What is your name and background?
I’m Jason Halstead, and I am the founder of Uome. For over 20 years I have worked at the intersection of banking and technology, designing and coding systems that handled billions of dollars every day for Goldman Sachs, Merrill Lynch, Credit Suisse, and HSBC. At Credit Suisse, I built a tri-party allocation system that safely processed $2.4 billion daily. At HSBC, I designed an initial margin process that managed $6 billion daily. Alongside this, I co-founded Code Untapped, a venture focused on helping diverse talent enter and grow in technology. My career has always been about combining technical depth with opening access, and with Uome I am applying that to transform how banks serve small businesses.
Tell us about your business and how you started it. Have you always wanted to become a business owner? Where did the idea for your business come from?
Uome was built to close the gap between what fintechs can deliver and what traditional banks are able to offer their SME customers. We started by creating a super app for small businesses that brought payments, invoicing, expense management, tax, and customer engagement into one platform. As we advanced, we saw the bigger opportunity in enabling banks themselves to deliver this experience. Most community and regional banks lack the infrastructure to keep up with fintechs and depend on costly agency partners for card issuance, losing both revenue and customer relationships. Uome changes that. Our white-label infrastructure allows banks to bring their card programmes in-house and launch a complete SME super app quickly through our modular platform. In short, we give banks the tools to compete, and we give small businesses the same level of integrated support that only large corporates once had.
How did you come across BEO’s F100 Growth Fund programme?
I came across the F100 Growth Fund through conversations in my network of Black entrepreneurs. It stood out as a programme designed not just to fund businesses, but to connect founders with a community of peers and mentors.
What made you want to apply for it?
I have been following the work of BEO since its inception, but I wasn’t aware of the F100 programme until the 2025 application process opened. The timing felt right, and the design of the programme stood out because it wasn’t just about funding businesses. It was about creating a community of founders, mentors, and networks. There are many organisations in the UK focused on equality, but very few that address Black economic equity directly. As someone building a financial product and as a committed Garveyite, BEO’s clear commitment to economic empowerment was a major draw.
What have been the key benefits of joining the F100 Growth Fund (this can be the financial benefits, personal development or other benefits like access to supply chains/networks/investors)
Three things stand out from this experience. First, F100 reconnected us with key investors. We had the chance to re-engage with a VC that had previously passed on us, and in this new context of traction and credibility they are now in active discussions to invest. They have also begun opening their wider network, making introductions to other VCs, which has been hugely valuable.
Second, the programme shifted our thinking about funding options. Hearing from peers who had successfully secured grants made us realise that at our current stage the process would be far less daunting than it was in the past. We now plan to revisit grant funding as part of our overall strategy.
Finally, the focus on founder wellbeing was unexpected but important. I am a very ‘red’ person when it comes to tasks, but the sessions reminded me of the need to look after myself and my team, not just the business. The tools and reflections shared have helped me think more about sustaining health and balance alongside growth, which will be critical for the journey ahead.
What would be your top tip for any business owners out there looking to apply to our next cohort of our F100 Growth Fund programme?
Be open to learning from unexpected places. Some of the most valuable insights I gained from the programme came in areas where I thought I already had fixed views. Also, lean into your cohort. The relationships you build can be just as important as the funding itself. Some of the people I’ve met through F100 will be associates for life.
