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 Cambridge based VP’ operating in the Software space. If you think a VP’ 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.
Gil Benghiat
Founder, VP of Products & Implementation of DataKitchen
Gil Benghiat is a Founder and VP of Product & Implementation of DataKitchen, a company on a mission to provide the software, service, and knowledge that enables every data analytics team to successfully implement DataOps. At DataKitchen, Gil leads an Implementation Team of talented software and data engineering professionals responsible for guiding customers’ adoption of DataOps and optimal use of DataKitchen’s DataOps Platform. Gil also leads a Product Development Team responsible for the definition, design, development, quality, and operation of DataKitchen’s SaaS DataOps Platform. Gil has over 35 years of experience in software engineering spanning multiple technical leadership roles at data-oriented technology companies, such as AT&T Bell Laboratories collecting and displaying network data, managing data at Sybase, collecting and cleaning clinical trial data at Phase Forward, integrating pharmaceutical sales data at LeapFrogRx, and liberating his clients’ data at Solid Oak Consulting. At previous companies, he achieved results such as growing a company from 4 to 320 employees and revenue from $0 to $60M resulting in IPO and improving the scalability of the product to increase the number of systems managed from 300 to 12,000. Gil holds an Sc.B. from Brown University in Applied Mathematics and Biology and an M.S. in Computer Science from Stanford University.
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About DataKitchen: DataKitchen is a DataOps software company that helps organizations deliver more data products faster with lower errors that customers trust.
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David Corcoran
Co-founder and VP of R&D of Onshape
David Corcoran is the vice president of research and development of [Onshape](https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/onshape-inc-#/entity), a full-cloud 3D CAD system. He previously co-founded and worked as the president of LC Design. Corcoran holds a bachelor’s degree in applied mathematics from Brown University.
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About Onshape: Onshape is a product development platform that unites CAD, data management, collaboration tools, and real-time analytics.
Pierre Bi
VP Air Quality of iRobot
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About iRobot: iRobot is an American technology company that designs and builds behavior-based AI robots.
Sami Salomaa
VP, Business Development and Planning & VP, Commercial and General Counsel of Secondmind
Sami is an applied mathematics engineer with more than twenty years experience building innovative and complex business models at the crossroads of finance and technology. Originally from Finland, Sami has spent much of his life as an expat around the world. He heads our initiatives in the financial sector. In his spare time, he prefers to build solid things that solve simpler problems, like huge natural light sky panels to help his family cope with winters in the far north.
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About Secondmind: Machine learning for automotive innovators
Ben Solari
Vice President, Inside Sales of DataRobot
Ben Solari is the VP of Global Inside Sales at DataRobot, where he leads a team of 30 Account Executives in offices in Boston, Singapore, and London with a focus on helping companies use accessible machine learning technology to solve practical business problems and improve their operations.
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About DataRobot: DataRobot brings AI technology and ROI enablement services to global enterprises.
John Redford
Co-founder, Chief Architect & VP Perception of FiveAI
John Redford is a Co-Founder, VP Perception, and Chief Architect at FiveAI. He co-founded and was VP Software at Element 14 Inc, a DSL chipset company bought by Broadcom in 2000 for $640M where he continued to lead the DSP and high-performance software development. Previously John was CTO at Acorn Computers and is a graduate in Mathematics from the University of Cambridge.
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About FiveAI: FiveAI provides a software platform designed for providing a solution in urban mobility in public transport to complex urban environments.
Ben Peters
Co-Founder and VP of Product of FiveAI
Ben Peters is a Co-Founder and VP of product at FiveAI.
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About FiveAI: FiveAI provides a software platform designed for providing a solution in urban mobility in public transport to complex urban environments.
Andrew Frame
VP Business Development of Secure Thingz
Andrew Frame joined Secure Thingz in 2019 as VP Business Development. Prior to this Andrew was Director of Business Development within the Emerging Business Group at Arm. In his 23+ years at Arm, Andrew held a number of key roles most notably Director IoT Technologies and Cortex-M Product Management. Andrew holds a BSc (Hons) in Computer Studies from Sheffield Hallam University.
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About Secure Thingz: Secure Thingz a focus on developing and delivering advanced security solutions into the emerging Industrial Internet of Things.
Ashish Khan
Senior Vice President, Global eCommerce, Mobile & CX Platforms of Staples
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About Staples: Staples Easy Rebates is an online platform that enables Staples customers to submit, track, and find rebates.
Layla Shaikley
Co-Founder and VP of Customer Experience of Wise Systems
Layla Shaikley is the co-founder and vice president of customer experience.
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About Wise Systems: Wise Systems’ autonomous dispatch and routing software uses AI to improve fleet efficiency and customer service for last-mile operations.
Jim Rose
Vice President of Marketing of Intersystems
Jim Rose leads the global marketing and branding strategy for InterSystems. He brings more than 25 years of marketing experience to the role from his work with high-technology leaders and creative marketing agencies. He was previously Vice President of Marketing and Communications for Symantec Corp., where he led global marketing for the company’s data management and security software. He also held senior marketing roles at IBM, including Vice President of Digital Marketing and Vice President of Integrated Marketing Communications. Jim’s experience also includes 12 years with advertising agencies including Ogilvy and Mather, where he was Vice President Account Supervisor for the Compaq account. As a licensed Airline Transport Pilot, Jim has volunteered for Angel Flight NE, which flies patients to treatment facilities who would otherwise have no access to commercial air transport. His honors include a Silver Effie Award for proven marketing effectiveness from the American Marketing Association. He holds an MBA from the Kelley School of Business, Indiana University, and a bachelor of science degree in aerospace from Indiana State University.
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About Intersystems: InterSystems is a vendor of software and technology for high-performance database management, integration, and health information systems.
Paul Grabscheid
Vice President of Strategic Planning of Intersystems
Since 1986, Paul Grabscheid has used his expertise in database and application development tools and technologies in a variety of product planning and marketing roles at InterSystems. Prior to that, he served as director of marketing for Mathematica, a database and 4GL software company, helping to expand the company’s worldwide presence. When the company was acquired by Martin Marietta he served as director of marketing for that firm’s Information Technology Division, overseeing marketing efforts for a number of system software, application software, and computer services product lines. Grabscheid’s background also includes consulting work involving the development of decision support systems for state governments. He holds a master’s degree from the Sloan School of Management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
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About Intersystems: InterSystems is a vendor of software and technology for high-performance database management, integration, and health information systems.
Joe DeSantis
Vice President of HealthShare Platforms of Intersystems
Joe DeSantis is responsible for all aspects of the InterSystems HealthShare informatics platform, including software development, product marketing, and business development. He previously worked with Liant Software Corporation as vice president of research & development, where he was responsible for product vision, architecture, and development of object-oriented development tools. DeSantis co-founded Oakland Group, Inc., where he served as vice president of research & development and oversaw the architecture, design and development of the C-scape Interface Management System. DeSantis got his start at Zoom Telephonics, Inc. as a senior engineer responsible for designing consumer telecommunications devices. He studied electrical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
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About Intersystems: InterSystems is a vendor of software and technology for high-performance database management, integration, and health information systems.
Dominic Binks
VP Technology of Audio Analytic
Dominic Binks is the VP Technology at Audio Analytic
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About Audio Analytic, Audio Analytic: Audio Analytic creates exceptional human experiences through giving consumer technology a greater sense of hearing.
Neil Cooper
VP Marketing of Audio Analytic
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About Audio Analytic: Audio Analytic creates exceptional human experiences through giving consumer technology a greater sense of hearing.
Rahul Chandra
EVP, Partnerships & Marketing of B-Yond
Rahul Chandra serves as executive vice president of partnerships and marketing at B-Yond.
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About B-Yond: B-Yond is an AI-based startup that develops network automation solutions.
Heather Richards
VP Product Strategy and GTM, KM of Verint Systems
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About Verint Systems: Verint Systems provides Actionable Intelligence solutions for enterprise workforce optimization and security intelligence.
Gil Irizarry
Vice President, Engineering of Basis Technology
Gil Irizarry is a Director of Engineering at Basis Technology, responsible for name and identity matching technology. He has over 25 years of experience in software development and engineering management, including CSM (certified scrum master) and PMP (project management professional) certifications. Gil has degrees from Cornell and Harvard Universities and a certificate in management from MIT’s Sloan School of Management.
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About Basis Technology: Basis Technology offers software to extract content from unstructured multilingual text for search, e-discovery and digital forensics.
Eric Kim
Co-Founder & Vice President of Design of Modo Labs
Eric Kim has 17 years of interdisciplinary design experience with a specific emphasis on the architecture and visual design of web and mobile applications for clients from technology startups to Fortune 500 enterprises. Eric’s emphasis in all of his design work is on making technology-driven experiences not just functional, but enjoyable and enlightened as well. Eric graduated from Harvard University in 1994 with an BA with honors in Visual and Environmental Studies, with a concentration in architecture and graphic design. Eric also serves on Modo Labs’ board of directors.
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About Modo Labs: Modo Labs empowers ordinary people to create extraordinary apps, no technical skills required.
Ricardo Herreros-Symons
VP, Sales of Speechmatics
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About Speechmatics: Global experts in deep learning and speech recognition
Will Williams
VP Machine Learning of Speechmatics
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About Speechmatics, Speechmatics: Global experts in deep learning and speech recognition
Will Williams
VP Machine Learning of Speechmatics
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About Speechmatics, Speechmatics: Global experts in deep learning and speech recognition
Bret Connor
SVP, Chief Customer Officer of Athenahealth
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About Athenahealth: Athenahealth is a provider of medical practice automation and claims management software to medical groups and health systems.
David Hargreaves
VP Software of DisplayLink
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About DisplayLink: DisplayLink is a hardware and software company specializing in multi-monitor and zero client computing.
Steve Clarke
CTO and SVP Engineering (IoT) of Wyld Networks AB
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About Wyld Networks AB: Wyld Networks enables affordable low power IoT connectivity through LEO satellites.
Iqbal Kaur
Co Founder & VP – Data Sciences of Zylotech
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About Zylotech: Zylotech is a B2B customer data platform that delivers trusted data governance for both people and companies.
Adam Kersnowski
EVP Customer Success of AirWorks
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About AirWorks: AirWorks develops AI-powered software to create automated maps from aerial data, building future of mapping for the built environment.
Meghan Golden
Vice President, Operations of Cumulus Digital Systems
Meghan is a Vice President of Operations and leads the Product Deployment team. Prior to co-founding Cumulus, she was a Program Manager at Shell TechWorks, Shell’s technology center in Cambridge, Massachusetts. At STW, Meghan led the Smart Torque System program from inception to commercialization and supported multiple deployments of the system throughout the world. Prior to joining Shell, Meghan worked in the Defense Industry and served for 6 years on active duty as an officer in the U.S. Army. Meghan enjoys being active and spending time with her husband, Steve, and their three daughters Eleanor, Victoria, and Cecilia. Meghan earned a B.S. in Systems Engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point and is also a certified Project Management Professional (PMP®) from the Project Management Institute. She is a combat veteran of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom and recipient of the Bronze Star Medal.
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About Cumulus Digital Systems: Cumulus Digital Systems is a startup building an Internet of Tools-powered platform to make industrial facilities safer.
Marcio Macedo
Co-Founder & VP Products of Ava Robotics
Marcio is Co-Founder and VP Products at Ava Robotics. Previously, Marcio was Director of Product Management for commercial robots at iRobot where he led the product strategy for iRobot’s industry-leading autonomous robots for commercial applications. A video conferencing industry veteran, prior to iRobot Marcio served in product management leadership roles at HP, Polycom, and PictureTel Corp. Marcio has a BSEE from the Catholic University in Rio de Janeiro, an MSEE from Northeastern University and an MBA from Babson College.
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About Ava Robotics: Ava Robotics is a robotics technology company that designs and builds intelligent robots for the workplace.
Gordon Wallace
Executive Vice President, Agent Services of Lone Wolf Technologies
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About Lone Wolf Technologies: Lone Wolf Technologies is in real estate solutions and services with almost 10,000 offices utilizing their fully integrated product lines.
Daniel Spector
SVP Technology of Virtual Solutions
Daniel Spector is the Technology Director, Enterprise Crowdsourcing at Lionbridge.
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About Virtual Solutions: Virtual Solutions provides clients a secure, highly scalable human technology workforce that is available on demand.
Nick Parsons
CTO and Vice President of Engineering of Polatis
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About HUBER+SUHNER, Polatis: Polatis is a tech company delivering optical switching solutions for remote fiber-layer provisioning, protection and monitoring.
Peter Hardy
Vice President of Marketing and Business Development of Software Bisque
Peter is Sky Publishing’s Advertising Sales Director. He comes to Sky with more than 14 years of advertising sales experience. He has worked for such well-known publishers as Ziff-Davis and Cahners in both sales and managerial capacities. His experience includes working on business-to-business and consumer magazines. Peter says his greatest professional satisfaction comes from helping companies succeed in growing the markets for their products through advertising in magazines, on the Web, and in other media. Peter earned a B.A. in Political Science at the University of Massachusetts. He has always been interested in astronomy and looks forward to immersing himself in the hobby, not only for business but also for pleasure.
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About Software Bisque: Software Bisque manufactures precision robotic telescope mounts and publishes astronomy software for digital imagers.
Brian Otis
Vice President, Sales and Business Development of Tesora
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About Tesora: Tesora develops solutions that focus on simplifying how databases are provisioned and managed.
