Tangent, a UK-based startup co-founded by LinkedIn and EE alumni Gary Izunwa and Joe Adams, has secured $1.1 million in pre-seed funding to support social mobility within the tech sector. The company's innovative platform facilitates employee referrals and mentoring, targeting job seekers from low socioeconomic backgrounds. By connecting these individuals directly with tech professionals from leading companies like Stripe, Amazon, and Revolut, Tangent aims to make the hiring process more inclusive and accessible.



Tangent, a pioneering UK-based startup, has secured $1.1 million in pre-seed funding to tackle the stark diversity challenges within the tech industry. The funding round, led by Zinc VC and bolstered by contributions from the Google Black Founders Fund and Syndicate Room, also attracted a suite of investments from notable angel investors and scouts from Atomico and Ada Ventures.

Founded by Gary Izunwa and Joe Adams, both esteemed alumni of LinkedIn and EE, Tangent's mission is to level the playing field in tech employment. The company targets the systemic imbalance that disproportionately excludes individuals from low socioeconomic backgrounds from tech opportunities.

The startup's platform revolutionizes the recruitment process by enabling job seekers lacking extensive professional networks to gain direct access to employees at major tech firms like Stripe, Amazon, and Revolut. This access facilitates critical mentorship, guidance, and the referrals necessary to secure tech positions.

The concept for Tangent was inspired by the personal journey of co-founder Gary Izunwa, who navigated the challenges of growing up in a low-income, single-parent home in London. His subsequent success in the tech industry motivated him to create pathways for others facing similar hurdles. "Our platform is designed to ensure that talent, irrespective of one's background, has equal opportunities for success within the tech sector," Izunwa explained.

During their tenure in the Zinc VC’s Venture Builder program, Izunwa and Adams developed and launched Tangent’s MVP, quickly securing enterprise clients such as Multiverse and GoCardless. This early success indicates the market's readiness for a more equitable approach to tech recruitment.

The newly acquired funds will be channeled towards enhancing the platform's functionality, expanding the team, and broadening the network of companies and potential mentors involved with Tangent. This investment positions Tangent to significantly influence the tech industry by democratizing access to tech careers across a more diverse spectrum of society.

Ella Goldner, General Partner at Zinc VC, expressed her support for the initiative: "Tangent is central to our commitment to forge commercial solutions that confront pressing global issues. We're thrilled by the progress Gary and Joe have achieved in such a brief period and are eager to support them as they continue to reshape the tech hiring landscape."

This capital infusion marks a pivotal advancement for Tangent as it scales its operations and deepens its impact on fostering diversity and social mobility within the tech industry.