circular business models. She highlights the importance of transforming transactional customer relationships into relational ones through circular efforts, emphasising that rental and second-hand products can serve as gateways for consumers into more sustainable consumption patterns. This approach not only benefits the environment but also opens new avenues for business growth.
Takeaway
Linear business models do not have to stay linear. You can start to become more circular by gradually integrating a circular business model into your current linear one, through e.g. rental and second-hand products, building a circular set-up that suits your business specifically.
Marcus Linder (RISE) on Evaluating and Ensuring Circular Claims
Marcus Linder is the Director of Business Design at the Research Institute of Sweden (RISE). He holds a PhD in Technology Management and Economics from Chalmers University of Technology, specified in environmental research, with his research having been applied industrially in procurements by industry giants such as Volvo.
Key Insights
Marcus brings attention to the critical aspect of a product's end-of-life plan. He emphasises that being 'potentially circular' is insufficient without a concrete and, preferably legally binding, plan for product lifecycle management. This perspective is crucial for customers evaluating circular claims, pushing companies to not just promise sustainability but to embed it into their actual business practices.
Takeaway
To remain credible towards industry peers and customers, the best practice is to have a clear, communicable, and incentivised plan for your circular business model that customers can trust and rely on. It is important that customers should be able to evaluate and ensure your claim of circularity and end-of-life product plans.
Vojtech Vosecky on Being Authentic when Marketing your Circular Efforts
Vojtech Vosecky is one of the leading circular economy advocates, with experiences ranging from being the co-founder of the successful think-tank Institute of Circular Economy, working for the European Parliament, and the world-leading organisation Circle Economy. In 2022, he was also selected as one of the Top Green Voices to follow in Europe by LinkedIn.
Key Insights
Vojtech stresses the importance of being hyper-authentic in the communication of your circular business principles. For him, it’s about being bold in stating what you stand for, challenging misconceptions, and creating moments of realisation for your audience (think true “aha-moments”). His approach - educate, inspire, and agitate - is a formula that companies can use to effectively market their circular efforts. Vojtech highlights that no matter the format of your marketing, and to avoid the trap of greenwashing, be authentic and stand your ground, whilst always backing up with research. That always wins.
Takeaway
When marketing your circular or sustainable business efforts, especially on LinkedIn, use the three principles of educating, inspiring, and agitating - ideally in one go. Be authentic, use visuals, and create truly educating moments. Use facts whenever you can. However, be careful not to over-do them - and always, always, double check them.
“In the end, what is it about? It's about creating a relationship between the user and this object. I think we all have a strong link to things that are meaningful, that have been charged by accompanying our life.”

Some subtitle

In the end, what is it about? It's about creating a relationship between the user and this object. I think we all have a strong link to things that are meaningful, that have been charged by accompanying our life.

Black Seed

Black Seed is Europe’s first venture capital firm exclusively dedicated to supporting Black founders. They were founded to address the chronic underfunding of Black-led startups, providing both capital and strategic support to bridge critical gaps in the venture ecosystem. Based in Brixton Village, their mission is to empower Black entrepreneurs by giving them access to resources, mentorship, and a vibrant community network. Through their commitment to fostering a diverse, inclusive entrepreneurial landscape, they aim to create lasting impact and drive systemic change across industries.

This partnership demonstrates how a workspace can be more than just an office—it can be a catalyst for innovation and growth while staying true to values of sustainability and adaptability.

Black Seed

Black Seed is Europe’s first venture capital firm exclusively dedicated to supporting Black founders. They were founded to address the chronic underfunding of Black-led startups, providing both capital and strategic support to bridge critical gaps in the venture ecosystem. Based in Brixton Village, their mission is to empower Black entrepreneurs by giving them access to resources, mentorship, and a vibrant community network. Through their commitment to fostering a diverse, inclusive entrepreneurial landscape, they aim to create lasting impact and drive systemic change across industries.

This partnership demonstrates how a workspace can be more than just an office—it can be a catalyst for innovation and growth while staying true to values of sustainability and adaptability.

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Black Seed

Black Seed is Europe’s first venture capital firm exclusively dedicated to supporting Black founders. They were founded to address the chronic underfunding of Black-led startups, providing both capital and strategic support to bridge critical gaps in the venture ecosystem. Based in Brixton Village, their mission is to empower Black entrepreneurs by giving them access to resources, mentorship, and a vibrant community network. Through their commitment to fostering a diverse, inclusive entrepreneurial landscape, they aim to create lasting impact and drive systemic change across industries.

This partnership demonstrates how a workspace can be more than just an office—it can be a catalyst for innovation and growth while staying true to values of sustainability and adaptability.