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 Birmingham based CEO’ operating in the Information Technology space. If you think a CEO’ 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.
Mike Swain
Chief Executive Officer of SCC
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About SCC: SCC enable people to do business by planning, supplying, integrating and managing their IT.
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Nick Holzherr
Founder & CEO of Whisk
Whisk helps turn food inspiration into meals on the table, through software that makes the process seamless for users. Nick now leads Whisk at Samsung NEXT, Samsung’s software and innovation division. Before Whisk was acquired by Samsung in March 2019, Whisk had grown from a team of 2 to 32, integrating the world’s largest food ecosystem players in the US, UK, Australia and Germany. As a serial entrepreneur, Nick raised over $2m in VC funding to first found Whisk after pitching Whisk.com to Lord Sugar in the final of the BBC Apprentice 2012, where he achieved the series’ best task-win record. In 2017 Nick was awarded an honorary doctorate from Aston University. Nick and his businesses have been featured in leading publications including Newsweek, The Guardian, The Telegraph, The BBC and The Next Web.
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About Air, Samsung NEXT, Whisk: Whisk powers the creation, discovery, personalization, and monetization of food content online, in-store, and at home.
David Brasfield
Executive Chairman, CEO and Founder of NXTsoft
Mr. Brasfield, founder and CEO of NXTsoft and ThreatAdvice, has demonstrated a track record of success in creating and developing several technology companies from inception to successful exit over the last 30 years. In these ventures, Mr. Brasfield has successfully developed and implemented strategies for sales, marketing and software product development. He is the founder and former CEO of Tri-Novus Capital, LLC, SBS Corporation, SBS Data Services, Inc., Brasfield Technology, LLC and Brasfield Data Services, LLC, all of which were providers of automation technology solutions for community financial institutions. He has been a director of a community bank and is currently a member of other boards in the Birmingham area. Mr. Brasfield holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science from the University of Alabama-Birmingham.
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About NXTsoft: NXTsoft is a secure data and connectivity solutions platform with over 1,900 Financial Institutions as our clients.
Joe Lauer
Founder & CEO of Greenback
Joe Lauer is an entrepreneur focusing on web, mobile, and cloud software. He currently is the CEO of [Greenback](/organization/greenback). His previous company [Cloudhopper](/organization/cloudhopper) was acquired by Twitter (NYSE: TWTR) in 2010 and [Simplewire](/organization/simplewire) was acquired by Qpass/Amdocs (NYSE: DOX) in 2006.
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About Greenback: Accounting automation software for growing businesses.
Alan Creighton
President & CEO of Transform9
Alan Creighton, founder and CEO, is a veteran and serial entreprenuer who has built several successful technology companies in both the telecom and healthcare space with a focus on software applications. Alan has over 15 years experience as a CEO, growing his second business to over $90 million in annualized revenue. Alan’s experience includes raising capital from venture capital firms, private equity firms and banks throughout the southeast. Most recently Alan has applied his discipline, focus and drive to build a proprietary nine stage trading system which he now uses to trade public securities in the financial markets. Alan graduated from the University of Alabama with a major in Finance and a minor in Computer Science.
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About Transform9: Transform9 is a virtual assistant to transform your healthcare call center.
John Boyd Douglas
President and Chief Executive Officer of Computer Programs and Systems
Boyd Douglas began his career at CPSI in 1988. Boyd has served as President and Chief Executive Officer since 2006, and has also been a member of the Board of Directors since 2002. In addition to his current role, he has held several other positions at CPSI including Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer and Director of Programming Services. Boyd graduated from the University of the South with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics.
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About Computer Programs and Systems: Computer Programs and Systems, Inc (CPSI) is the leading provider of EHR systems to rural, community, and critical access hospitals.
Muazam Sarfaraz
CEO Founder of ascert.me
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About ascert.me, Bullioncard: your identity, personal again
Martin Green
CEO of Blueberry Consultants Ltd.
Martin Green founded Blueberry Consultants in 1997. Software development – and the creation of new products and companies – has been central to Martin’s life and career. He started programming on small microcomputers while at school, and after University established a game development company, ATD, which employed 35 people by the time he left to start Blueberry. Martin has been directly involved in the creation of three other start-up companies, and has been a director of two other UK technology companies. Martin believes that quality software development can make people’s lives easier, and takes a passionate interest in all Blueberry projects.
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About Blueberry Consultants Ltd., Blueberry Health: Blueberry Consultants is a Custom Software Development company.
Chris Woods
Founder and CEO of CyberQ Group
Chris Woods is the Founder and CEO of CyberQ Group.
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About CyberQ Group, CyberSparta: CyberQ Group – We Make Your Business Cyber Resilient.
Paul Solomon
Chief Executive Officer of Edenhouse Solutions
Paul started Edenhouse because he had a belief that with the right people anything is possible. The values they aspire to at Edenhouse are very simple, to delight their customers and their employees. This focus will never change. In the ever changing world we live in, and continue to deliver services in, They constantly have to adapt; meaning that agility and flexibility are paramount to them achieving their goals. Edenhouse has a unique culture and a delivery model that focuses on quality, it is his job to ensure they maintain these values and to ensure that strategically they make the right decisions. He is proud of the Edenhouse team because their people make them different and ultimately it is their people that make them successful.
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About Edenhouse Solutions: Edenhouse Solutions is provides SAP consultancy services.
Alex Fisher
Founder & CEO of Saturn Bioponics
Alex has driven the Saturn Grower technology from initial experiments through to market ready product over the last 7 years. He has significant experience in all aspects of the technology and its application in the commercial growing market place. He is working with some of the UK’s leading horticultural crop growers, processors, industry figures and researchers, as well as with commercial partners in international markets. Alex has overall responsibility for the direction of the company but remains involved with all customers at both sales and support levels.
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About Saturn Bioponics: Saturn Bioponics provides crop production systems to improve profitability by increasing yields and reducing labour and resource costs.
Alexander Fisher
CEO of Saturn Bioponics
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About Saturn Bioponics: Saturn Bioponics provides crop production systems to improve profitability by increasing yields and reducing labour and resource costs.
Mark Wesson
CEO of EverSource Wealth Advisors
Mark’s career of 30+ years has been dedicated to consulting with wealthy individuals, families, and owners of privately-held businesses on a variety of business, financial, values-based, gifting, and investment topics. Most recently, he created the Wealth Services Division of Cadence Bank as EVP Wealth Services with full responsibility for the private banking, trust, brokerage, and RIA lines of business with $6.2B in loans, deposits, and assets under management. Prior to this, he held the titles of SVP and regional managing director of Private Banking at Wells Fargo Bank, SVP and regional managing director of Wealth Management for Wachovia Bank, and director of Wealth Management for SouthTrust Bank. As VP of Institutional Accounts at Highland Capital, Mark advised over two hundred wealth advisors and over forty wealth management teams in fourteen states.
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About BMSS Wesson Wealth Solutions, EverSource Wealth Advisors: EverSource Wealth Advisors can provide a variety of financial planning services to help wealth advisors to achieve balance and growth
Henry Porter
CEO & Founder of Bluewater Capital
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About Bluewater Capital: Bluewater Capital provides consulting services on using financial assets in developing businesses.
Terry Lee
CEO of Naia Corporation
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About Naia Corporation: Naia Corporation USA based Software company with offices in Birmingham, Dubai with our production center in Hyderabad (India).
Tony Heappey
CEO & Senior Consultant of Cloud Systems Group
Tony has been providing IT Services to businesses for 30 years and has seen the industry completely transform as a result. Starting his IT Career at the dawn of personal desktop computing he worked tirelessly to learn every aspect of these new devices before beginning the journey into servers, networking and business solutions. Over time, Tony’s Consultancy business grew into a self-perpetuating IT Support business which looked after both large enterprises and small businesses alike and took great pride in delivering exceptional service to all of its Clients. As the industry continued to progress, Tony quickly identified the shift towards more proactive services and implemented advanced monitoring and management technologies to further boost service levels which transformed the business into an early provider of Managed Services. In 2010, after having spent many prior years working with businesses to implement Private Cloud strategies, Tony once again identified the need for change and the requirement to embrace Cloud Technologies which resulted in the birth of CLOUD SYSTEMS. Tony grew up in Birmingham and spent much of his childhood travelling the world with his family. Today, he still has a passion for travel and enjoys touring the world with his wife Liz and the rest of their family. Tony’s other hobbies include Reading, Swimming, Golf and Walking his Dog!
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About Cloud Systems Group: Cloud Systems Group providing IT Services to a wide variety of Clients located around the globe.
Antonio Giarrusso
Founder & CEO of Userbot
Founder & CEO at Userbot.
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About Userbot: Userbot is an AI powered customer interaction platform
Yiannis Maos
Founder & CEO of Birmingham Tech (Birmingham Tech Week)
I’m the Founder of Birmingham Tech Week, a collaborative series of events that celebrate our region’s technology scene. The week is government-backed, highlights new and emerging innovation and inspires people from all walks of life to get involved in technology. Prior to this, I was Co-Founder of Hyve, a SaaS platform that helps brands to collaborate with their customers and help turn their loyal customers into word of mouth advocates. The first 10 years of my career I was spent at Rant & Rave, where I was responsible for the marketing strategy, helping them go from a challenger brand to a well established, multi-million pound SaaS company. I have over 15 years of experience in technology, marketing and CX – specialising in helping innovative brands achieve fast-growth by developing strategic customer relationships. During my career, I’ve been named Central England’s Young Entrepreneur of the Year, spoken at some of the UK’s top business schools and mentored young marketers as part of Google’s Squared programme. Highlights: • Currently a mentor for Google’s Squared Digital Marketing programme where I’m helping young marketers understand, and how to take advantage of future technologies and trends • Recognised as one of the country’s most promising marketers through the Marketing Academy, where I’ve been coached and mentored by some of the world’s top Marketing Directors from companies including; Facebook, Google, BT and Twitter • Selected to judge at the DMA Awards (Best Digital Destination), Digital Experience Awards (Best Mobile Experience), Shell Livewire Awards (Digital Innovation) and Customer Experience Awards (Global Experience Programme) • Presented at Henley Business School (Customer Experience), Coventry Business School (Inbound Marketing), The Media Trust (Mobile Marketing and Social Media), Warwick Business School (Innovative Marketing) and The International Institute of Innovation (Digital Marketing) • Awarded Central England Young Entrepreneur of the Year for achievements in Digital Marketing – Shell UK PLC
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About Birmingham Tech (Birmingham Tech Week), Bruntwood: Birmingham Tech is a not-for-profit organisation that supports the growth of the Birmingham (UK) and West Midlands Technology Sector.
Sean Nicholson
Founder and CEO of Sign Solutions
As founder and now Non Executive Director of Sign Solutions, Sean, based in Warwickshire, has been able to watch the company grow from a small seed into a blossoming tree branching out in many directions. The bulk of his efforts are spent on devising strategy, whether that be regarding the day to day running of the company or exciting new projects; Sean is always eager to introduce new ideas to the company, constantly seeking ways to expand and improve. A hands-on director, he has taken the company into the field of video interpreting with innovations including E -learning, an app for the Smartphone and a DVD for Police. Sean qualified as an interpreter in 1991 and is a registered Expert Witness. Not wishing to forget his roots, Sean still enjoys BSL interpreting assignments. He strives to work directly with the Deaf Community as much as possible, be that a 15 minute doctor’s appointment or a training course. On his precious days off, he enjoys spending time with his family, taking every opportunity to travel, and likes to wind down with a glass of wine.
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About Sign Solutions: Sign Solutions is a language and learning company, specialising in interpretation support for Deaf people
