Founder & Partner play a crucial role in any startup. It takes an extraordinary person to fulfil the Founder & Partner role. We have selected these Founder & Partner’s for this list as they are inspiring for a variety of reasons – whether that’s pushing boundaries, creating groundbreaking products, or doing their bit to save the world.
Our analysts did their best to select be best, and most innovative Founder & Partner’s. The list is in no particular order!
Ophelia Brown
Founder & Partner @ Blossom Capital
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Ophelia is the founder of Blossom Capital, an early stage venture fund that brings a wholly differentiated approach to investing. Blossom makes a small number of high conviction investments each year, which allows the team to work closely with their companies, helping them achieve their ambitious goals. Fascinated by user behaviour and design, Ophelia loves worked with founders with strong product DNA and design-oriented teams. Previously Ophelia was a GP at LocalGlobe and a principal at Index Ventures where her investments included Typeform and Robinhood. Ophelia is also the founder of ALT “Ambitious Ladies in Tech” – a mentor programme that matches junior women in technology start-ups with senior functional leaders to provide them with valuable coaching, skills development and networking. The network includes executives from some of the world’s leading tech companies like Amazon, Airbnb, Facebook, Google, Uber and many more.
Learn more about Ophelia Brown on Crunchbase… Read more about Blossom Capital on Crunchbase…
Damien Lane
Co-Founder & Partner @ Episode 1
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Damien Lane has spent the last 20 years investing in private companies, both in Private Equity where he was a partner with Electra Partners, then at Octopus Ventures where he was a senior member of the investment team. Having made a number of angel investments, Damien co-founded Episode 1 with Simon and Adrian in 2012. While at Episode 1, Damien has led investments in Carwow, Scurri, Touch Surgery, Attest and Zipcube and loves working with early stage teams of entrepreneurs; helping them develop their early stage startup into a fast growth enterprises capable of raising more funding from later stage investors. When he is not trying to help businesses to implement an optimal approach to growth, Damien can mostly be found running around Hampstead Heath or the Coastal paths of Great Britain. Having trained obsessively to run a 2:52 Marathon in 2015, he is now trying to dip below 2:50, in the spirit of continuous improvement. Damien has an MBA from Cambridge University and a Masters degree in PE from Oxford University.
Learn more about Damien Lane on Crunchbase… Read more about Episode 1 on Crunchbase…
Bhav Singh
Co-Founder & Partner @ Sandbox & Co
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Bhavneet Singh (Bhav) has over 15 years deep experience scaling up businesses within large corporates in media, sports, entertainment, & now learning. Prior to Sandbox, Bhav was President & CEO of Pearson English & Informal Learning at Pearson Plc. – the world’s largest education company. During Bhav’s time at Pearson, he transformed the English business into a cohesive portfolio across Retail, Institutional, Corporate (a Saas Business) & Digital to Consumer. Bhav added to the existing portfolio by acquiring GlobalEnglish, Grupo Multi & IOKI, all of which were then integrated under one brand, Pearson English. Prior, Bhav spent 8 years at Viacom International Media Networks, as Managing Director & Executive Vice President, Emerging Markets. He grew Viacom’s presence across their entertainment brands (MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, VIVA, VH1 & COLORS) into one of the largest thematic channel portfolios’ in Emerging Markets. Bhav has also held senior roles across digital, general management & business development with Manchester United Plc., IMG, & Discovery Communications. Bhav’s track record as a successful “intrapreneur” naturally led to the creation of Sandbox & Co, a JV set up recently with Astro. Sandbox & Co is a strategic investor of businesses at the intersection of digital, learning & media. Additionally Bhav was nominated to become a Young Global Leader for the World Economic Forum in 2009. He also sits on the board for Hopster, Forthnet Nova & Antenna Group.
Learn more about Bhav Singh on Crunchbase… Read more about Sandbox & Co on Crunchbase…
Toby Coppel
Co-Founder & Partner @ Mosaic
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Toby Coppel is a Co-Founder and Partner at Mosaic Ventures, an early stage venture capital firm based in London. Toby has been in investing and operating roles in the internet sector since 1996. Prior to Mosaic, as a Partner at Virgin and an active angel investor over the past 4 years, Toby has made investments in companies such as Criteo, CreativeLive, Hailo, Pinterest and Transferwise and served on boards including Criteo, Virgin Care, Virgin Galactic, and Virgin Mobile (France). Toby was previously Senior Vice President of Corporate Development and Chief Strategy Officer at Yahoo! from 2001-2007 where he led the team that invested $1 billion into Alibaba for a 40% ownership stake in 2005 and acquired over 30 startups including Flickr, Inktomi, and Overture, for an aggregate of over $4 billion. Toby also ran Yahoo!’s European operations from 2007-2009, a $1 billion division of Yahoo! with over 2,000 employees. Prior to this, Toby was an Internet Investor at Windsor Media and Allen & Company and was a financial analyst at Goldman Sachs. Toby earned his MBA in Entrepreneurship from Harvard Business School and his M.A. in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from University of Oxford.
Learn more about Toby Coppel on Crunchbase… Read more about Mosaic on Crunchbase…
Fred Soneya
Co-Founder & Partner @ Haatch
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Fred was responsible for a number of high profile, large-scale innovation projects across one of the UK’s largest e-commerce businesses Kiddicare.com and post-acquisition, supermarket giant Morrisons. Fred created award-winning, digital customer experiences bridging the online-offline gap in one of the UK’s largest grocers, Morrisons. This included the launch of browse and order points, mobile payments and electronic shelf edge labels powered by early stage technology companies. To achieve this Fred worked with cutting edge early stage technology start-ups to integrate and piece together award-winning customer experiences. Co-founding Haatch in 2013, Fred runs the investment process end-to-end and works with portfolio businesses in advisory and board roles.
Learn more about Fred Soneya on Crunchbase… Read more about Haatch on Crunchbase…
Krishna Visvanathan
Co-founder & Partner @ Crane Venture Partners
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Krishna Visvanathan was a Partner at DFJ Esprit from October 2009 to April 2015. Krishna has been a Venture Capital investor for over 10 years. Krishna was previously a Partner at Encore Ventures from October 2009 to December 2011. Previously, Krishna was a Partner in 3i’s Venture Capital team and was responsible for several successful investments including Ezurio Ltd, Ubinetics Ltd, Blue Lithium Inc, E2V plc, Fastnet Systems Ltd and BTN Ltd. Krishna started his career at Ernst & Young before founding Optika Fibre Technologies, a polymer fibre and display technology start-up based in SE Asia. Krishna currently sits on the boards of Icera Inc, Netronome Systems Inc, Taptu Ltd, The Cloud Networks Ltd, Light Blue Optics Ltd and Cambridge Semiconductor Ltd. Krishna has a B.Sc. degree in Management Sciences from the University of Manchester Institute of Science & Technology and is a qualified Chartered Accountant.
Learn more about Krishna Visvanathan on Crunchbase… Read more about Crane Venture Partners on Crunchbase…
Anastasiya Belyaeva
Co-founder & Partner, Venture Platform @ Fabric Ventures
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Read more about Fabric Ventures on Crunchbase…
Kevin Johnson
Co-Founder & Partner @ Medicxi Ventures
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Prior to co-founding Medicxi Ventures, Kevin was a partner with Index Ventures for 12 years, having joined the firm’s life sciences team in 2003. Kevin spearheaded Index’very first experimental asset-centric investment, in PanGenetics, which was later acquired by Abbott Pharmaceuticals. He was formerly on the board of directors of Versartis (Nasdaq: VSAR) and is currently involved with include Acutus and Levicept among others. Prior to joining Index, Kevin was with Cambridge Antibody Technology (CAT), where he was appointed Head of Research in 1994 and, in 1997, Research Director and Chief Technology Officer. He led the development of CAT’s platform technologies and their application in the discovery of a number of human antibodies, two of which are now on the market: Humira (Abbott Pharmaceuticals) and Benlysta (GlaxoSmithKline). Kevin was part of the management team that floated CAT on the London Stock Exchange; it was subsequently acquired by AstraZeneca.Kevin received a BSc in Molecular Biology from Edinburgh University and a PhD in Pathology from Cambridge University.
Learn more about Kevin Johnson on Crunchbase…Medicxi is a life sciences-focused investment firm. Read more about Medicxi Ventures on Crunchbase…
Yervand Sarkisyan
Co Founder & Partner @ Granatus Ventures
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Yervand is an investor in AI and deep tech ventures in Europe and globally. He is based in London, UK. He is a co-founder and partner at Granatus Ventures, an early stage venture capital firm investing in deep tech startups.
Learn more about Yervand Sarkisyan on Crunchbase… Read more about Granatus Ventures on Crunchbase…
Timo Litty
Co-Founder & Partner @ Grove House Ratings
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Provider of quantitative due diligence software solutions to investors and intermediaries in Venture Capital markets Read more about Grove House Ratings on Crunchbase…
James Knight
Director, Co-Founder & Partner @ Original Content London
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Original Content London is a Product Studio specialising in ideation around digital culture. Read more about Original Content London on Crunchbase…
Eeswaran Navaratnam
Co-Founder & Partner @ 01Ventures
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Eeswaran co-founded 01 Ventures. He is a passionate company builder, loves startups, technology and is experienced at helping tech companies grow as a co-founder of Onyx Consulting. He has a Masters in Aeronautical Engineering from Imperial College London and adamantly maintains his love for Fortran.
Learn more about Eeswaran Navaratnam on Crunchbase… Read more about 01Ventures on Crunchbase…
James Baldwin
CEO, Founder & Partner @ Unai
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Software Development and Data Science Read more about Unai on Crunchbase…
Chris Haley
Co-Founder & Partner @ 01Ventures
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Chris is currently an active deep tech investor at 01Ventures, with offices in Amsterdam & London. With 01V he intends to invest in companies taking on big global problems with very bold ambition. 01V will be looking exclusively to invest in cutting-edge technologies in the following areas: – decentralization – data & machine intelligence – automation – enabling technologies – human-computer interaction. He is a strong advocate for European technology and is actively involved in the European startup ecosystem. Chris has been the Investor in Residence at StartupBootcamp IoT, a coach with Startup Sauna and regularly runs the investment masterclass for the Capital Enterprise Greenlight Programme in London. When not in London you’ll most likely find Chris at one of the many great tech events in Europe taking part in a panel, judging pitch events or hosting an investor open house.
Learn more about Chris Haley on Crunchbase… Read more about 01Ventures on Crunchbase…
Garth Shephard
Founder & Partner @ 72 Capital Limited
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Boutique M&A, fundraising and strategic adviser to the small and mid-cap technology, digital media and sport sectors. Read more about 72 Capital Limited on Crunchbase…
Alan Dargan
Co-Founder & Partner @ Lonsdale Capital Partners
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Alan was a Managing Director in Investment Banking at both Credit Suisse First Boston and Swiss Bank Corporation (now UBS). He ran a number of Investment Banking sectors and advised industrial groups and governments on major restructurings in Europe and around the world. In 1997 he founded Lansdowne Capital as a corporate finance advisory firm. Collectively Alan has over 30 years experience working on Wall Street and the City of London. Alan originally trained as an economist and is a chartered accountant.
Learn more about Alan Dargan on Crunchbase… Read more about Lonsdale Capital Partners on Crunchbase…
Henry Chamberlain
Founder & Partner @ IBIS Capital
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Henry has over 10 years of experience in venture capital as well as involvement in executive management, M&As and IPOs. His sector knowledge spans internet media, technology, gaming, leisure, healthcare IT, infrastructure and real estate funds. In 2004, Henry founded LifeStageMedia plc, an owner and operator of consumer websites in the U.S. The business achieved a successful exit five years later to a private equity consortium of TPG Growth and Leonard Green & Partners. Henry has served as founding Principal of Fairfax I.S. (U.S.) LLC, the U.S. subsidiary of Fairfax I.S. plc, a UK investment bank and has advised a range of early stage and growth companies.
Learn more about Henry Chamberlain on Crunchbase…IBIS Capital is an investment and corporate finance advisory group focusing on Media, Education, Training, and Health sectors. Read more about IBIS Capital on Crunchbase…
Ginny Hicks
Founder & Partner @ HLR Properties
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Having worked in Corporate Relocation for several years, Ginny decided to set up HLR in 1986. With the majority of business starting from word of mouth, Ginny began to target a more client focused and bespoke agency. Over the years HLR has built up a great variety of contacts and a fantastic track record of properties. Ginny’s knowledge of London and personal approach, whether it is property or cultural pursuits means she can give you invaluable insight to living in London.
Learn more about Ginny Hicks on Crunchbase… Read more about HLR Properties on Crunchbase…
Severin Zörgiebel
Co-Founder & Partner @ Grove House Ratings
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Provider of quantitative due diligence software solutions to investors and intermediaries in Venture Capital markets Read more about Grove House Ratings on Crunchbase…
Andy Wilkins
Co-Founder & Partner @ Perspectiv
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Andy Wilkins has more than 20 years’ experience helping people, teams and organizations significantly improve their performance. He has delivered more than 450 programs, workshops and coaching sessions for international companies in 11 countries. In 1997, Andy co founded Perspectiv, a research, consulting and training company specializing in the use of creative problem solving, strategy, leadership, and team development methodologies to help change and growth. Before that, he worked for 16 years at international IT companies as director of innovation and change, business unit managing director and director of strategy and marketing. Andy is also an Honorary Senior Visiting Fellow at Cass Business School in London on various MBA and MSc courses on innovation and management. He is currently working with the Business School on the delivery of the new master’s program in Creativity, Innovation and Leadership. Andy is researching the leadership approach necessary for dealing with “wicked problems” to help organizations better understand how to get the most from their methods.
Learn more about Andy Wilkins on Crunchbase… Read more about Perspectiv on Crunchbase…
Chris Rauch
Co-Founder & Partner @ Grove House Ratings
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Provider of quantitative due diligence software solutions to investors and intermediaries in Venture Capital markets Read more about Grove House Ratings on Crunchbase…
Martin Higham
Founder & Partner @ Ocasta
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Ocasta develops knowledge, training & education tech for your employees or students. Read more about Ocasta on Crunchbase…
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