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 Glasgow based Partner operating in the Venture Capital space. If you think a Partner 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.
Stuart Paterson
Partner of Scottish Equity Partners
Stuart, a Partner and co-founder of SEP, specialises in investments in consumer internet and enterprise software. He is currently non-executive director of European online eyewear retailer Mister Spex and Berlin based online language learning business Babbel and has been instrumental in building up SEP’s presence and reputation in Germany. He also sits on the board of LoveCrafts and led the recent £26m investment in the company which creates online crafting communities. Stuart has a strong track record in consumer internet investments having led the original investment in travel search business Skyscanner when it had revenues of less than £1 million. In 2016 the business was sold to leading Chinese travel agency Ctrip for £1.4bn. Other recent investments include legal Software as a Service business Peppermint Technology and SportPursuit, the online flash sales retailer for premium outdoor clothing and sports apparel.
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About Scottish Equity Partners: Scottish Equity Partners is a technology focused growth equity firm operating across the UK and Europe.
Calum Paterson
Managing Partner of Scottish Equity Partners
Calum Paterson is SEP’s Managing Partner. He has worked in the venture capital industry since 1991. Calum has led SEP since its formation and is chairman of our investment committee. He plays a key role in assessing all of our new investment opportunities and is closely involved right across our portfolio of investee companies. Calum is also a non-executive director of Skyscanner, the world’s fastest growing travel search company, and TotallyMoney.com, a digital media company focused on financial services. His leadership, commitment and professionalism are reflected in the strong relationships we have built up with our portfolio companies and our key Limited Partners over many years. Calum studied Economics at the University of Strathclyde and has BA and MBA degrees. He is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Calum works from both our London and Glasgow offices.
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About Scottish Equity Partners, The British Private Equity & Venture Capital Association: Scottish Equity Partners is a technology focused growth equity firm operating across the UK and Europe.
David Sneddon
Partner of Scottish Equity Partners
David is a partner at SEP, having joined the firm in 2001. David has invested across most industry sectors and has always had a special affinity with the energy sector, having studied chemical engineering at university. He also has a strong interest in the cleantech sector. David uses his two decades of investment experience, including previous roles with RBS and Bridgepoint Capital, to help portfolio companies consider and manage the challenges of growth and transition. His ability to identify key issues has been of great value to current portfolio companies such as Arkex and ip.access as well as previous investments such as Anesco, CamSemi and MTEM.
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About Scottish Equity Partners: Scottish Equity Partners is a technology focused growth equity firm operating across the UK and Europe.
Tony Robison
Partner of Scottish Equity Partners
Tony is a Partner with SEP and has 20 years’ experience in financial and commercial roles. After training as a Chartered Accountant with KPMG, he held senior management and Board positions with high growth, technology rich companies, notably Rhetorical Group, VIS and Gas2, which develops novel and scalable solutions in the Gas-to-Liquids market. He was the Chief Financial Officer at oilfield technology company MTEM, playing a key role in its sale to Petroleum Geoservices in 2007. Tony has a profound understanding of the importance of developing and implementing appropriate financial controls and systems for early stage and high growth businesses together with considerable fundraising and M&A experience and has worked with numerous entrepreneurs in dynamic environments. Tony is heavily involved in portfolio management and holds board positions with small to medium scale hydro scheme operator Green Highland Renewables and ground source heat pump system developer and installer GIenergy . He is also working closely with digital solutions provider Tryzens.
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About Scottish Equity Partners: Scottish Equity Partners is a technology focused growth equity firm operating across the UK and Europe.
Bill Nixon
Managing Partner & Founder of Maven Capital Partners
Bill is based in the Glasgow and London offices, and is the principal fund manager for all Maven VCTs. He has responsibility for all aspects of the Maven business, including strategy, new investment activity, client management and business development. At Aberdeen Asset Management Bill was Head of Growth Capital, responsible for the UK investment team. In the mid 1990s he was Head of the Private Equity team at National Australia Bank and with more than 30 years of experience in banking, corporate finance and fund management, is one of the most experienced smaller company private equity practitioners in the UK. Bill is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers in Scotland, and has an MBA from Strathclyde University.
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About Maven Capital Partners: Maven Capital Partners is a private equity firm that provides a range of funding options to SMEs and investment opportunities.
Ewan MacKinnon
Partner of Maven Capital Partners
Ewan is responsible for new Private Equity investments across Scotland. He joined Maven in 2009 having previously worked for Johnston Carmichael in Aberdeen where he spent 3 years in the Corporate Finance team. Previously Ewan worked in industry, latterly as Managing Director of a multi-store retail chain, before leading the disposal to a FTSE listed business. Ewan graduated with a First Class Degree in Business Studies from The Robert Gordon University in 1998, and is a Chartered Accountant (FCCA).
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About Maven Capital Partners: Maven Capital Partners is a private equity firm that provides a range of funding options to SMEs and investment opportunities.
Bill Kennedy
Partner of Maven Capital Partners
Bill is Head of Finance at Maven, and has responsibility for the fund administration, accounting and company secretariat functions. Bill is also responsible for ensuring that Maven meets its compliance and authorisation obligations. He joined Aberdeen Asset Management in 2004 from State Street Bank & Trust Company, where as Head of Collective Fund Services he provided outsourced fund administration, tax and accounting services to a range of clients and funds. Prior to this, he was responsible for fund administration and accounting for Murray Johnstone. Bill has a BA in Accountancy, and qualified as a Chartered Accountant whilst with Arram Berlyn Gardner in London.
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About Maven Capital Partners: Maven Capital Partners is a private equity firm that provides a range of funding options to SMEs and investment opportunities.
Andrew Craig
Partner of Maven Capital Partners
Andrew is responsible for new Private Equity investments across Scotland and is a member of the Maven Investment Committee. He joined Aberdeen Asset Management in 2004 having previously been with Bank of Scotland Corporate Banking in Edinburgh where he was an Associate Director of Integrated Finance working primarily on UK mid-market buyouts. Prior to joining Bank of Scotland in 1999 he worked in Business and Corporate Banking at Clydesdale Bank for 10 years. Andrew is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers in Scotland and the Institute of Directors.
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About Maven Capital Partners: Maven Capital Partners is a private equity firm that provides a range of funding options to SMEs and investment opportunities.
Colin Anderson
Partner of Maven Capital Partners
Colin joined Maven in June 2014 as Investment Director and has responsibility for growing Maven’s property investment business. He spent over 10 years with The Royal Bank of Scotland plc in various roles within Corporate Banking. Having established and led the Corporate Development & Property Finance team for Aberdeen & North of Scotland region his latest role was leading distressed debt workouts and business turnarounds with the Real Estate Restructuring team in Edinburgh & London. Prior to RBS he worked for 6 years with Ernst & Young (EY) in both Glasgow and New Zealand in Audit, Transaction Services and Corporate Recovery. Colin is a CA being a Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland. He graduated from the University of Strathclyde with a BSc Honours degree in Manufacturing Engineering and Accountancy.
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About Maven Capital Partners: Maven Capital Partners is a private equity firm that provides a range of funding options to SMEs and investment opportunities.
Alastair Glasir
Senior Partner of Glasir McGee LP
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About Glasir McGee LP: A boutique capital firm
