Best Startup
At Best Startup UK we track over 130,000 UK startups and over 500,000 people who hold key positions in these companies. We use this directory of startups to highlight top employees, founders and board members we think deserve more appreciation than they are currently getting.
This list showcases the top United Kingdom based Director operating in the Peer to Peer space. If you think a Director is missing from this list, feel free to contact our editor on editor@beststartup.co.uk.
The individuals on this list have been included because of exceptional performance in one of the following categories:
- Innovation – Operating as a key part in an extremely innovative business or startup.
- Growth – Operating as a key figure in the growth and upscale of a market leading business or startup.
- Management – Showing exceptional management skills.
- Societal impact – Putting their business on the map for their positive societal or environmental impact.
Our Data – We source our data from OSINT (open source intelligence) and public directories such as Companies House UK, Crunchbase, SemRush and many more. The data from these sources should be treated with a degree of caution and verified yourself.
David S. Wong
Chairman & CEO, Director of Midpoint
David is a London-based entrepreneur and investor in disruptive technologies and previously Managing Director of Expadis Capital. Prior to becoming an investor, he co-founded a publicly traded technology and media company. David has extensive experience in building, advising technology companies and helping businesses scale internationally. David started out as a client of Midpoint. He subsequently invested in the Company and joined the Board of Directors. David holds a BSc (Hons) in Engineering from the University of Liverpool and MA (Distinction) in Management from the University of Brighton.
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About Midpoint: Midpoint is a true peer-to-peer international payments platform for any businesses or individual wanting access to fair and transparent FX.
Martin Gill
VP, Research Director – Digital Strategy and Experience of Forrester Research
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About Forrester Research: Forrester is a research and advisory firm that provides businesses with business and technology-related consulting services.
Giles Andrews
Co-founder & Director of Zopa
Giles Andrews, CEO and co-founder Zopa, the world’s first P2P lending and borrowing marketplace. Giles has led the company through a period of dramatic growth that has seen it established as a real threat to traditional players, reaching over 2% market share and £160m in loans. Giles spent the first ten years of his career in the motor industry pursuing his interest in all things automotive. This included co-founding Caverdale in 1992, a start-up taken to a £250m revenue motor retailer and sold in 1997. After an MBA at INSEAD he set up his own consultancy business whose clients included Tesco and Tesco Personal Finance and which also provided start up advice and early stage funding for new businesses, until co-founding Zopa in 2004.
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About Zopa: Zopa offers peer-to-peer loans with low rates, flexible terms, and no early repayment fees.
Paul Brett
Managing Director, Intermediaries of LANDBAY
Paul has over 20 years experience in the financial services and lending industries and over 10 years specialist business development expertise. Prior to joining borro Paul worked at Fastcom as the Sales and Marketing Director and at SPML as the Head of Sales. He also formed the Mortgage Industry Association and brand “Freehold” by successfully bringing together 25 companies in the industry with a collective £1.6 billion of distribution. Paul also brings to the table several years of consultancy experience, devising strategies for several multi million pound turnover private companies.
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About LANDBAY: Landbay is a specialist Buy to Let mortgage lender using peer-to-peer technology to fund its loans.
Paul Pashley
Operations Director & Compliance Officer of Invest & Fund
Paul is a highly-experienced financial services executive with experience across senior operations, risk and compliance roles. He has held Executive and Director level roles for Barclays, Woolwich and Nationwide and is an FSA approved person.
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About Invest & Fund: Invest & Fund is a credit-led alternative finance marketplace helping individuals, high net worth lenders, private banks and institutions.
Sylvia Bowden
Director of CapitalStackers
Sylvia Bowden BSc (Hons), MRICS, Director is a qualified surveyor and has worked in real estate for 36 years in a career spanning fund management, property development, construction, agency and property finance. Latterly, she has led real estate structured lending teams at Barclays and Clydesdale and brings to the team a breadth of experience, risk assessment and risk management skills.
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About CapitalStackers: CapitalStackers is a peer to peer lending platform dedicated to real estate finance.
Steve Robson
Founding Shareholder and Managing Director of CapitalStackers
Steve Robson ACIB, Managing Director and founder of CapitalStackers, has worked in property finance for almost 30 years and has a broad and deep understanding of development and investment lending. He is also the founder director of pi-FRAME Ltd, a property risk analysis software house and a non-executive director of property development and construction companies.
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About CapitalStackers: CapitalStackers is a peer to peer lending platform dedicated to real estate finance.
Val Wain
Finance Director of CapitalStackers
Val Wain FCCA, Finance Director is also a director of Hallidays and handles the ongoing financial management for each company. Her multi-faceted knowledge of regulatory issues makes her a considerable asset when dealing with FCA matters. Her main role is overseeing client account compliance and the relationship with Capitalstackers Trustees Ltd.
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About CapitalStackers: CapitalStackers is a peer to peer lending platform dedicated to real estate finance.
Tony Goldrick
Director of CapitalStackers
Tony Goldrick BA, ACIB, Director has spent his career in banking, the last 20 years of which specialising in property lending. He is skilled in loan risk assessment and loan performance monitoring, bringing huge property sector experience to the business, along with an impressive list of professional contacts.
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About CapitalStackers: CapitalStackers is a peer to peer lending platform dedicated to real estate finance.
Kathryn Corrick
COO and Research Director of Represent
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About Represent: Building the tools for a better democracy.
Andrew Birkby
Director of Wild Card Brewery
Raised on a healthy selection of best bitters and pale ales from his home Midlands, Andrew has always been fanatical about beer. Meticulous and calm, he brings a level head and steady hand to the Wild Card Brewery. On the few occasions when not brewing or tasting you will most likely find Andrew learning Portuguese, riding his bike or tending his garden
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About Wild Card Brewery: Wild Card Brewery is a micro-brewery and bar in Walthamstow.
Davin Poonwassie
Co-Founder and Operations Director of Simple Crowdfunding
Davin was first introduced to crowdfunding in early 2013 and he spotted the opportunity that crowdfunding brings. At the end of 2013, Simple Backing, their first property crowdfunding platform focused on Peer to Peer Lending was born. After speaking to their customers, Davin soon realised that there was also a need to provide an Equity option, thus Simple Equity was formed. With a background in data, databases and information technology, Davin is well suited to this marketplace. Outside of crowdfunding, Davin is a business and property coach, helping others achieve their goals and aspirations. Davin is also a keen property investor, investing in parts of the UK and France.
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About Simple Crowdfunding: Simple Crowdfunding is a regulated peer to peer lending and crowdfunding platform, offering property finance.
Atuksha Poonwassie
Managing Director and Co-Founder of Simple Crowdfunding
Atuksha has been involved in Peer to Peer Lending and Crowdfunding since 2013. She is a Director of the UK Crowdfunding Association, and regularly engages with policymakers and Government to advance this marketplace for all sectors in the UK. Atuksha is also the 2017 national Venus ‘Influential Woman of the Year’ award winner and is recognised in the P2P Finance News’ 2020 and 2021 Power 50, making the top 10 cut. This list highlights the 50 most influential people in P2P. Being a firm believer in building a strong community and customer base, Atuksha uses her expertise to help property professionals raise finance, build a crowd, and stand out in the market, whilst providing better access to the UK property market to everyone.
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About Simple Crowdfunding: Simple Crowdfunding is a regulated peer to peer lending and crowdfunding platform, offering property finance.
