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 Founder operating in the Direct Marketing space. If you think a Founder 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.
Alex Vratskides
Co-Founder & CEO of Persado
Alex Vratskides is the CEO of Persado, which he co-founded in 2012. Previously, Alex co-founded Upstream in 2001 and served as the company’s CEO between 2004 and 2012. During his tenure, the company grew to become a global leader in mobile marketing, with mobile operator clients in more than 40 countries. Alex was responsible for setting Upstream’s strategic direction and spearheading its international sales expansion and product innovation. Prior to founding Upstream, Alex worked as a management consultant at OC&C/McKenna Group, based out of Boston. He is the first angel investor for Luluvise, where he is also a board member, and serves on the board of advisors of Seyyer. Alex holds a BS in Applied Mathematics from Columbia University and a Masters of Engineering in Operations Research from Cornell University.
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About Persado: Persado Marketing Language Cloud delivers AI-generated language that resonates the most with any audience, segment or individual.
David Kershaw
Co-Founder ,CEO & Exec Director of M&C Saatchi
David Kershaw is a founding director of M&C Saatchi. He joined Saatchi & Saatchi in 1982 after obtaining an MBA at London Business School. He became managing director in 1990 and was made chairman and chief executive of the UK agency in 1994.
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About M&C Saatchi: M&C Saatchi Group is a creative company that connects specialist expertise, fuelled by data and technology.
Ronald DeKoven
Founder & CEO of myBarrister
Ronald DeKoven was called to the bar of Illinois and New York in 1968 and 1980 respectively. In 1980 Mr DeKoven became a partner of Shearman & Sterling, New York. He ran several of the firm’s practices, including Insolvency and Leasing. After moving to London in 2003, Mr DeKoven became an Associate Member of South Square Chambers, and was permitted by the Bar Council to practice New York and U.S. Federal Law in chambers. In 2008 Mr DeKoven applied to the Bar Council for a waiver of examination and pupillage as a condition to becoming a barrister. The waiver was granted in full and Mr DeKoven was called to the Bar of England and Wales by Lincoln’s Inn in March, 2009. Although he continues his association with South Square, Mr DeKoven has created his own chambers at 8 Stone Buildings, Lincoln’s Inn, where he continues his practice as a New York lawyer and English barrister involved in dispute resolution in large, complex cross-border transactions.
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About ereorg, myBarrister: myBarrister is an online portal that provides direct access to legal advice barristers.
Armaan Mehta
Co-Founder of Odore
Armaan Mehta is the Co-Founder at Odore.
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About Odore: We bring digital and data to sampling, providing data driven sampling solutions so brands get to know their customers better.
Karan Gupta
Co-Founder of Odore
Karan Gupta is the Co-Founder at Odore.
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About Odore: We bring digital and data to sampling, providing data driven sampling solutions so brands get to know their customers better.
