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 London based Founder operating in the Augmented Reality 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.
Anthony Matchett
Founder of MelodyVR
Anthony Matchett is CEO of MelodyVR, a virtual reality technology company specialising in the music sector. He has extensive music industry experience and began his career as an audio engineer before moving on to the world of post-production for advertising. Then in 2011, Anthony was tasked with founding and building up Wave Recording Studios’ first interactive division, focused on servicing the audio requirements of game developers and publishers. During his time at Wave, he worked with the likes of King.com, Microsoft Studios, Sony Computer Entertainment and Ubisoft. In 2015, Anthony’s background and passion for music and technology inspired him to create Melody VR, with Steven Hancock.
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About EVR Holdings, MelodyVR: MelodyVR is a destination for music in virtual reality.
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Steven Hancock
Founder of MelodyVR
MelodyVR’s Co-founder and Chief Operations Officer, Steven Hancock, has an unwavering commitment to realizing great ideas and a belief in the power of personal relationships; an asset that helped him build events management company, Zest Hospitality Group, from scratch. The experience saw Steven work with FTSE 100 companies, while generating new revenue streams for stately homes. After selling the business in 2011, Steven joined Ibiza Rocks as Commercial Manager, overseeing sales and marketing to help build the business into one of Europe’s fastest growing youth lifestyle brands. Exposure to the A-list artists helped Steven deepen his relationships with the music industry; something that proved invaluable when securing MelodyVR’s partnerships with major labels. A true advocate for MelodyVR’s ability to benefits fans, artists and labels alike, Steven further raises the company’s profile through regular appearances on industry speaker panels.
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About EVR Holdings, MelodyVR: MelodyVR is a destination for music in virtual reality.
Dimitri Mikhalchuk
Co-Founder and Chief Revenue Officer of Teslasuit
Dimitri Mikhalchuk is the founder and co-founder of several tech companies and start-ups. He is also in charge of the London based digital marketing agency. Previously he worked with some of the world’s leading chip and electronics manufacturers. Dimitri is an expert in electronics, haptics, wearables, robotics and software development. He’s at the top of the most influential people in the field of VR \ AR (according to Evening Standard, UK), keynote speaker, business consultant and an investor.
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About MKSTAR, Teslasuit, TravoLab: Teslasuit is a team of talented developers and designers, creating innovative products for XR and MedTech.
Andrey Chuprin
Co-Founder, Investor of Teslasuit
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About ITI Capital, Mainprimus, Teslasuit: Teslasuit is a team of talented developers and designers, creating innovative products for XR and MedTech.
Cassandra Harris
Founder of Venturespring
Founder at Venturespring
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About Venturespring: A digital transformation firm and early growth venture capital fund that match makes corporates with game changing startups.
Ian Hetherington
Co-Founder of WRLD
Ian has been involved in the video game industry since 1982. He founded and was Managing Director of Psygnosis Limited, which became one of the most successful UK based publishers. Psygnosis was sold to Sony in 1993 and Ian was retained as the Managing Director of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe from 1994-1997 where he was instrumental in the design and implementation of the hardware and software for Sony’s new Playstation console, and oversaw the development of the European launch catalogue (80% market share at launch).
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About Midoki, Realtime Worlds, WRLD: A 3D cloud-based platform of real-world environments to create digital twins.
Janosch Amstutz
Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Beem
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About Beem: Beem is a software platform that enables live and on-demand communication using real humans in the Metaverse.
Victor Riparbelli
CEO and Co-Founder of Synthesia
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About Founders, Synthesia: Synthesia is an AI video avatar platform that creates professional videos from a text in different languages.
Lourdes Agapito
Co-Founder of Synthesia
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About Synthesia: Synthesia is an AI video avatar platform that creates professional videos from a text in different languages.
Steffen Tjerrild
COO, CFO and Co-Founder of Synthesia
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About Synthesia: Synthesia is an AI video avatar platform that creates professional videos from a text in different languages.
Anna Lowe
Director of Partnerships & Co-Founder of SMARTIFY
Anna is CoFounder and Director of Partnerships at Smartify a global platform for art described by the New Scientist as “the Shazam and Spotify of art”. A firm believer that culture needs stewardship not disruption, Anna works closely with museums to embrace new technologies that support their growth and resilience. Anna is a Trustee of Tate, the youngest ever trustee of a national museum. Anna also sits on the UK5G Creative Industries working group and is an Industry Champion for the Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre (PEC).
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About SMARTIFY, Tate: SMARTIFY provides instant access to inspiring art commentary, straight to your smartphone.
Ali Rezaei Haddad
CEO and Founder of NeuroNav
Ali is a neurosurgical resident in London and an NHS Clinical Entrepreneur. Prior to this, he completed his Academic Foundation Training in the Medical Sciences Division at the University of Oxford undertaking research in the field of neuroimaging. He graduated with first class honours in Neurosciences BSc at Imperial College London, and he holds honorary research positions at the University of Oxford and St George’s Medical School. Ali co-founded the internationally acclaimed GoodSAM app used by the NHS, in which clinically trained individuals sign up as volunteers to respond to life-threatening emergency calls. He also directed and curated the Imagining the Future of Medicine at the Royal Albert Hall in partnership with TEDMED, attended by a live audience of 5,000 people. Inspired by the lack of user friendly and affordable neuronavigation solutions worldwide, he founded NeuroNav to democratise access to neurosurgery navigation solutions.
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About Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, NeuroNav: An augmented reality neuronavigation platform powered by computer vision and machine learning.
Baran Korkmaz
Founder, CEO of ARWAY
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About ARWAY: ARWAY is a spatial mapping platform critical to building the Metaverse.
Ming Kong
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of TG0
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About TG0: TG0 is an R&D start-up creating novel 3D controls.
Mike Charalambous
Founder / CEO of Threedium
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About Frenzi Media, Threedium: We create memorable brand experiences, drive product considerations and deliver conversions through 3D/AR Technology.
Oluwaseyi Sosanya
Co Founder and CEO of Gravity Sketch
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About Gravity Sketch: Gravity Sketch is a VR-based design and collaboration platform that allows distributed teams to create, share, and build in 3D.
Daniel Thomas
Co-Founder & CTO of Gravity Sketch
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About Gravity Sketch: Gravity Sketch is a VR-based design and collaboration platform that allows distributed teams to create, share, and build in 3D.
Daniela Paredes
Co-Founder and Director of Gravity Sketch
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About Gravity Sketch: Gravity Sketch is a VR-based design and collaboration platform that allows distributed teams to create, share, and build in 3D.
David Spindler
Co-Founder of Electric Gamebox
David Spindler is a Co-Founder and CFO at Electric Gamebox. Previously, David founded Tough Mudder Bootcamp- the studio fitness concept of Tough Mudder Inc. David joined Tough Mudder in 2012, leading Strategy and Marketing teams. He built growth projects and new business initiatives from after-parties to Global Mudder marketing events. Prior to Tough Mudder, David was a Consultant at Bain and Company in London, Zurich and Johannesburg. David graduated from the London School of Economics with a degree in Philosophy and Economics.
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About Electric Gamebox: Electric Gamebox delivers immersive team adventures in the world’s smartest room
Aleksandra Pedraszewska
Co-Founder and COO of VividQ
Aleksandra M. Pedraszewska is a Co-Founder and COO at VividQ. She received a bachelor of arts in Land Economy (Law, Economics, Environment) at the University of Cambridge and earned a master of philosophy in Technology Policy at Cambridge Judge Business School.
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About VividQ: VividQ powers the revolution in digital display with Computer-Generated Holography.
Adetunji Adegbesan
Founder/CEO of Gidi Mobile
Dr Adetunji Adegbesan is the Founder & CEO of Gidi Mobile, creators of gidimo, Africa’s leading curriculum mastery & learning-as-a-service platform. Tunji has a First Class Honours degree in Electronic Engineering, and a PhD in Strategic Management from the IESE Business School. He is globally respected as one of Africa’s top scholars of competitive strategy, as well as one of her leading experts on the mobile telecommunications industry. A recipient of multiple awards, he has been invited to speak at knowledge events in more than 20 countries across four continents. Immediately prior to founding Gidi Mobile, he was Director of the Centre for Competitiveness & Strategy at the Lagos Business School (LBS), where he led sessions on Competitive Strategy, as well as on issues arising out of the intersection of Strategy, Technology, and Innovation. During his 14 years at LBS, his consulting experience spanned the software, telecommunications, banking, oil and gas, publishing, logistics, identity management and electronic payments sectors; while prior to LBS, his work experience spanned software development, consulting, information systems management, and electrical engineering, in both manufacturing and service sectors. Tunji is a member of the Editorial Review Board of the Academy of Management Review, the world’s leading conceptual journal in the field of strategic management. He is also a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of Businessday Newspapers (West Africa’s premier business periodical), and a peer reviewer for several of the world’s top strategy research journals. He is a past member of the Executive Committee of the Strategy Division of the global Academy of Management, as well as a past Global Representative for Africa of the Division. He has also been a Representative-at-Large for the Competitive Strategy Interest Group of the Strategic Management Society, and a member of the Research and Strategic Planning Committee of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria. He is a past Visiting Scholar & Associate Researcher at the Center for Globalisation and Strategy at the IESE Business School in Barcelona. An amateur historian, philosopher, and student of culture and geo-political affairs, Tunji has native fluency in English and Spanish, and basic literacy in French, Yoruba and Catalan.
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About Gidi Mobile: Gidi Mobile is the creator of gidimo, the developing world’s leading personal mastery & learning-for-opportunity platform
Nicholas Begley
Co-Founder of PSYT
Nick read physics at University College London, then qualified as an actuary and worked in the City of London for 8 years before retraining in psychology. He specialised in the neuroscience of mindfulness at UCL and the Institute of Psychiatry, and helped start up mindfulness company Headspace as Head of Research before founding PSYT.
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About PSYT: PSYT exists to help individuals live happy, fulfilling and productive lives.
David Mitchell
Founder & CEO of XYZ Reality
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About XYZ Reality: XYZ Reality is disrupting the Construction Industry with a unique Augmented Reality solution able to reduce project costs by up to 20%
Umar Ahmed
Co-Founder and COO of XYZ Reality
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About XYZ Reality: XYZ Reality is disrupting the Construction Industry with a unique Augmented Reality solution able to reduce project costs by up to 20%
Arvid Niklasson
Co-Founder of Analog
Arvid Niklasson Born in Sweden. Lives and works in London. Co-owner and director of Analog and leads the Realtime development at the studio.
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About Analog: Analog Visual Effects makers and problem solvers of cosmic impossibilities.
Andrew Hart
Co-Founder and CEO of Dent Reality
Working on AR for indoor spaces at Dent Reality. Creator of ARKit + CoreLocation, and some other things.
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About Dent Reality: Dent Reality develops an augmented reality platform that helps users find their favorite products on the market.
Andrew Hawken
Co-Founder and CEO of Mesmerise
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About Mesmerise: Virtual Reality content, gaming and technology
Simon Taylor
Co-Founder & Research Director of Zappar
Simon Taylor is a co-founder of Zappar, and the company’s Research Director. Simon graduated with a Masters in Engineering from the University of Cambridge in 2007. He went on to complete a PhD, also at the Engineering Department in Cambridge, entitled “Fast Object Localisation for Mobile Augmented Reality Applications”. Simon’s research focused on the development of fast algorithms for locating known objects in live camera frames from smartphone devices. This research resulted in a novel approach to the problem offering far superior performance to existing published work of the time. The approach was first published at the Workshop on Feature Detectors and Descriptors held as part of the IEEE Conference on Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition, 2009. A demo of the approach on a smartphone was also shown at the conference, receiving a “Best Demo” award. Further updates to the approach were published at the British Machine Vision Conference, 2009. The conference organizers selected this paper as one of six to be extended for inclusion in a special edition of the International Journal of Computer Vision, published in 2011. Simon worked with Connell Gauld to integrate his algorithm into a full mobile app for AR content delivery. Together they founded Extra Reality Ltd in 2010 to pursue commercialization of their solution. After meeting Kirk Ewing and Caspar Thykier, they decided to form a new venture, Zappar, to offer a full AR content creation solution for big-brand clients. Simon has led the development of Zappar’s proprietary and patented Zapcode system.
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About Zappar: Zappar is a clever little app that can see and recognise images and objects in the world around us.
Connell Gauld
Co-Founder and CTO of Zappar
As Zappar’s CTO, Connell oversees the ZapWorks team (Zappar’s AR/VR/MR creation software) as well as being responsible for all the cloud infrastructure and the core functionality of the Zappar app (which can also be embedded into third-party apps). Connell met Zappar Co-Founder Dr Simon Taylor whilst they were both studying engineering at the University of Cambridge. They founded Zappar, along with Caspar Thykier, 8 years ago and have seen it grow into one of the leading AR platforms with $3.75M in funding, 50 staff, and four offices around the world.
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About Zappar: Zappar is a clever little app that can see and recognise images and objects in the world around us.
Caspar Thykier
Co-Founder, CEO of Zappar
Caspar Thykier is Co-Founder & CEO at Zappar.
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About Veemee, Zappar: Zappar is a clever little app that can see and recognise images and objects in the world around us.
Raphaëlle Mura
Co-Founder & Chief Creative Officer of Change of Paradigm
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About Change of Paradigm, MIXIMALISTE.COM: Change of Paradigm is a 3D virtualization, content and experiences creator for the fashion industry.
Philip Delamore
Co-Founder & CIO of Change of Paradigm
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About Change of Paradigm, MIXIMALISTE.COM: Change of Paradigm is a 3D virtualization, content and experiences creator for the fashion industry.
Alfredo Belfiori
Founder & CEO of Flicktek Ltd
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About BetterSpace, Flicktek Ltd: Gesture control for smartwatches, IoT and VR
Thibault Marion de Procé
Co-Founder & Chief Product Officer of Vyking
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About Vyking: Making Digital Fashion Wearable
Tarun Sainani
CEO & Founder of World Around Me
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About World Around Me, WT InfoTech: World Around Me is a local discovery app to help searching local places & services – on the phone camera with augmented reality – anywhere.
Shafi Ahmed
Co-Founder & Chief Medical Officer of Medical Realities
Ahmed is a highly experienced general and colorectal surgeon, operating at The Royal London Hospital. In 2007, he was appointed as a Consultant General, Colorectal and Laparoscopic Surgeon at Barts and the London NHS trust. In 2014, he performed the world first live-stream of an operation using Google Glass, which was watched live by 13000 students around the world.
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About Hearthy, Medical Realities: A new business offering medical training products, specializing in virtual reality and augmented reality.
Martin McDonnell
Founder of Soluis
Martin McDonnell has built a group of successful businesses that deliver best in class 3D visualisation and interactive digital presentation. His vision to connect the latest digital technology platforms to the needs of different market sectors has led his businesses to be amongst the earliest innovators in bringing the benefits of augmented and virtual reality to a variety of industries including design, construction, manufacturing and healthcare. This drive has led his business Sublime to recently win one of only three inaugural Higgs EDGE awards and Soluis to win Innovate UK’s IC Tomorrow competition to develop augmented reality (AR) software, utilised at Crossrail sites in London. Martin is now pioneering (and a recognised thought leader) in the development of shared immersive solutions for business, and advanced AR assisted tools that will transform the world of work.
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About Edify, Soluis, Sublime: Soluis Group is a UK-based creative studio that specializes in design visualization, animation, software development, and more.
Scott Marshall
Founder & CEO of Bamsound VR
Scott Marshall is CEO / Founder and Sound Lead at Bamsound, an immersive audio agency specialising in sound for virtual Reality, Augmented Reality and 360 productions. With over 12 years experience, their clients include Universal, Nikon, NME, BBC, Channel 4, Sky, UKTV, Saatchi & Saatchi and many others. Having worked for various facilities and freelanced in many post houses and production companies, Scott spent his career working across many genres including broadcast, factual, comedy, drama, and commercials, but has now found himself pushing audio boundaries in these new and exciting mediums. To quote Scott “With the rise in ‘new’ immersive formats, such as VR and AR, we are seeing (and hearing) how much more important it is to create a truly ‘3D’ audio landscape for productions and how critical this is in making these experiences feel real and believable.
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About Bamsound VR: Bamsound VR Immersive Audio Agency for Virtual Reality Audio 360 ExP.
Giovanni Basile Garcia
Founder of TI&SHRT
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About TI&SHRT: TI&SHRT is evolving the fashion experience , by making casual clothes a social vector with full comunicative power.
Pietro Calzini
Founder of TI&SHRT
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About TI&SHRT: TI&SHRT is evolving the fashion experience , by making casual clothes a social vector with full comunicative power.
Richard Hoffmann
Founder of Area 1
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About Area 1: Area 1 is a innovative software company developing software and games for the VR & AR industry and projects.
Payin Attafuah
Founder of Polis Assist
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About Polis Assist: Mobile app to help user find Free parking and safeguard their park from unlawful tickets
