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 Kent based Founder operating in the Software 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.
John Williams
Founder & Chairman of Computer Services (CSI)
CSI chairman and member of the CSI Executive Committee, John Williams was named executive director of CSI in 1965, president and CEO in 1968, and chairman of the board in 1979. He served as chairman of the board of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, Louisville Branch for three years; is a founder and former president of the Association of Financial Technology (AFT); and former chairman of CUBE (The Burroughs Computer Users). In 2004, he was named Distinguished Citizen by the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce. In 2006, he received the Governor’s Technology Award as the individual who most deserved to be recognized as a leader in technology innovation in Kentucky. Williams was the first-ever recipient of Murray State University’s Telecommunications Systems Management Department’s Entrepreneurship Award, and the university further honored him by naming the award the John A. Williams Entrepreneurship Award. In 2009, John was the recipient of the Dr. Gene Wells Ray Telecommunications Systems Management (TSM) Lifetime Achievement Award and was inducted into the University of Kentucky’s Gatton College of Business and Economics Hall of Fame. Also in 2009, the Paducah Area Chamber presented him the Summit Award for leadership in education and poverty. He is a graduate of the University of Kentucky. Currently, John is serving on the Governor’s Tax Reform Commission and serving as co-chair for the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Leadership Institute for School Principals.
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About Computer Services (CSI): CSI is recognized as an industry leader, offering service & software solutions to financial institutions & corporate entities nationwide.
Alexander Luksidadi
CTO, Co-Founder of Rose Rocket
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About 3Sixty Labs, Rose Rocket: Rose Rocket is ERP software for trucking companies.
Kris W. Kimel
Co-Founder of Space Tango
Kris Kimel is President and a founder of the Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation, an independent non-profit company with an international reputation for designing and implementing innovative and broad-scale initiatives in science, technology, talent development, entrepreneurship and disruptive innovation. Kris holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Kentucky and while a student was a 1974 recipient of the University of Kentucky’s Sullivan Medallion. He is also founder of the international IdeaFestival and was a leader behind the vision and successful implementation of Kentucky Space.
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About Space Tango: Space Tango designs and builds hardware and software platforms that enable microgravity research.
Twyman Clements
Co-Founder and CEO of Space Tango
Twyman Clements is a Space Systems Engineer for Kentucky Space, LLC, a company based in Lexington, KY, which develops entrepreneurial space platforms for research and educational purposes. Before working full-time at Kentucky Space, Mr. Clements was a graduate assistant in the Space Systems Lab at the University of Kentucky. While there he worked on near space balloons, payloads for suborbital flight, was the lead mechanical engineer for KySat-1, the state’s first orbital spacecraft, and helped develop the architecture and hardware for research systems currently installed aboard the International Space Station. Currently with Kentucky Space, LLC, Mr. Clements works on developing hardware and experiments that use microgravity to seek unique outcomes.
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About Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation (KSTC), Space Tango: Space Tango designs and builds hardware and software platforms that enable microgravity research.
Gi Fernando MBE
Founder of teamtogether
Founder of Freeformers
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About New Automotive, Subak, teamtogether: teamtogether is the change management platform that humanises organisational transformation by putting people at the heart of change.
Nate Morris
Founder & CEO of Rubicon
Nate Morris is the founder of Morris Industries, a Lexington, Kentucky-based conglomerate that is reimagining the industrial economy. Morris’s passion to solve the environmental threats posed by global waste was pivotal in his founding of Rubicon, a software company focused on waste and recycling, and the signature asset of Morris Industries. Founded with a $10,000 line of credit, Rubicon now operates in 20 countries on 5 continents, with a valuation in excess of $1 billion. The company helps Fortune 500 organizations, main street businesses, and municipalities around the world move toward zero waste. Under Morris’s leadership as Chairman and CEO, Rubicon has become a catalyst for groundbreaking change across the waste management sector while being recognized as “One of the World’s Most Innovative Companies” by Fast Company and an “Industry Disruptor” by Inc. Magazine. A ninth-generation Kentuckian, Morris was born in Lexington and raised by a single mother with help from his grandmother and grandfather, an Army veteran and former President of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 862. Morris was the first Kentuckian to be named to Fortune Magazine’s 40 Under 40 list and to be recognized as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum. He is also the youngest inductee ever to the Kentucky Entrepreneur Hall of Fame. A product of Kentucky public schools, Morris graduated from George Washington University as a Scottish Rite Scholar and won an academic fellowship to Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. While at Princeton, he was named a Presidential Fellow at the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress. Morris is a member of Phi Beta Kappa. Alongside his wife – acclaimed author and entrepreneur the former Jane Mosbacher of Houston, Texas – Morris is a signatory of the Founders Pledge, committing to donate a percentage of his family’s business earnings to charity through the Morris Foundation. The foundation’s mission is to provide access to the American Dream.
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About Morris Industries, Rubicon, University of Kentucky: Rubicon is a software platform that provides smart waste and recycling solutions for businesses and governments worldwide.
José Vicente Aguerrevere
Co-Founder, Chairman & CEO of TakeOff
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About TakeOff: TakeOff uses an automated software platform to help grocers thrive in e-Commerce.
Slav Ivanyuk
CTO & Co-Founder of SkuVault
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About SkuVault: SkuVault is a cloud-based inventory and warehouse management system that helps eCommerce retailers unlock the potential of their inventory.
Andy Eastes
CEO & Co-Founder of SkuVault
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About SkuVault: SkuVault is a cloud-based inventory and warehouse management system that helps eCommerce retailers unlock the potential of their inventory.
Michael Browning
Co-Founder and CEO of Onovative
Co-Founder and CEO of Onovative
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About Onovative: Onovative is marketing automation and customer analytics for banks and credit unions.
Ashley MacKenzie
Founder & Chief Executive of Fenestra
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About Fenestra: Fenestra is a computer software company that specializes in booking, billing, payments, and audit transactions.
Scott Stevenson
Co-Founder and CEO of Rally
Scott Stevenson is the Co-Founder and CEO at Rally.
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About Rally, Rallynow: Rally is a web app where users can manage their contracts and company’s legal documents in a frictionless manner and entirely on the cloud.
Sarah Alessi
Co-Founder, COO and Chief Research Officer of FlyWire
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About FlyWire: Flywire is a patented video technology that translates video-enabled fisher data into actionable insights at a fraction of the cost.
Gareth Mann
Founder of AlphaStream.io
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About AlphaStream.io: Hyper-personalisation for financial services.
Michael Sheeley
Founder/CEO of Every Labs
Michael Sheeley is the co-founder/COO & “Product Guy” behind RunKeeper & the Health Graph, a mobile fitness platform that incorporates a unique blend of tracking, sharing, analytics, and coaching to enable runners and other fitness enthusiasts to get motivated, stay motivated, and improve their results over time. Previously Michael founded Mobile-Link Solutions Inc., a software company focusing on mobile enterprise software. Michael started his career founding Estorrs, a social website for the UConn Storrs campus. Outside of his entrepreneurial endeavors, Michael has held the positions of Project Manager and Senior Software Engineer at BAE Systems where he managed millions of dollars in software development efforts in the area of military planning, strategy development and computer vision. He has also held engineering positions at United Electronic Industries and Polaroid Corp. Michael is a former NCAA Track & Field athlete who lives with his wife in Chelmsford, MA.
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About Every Labs, Nurse-1-1: Every Labs focuses on the development of a food-ordering application with the use of artificial intelligence technology solutions.
David O’Brien
Founder of Private Inc
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About Private Inc: Pending
Paul Ford
CEO & Co-Founder of Traffk LLC
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About Traffk LLC: Traffk modernizes the insurance underwriting process.
Alex Hargrove
Co-Founder, CTO of NetLaw
Alex Hargrove developed an American Bar Association Award-winning product shortly after graduating law school from Washington & Lee in 2011. He has since parleyed that breakthrough into a career. His company, NetLaw, has now raised over $13m and spent nearly a decade innovating in the online legal service space. Mr. Hargrove has one United States Patent issued with multiple patent progenies pending for two particular innovations he and his team pioneered. His company, co-founded with his father, Jamie Hargrove, is now positioned to re-invent how estate planning attorneys deliver their services. Using technology, Mr. Hargrove has productized attorney services in the Will & Trusts domain, and his company is positioned to offer a lawyer backed, boutique service in all fifty states.
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About NetLaw: Digital Estate Planning
Roger Madden
Co-Founder, Board Member of NetLaw
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About NetLaw: Digital Estate Planning
Cem Bego
Founder & CTO of Crunch Systems
Cem Bego currently works as the Founder and CTO for Crunch Systems. He previously worked at RestnOrder.com as the Owner.
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About Crunch Systems: Crunch Systems offers self-ordering kiosks, quick menu changes, and online ordering through an easy-to-use interface.
Dana Bowers
Founder, Board Member & Chief Solution Architect of Venminder
Dana Bowers is Founder, Board Member and Chief Solutions Architect at Venminder where she assists with the firm’s long-term strategy and innovative product development. Dana has been an entrepreneur and leader in the financial industry for more than 30 years. As the Founder of Venminder, Dana designed an entire new approach to vendor management by creating a state of the art software and integrated services solution that allows organizations to answer the ever growing challenges and regulatory demand for Vendor Management compliance. Dana served as Venminder’s CEO for five years until 2018. Under her leadership, Venminder grew into the third party risk management leader it is today with over 780 clients nationwide, ranging in size from small to some of the largest companies in the financial services sector. Prior to Venminder, Dana founded and led the team as CEO at iPay Technologies. Under Dana’s leadership, iPay grew from a start-up in 2001 to the one of largest, independent bill pay providers in the United States. When the company was sold to Jack Henry and Associates in 2010, iPay had a 40% market share, millions of subscribers and moved billions of dollars annually. This hands on operating experience in a high profile/high risk “vendor” business gave Dana a unique perspective into the challenges organizations face on a daily basis. Whether it’s negotiating a financial technology contract, sitting across from examiners to answer tough questions regarding safety and soundness or protecting confidential customer data, she has sat in her customer’s chair. Following the sale of iPay to Jack Henry, Dana recognized the opportunity to use her experience and assist financial institutions and other organizations with managing their critical vendor relationships. The team at Venminder was formed with the vision and goal to create a best in class outsource vendor management solution, Venminder. Throughout Dana’s career, her proven leadership and talent has been recognized by many. She was awarded the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2009 award for the South Central Ohio/Kentucky region in the Technology category. Dana is on the board of advisors for the University of Louisville College of Business and serves as a board member for Associates in Pediatric Therapy, a Kentucky-based company. In 2019, CSI elected Dana as it’s newest board member. Dana earned her bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Embry Riddle University.
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About Venminder: Venminder is a SaaS platform that guides and streamlines third party risk management.
William Burke
Founder & CEO of Virtual Peaker
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About Virtual Peaker: Virtual Peaker is a SaaS platform that integrates with IoT devices to allow utility companies in managing residential electricity.
Ed Mills
Co-Founder of Hitcents.com
CFO @ Hitcents.com.
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About Hitcents.com: Hitcents is an innovative & creative agency specializing in mobile game & app development, web design, cutting-edge technology, and more.
John Carroll
President & Founder of Vita-Stat
John is a nationally recognized management and technology consultant with more than 30 years of experience designing, developing, and managing government systems and private sector projects. He is credited with building the technical infrastructure of ACCUflo, a complete point of care solution specializing in the accurate tracking of resident healthcare data. Prior to founding Vita-Stat, he served as Vice President of Online Systems Development for Stored Value Systems where he is credited as the lead designer of the online electronic gift certificate and merchandise return stored value card system currently used by major retailers worldwide. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science and Minor in Mathematics from Eastern Kentucky University and earned an MBA from Bellarmine University.
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About Glennis Solutions, Vita-Stat: Vita-Stat is one of the original innovators of electronic medication, treatment, and care management solutions to optimize and error proof.
Eric Pahl
Co-Founder of OmniLife
Eric Pahl is the Co-Founder of HealthTech Solutions.
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About OmniLife: OmniLife is a health IT SaaS company providing care coordination, workflow, and integrated communication software for hospitals
Annette Manias
Co-Founder & President & Owner of Oasis Solutions
Annette started Oasis in 1991 from a small, one room office. Her background is in accounting, but she knew early on that she did not want to sit behind a desk. However, her interest in accounting led to implementations of accounting software! This path gave Annette the advantage of being with people and working with accounting. Her passion is helping businesses with their processes and realizing how software can be a tool to help increase profits and visibility.
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About Oasis Solutions: Oasis Solutions is a leader in providing business software solutions.
Vivien Johnson
Founder of CreditForce
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About CreditForce: CreditForce’s mission is to provide the finest credit and collections management systems and contract-to-cash solutions.
Steve Shearer
Founder/Platform Architect/Lead Backend Developer of Project Mountain
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About Captured Momentum, Project Mountain, Quartzy: Project Mountain is a project management application, making management easy, for once.
Leif Harstad
Director, Co-Founder of Digital Contact
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About Digital Contact: Digital Contact provides digital media analytics and enriched metrics for the financial industry, public sector and media.
Dean Day
Founder & CEO of Greenlight Games
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About Greenlight Games: An indie game dev studio based in London, UK.
Mike Lutz
Infrasture Lead & Co-Founder of Smart Platform Group
Mike Lutz is an infrastructure lead at Samtec. Traditionally living in the data communications world, he stumbled into data (and big data) as a way to manage the floods of information that were being generated in his many telemetry and internet of things adventures
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About Smart Platform Group: Smart Platform Group is explore, design, & build software platforms & tools.
Mike Lutz
Infrasture Lead & Co-Founder of Smart Platform Group
Mike Lutz is an infrastructure lead at Samtec. Traditionally living in the data communications world, he stumbled into data (and big data) as a way to manage the floods of information that were being generated in his many telemetry and internet of things adventures
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About Smart Platform Group: Smart Platform Group is explore, design, & build software platforms & tools.
