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 Director operating in the Peer to Peer space. If you think a Director 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.
David S. Wong
Chairman & CEO, Director of Midpoint
David is a London-based entrepreneur and investor in disruptive technologies and previously Managing Director of Expadis Capital. Prior to becoming an investor, he co-founded a publicly traded technology and media company. David has extensive experience in building, advising technology companies and helping businesses scale internationally. David started out as a client of Midpoint. He subsequently invested in the Company and joined the Board of Directors. David holds a BSc (Hons) in Engineering from the University of Liverpool and MA (Distinction) in Management from the University of Brighton.
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About Midpoint: Midpoint is a true peer-to-peer international payments platform for any businesses or individual wanting access to fair and transparent FX.
Giles Andrews
Co-founder & Director of Zopa
Giles Andrews, CEO and co-founder Zopa, the world’s first P2P lending and borrowing marketplace. Giles has led the company through a period of dramatic growth that has seen it established as a real threat to traditional players, reaching over 2% market share and £160m in loans. Giles spent the first ten years of his career in the motor industry pursuing his interest in all things automotive. This included co-founding Caverdale in 1992, a start-up taken to a £250m revenue motor retailer and sold in 1997. After an MBA at INSEAD he set up his own consultancy business whose clients included Tesco and Tesco Personal Finance and which also provided start up advice and early stage funding for new businesses, until co-founding Zopa in 2004.
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About Zopa: Zopa offers peer-to-peer loans with low rates, flexible terms, and no early repayment fees.
Paul Brett
Managing Director, Intermediaries of LANDBAY
Paul has over 20 years experience in the financial services and lending industries and over 10 years specialist business development expertise. Prior to joining borro Paul worked at Fastcom as the Sales and Marketing Director and at SPML as the Head of Sales. He also formed the Mortgage Industry Association and brand “Freehold” by successfully bringing together 25 companies in the industry with a collective £1.6 billion of distribution. Paul also brings to the table several years of consultancy experience, devising strategies for several multi million pound turnover private companies.
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About LANDBAY: Landbay is a specialist Buy to Let mortgage lender using peer-to-peer technology to fund its loans.
Paul Pashley
Operations Director & Compliance Officer of Invest & Fund
Paul is a highly-experienced financial services executive with experience across senior operations, risk and compliance roles. He has held Executive and Director level roles for Barclays, Woolwich and Nationwide and is an FSA approved person.
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About Invest & Fund: Invest & Fund is a credit-led alternative finance marketplace helping individuals, high net worth lenders, private banks and institutions.
Kathryn Corrick
COO and Research Director of Represent
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About Represent: Building the tools for a better democracy.
Andrew Birkby
Director of Wild Card Brewery
Raised on a healthy selection of best bitters and pale ales from his home Midlands, Andrew has always been fanatical about beer. Meticulous and calm, he brings a level head and steady hand to the Wild Card Brewery. On the few occasions when not brewing or tasting you will most likely find Andrew learning Portuguese, riding his bike or tending his garden
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About Wild Card Brewery: Wild Card Brewery is a micro-brewery and bar in Walthamstow.
Davin Poonwassie
Co-Founder and Operations Director of Simple Crowdfunding
Davin was first introduced to crowdfunding in early 2013 and he spotted the opportunity that crowdfunding brings. At the end of 2013, Simple Backing, their first property crowdfunding platform focused on Peer to Peer Lending was born. After speaking to their customers, Davin soon realised that there was also a need to provide an Equity option, thus Simple Equity was formed. With a background in data, databases and information technology, Davin is well suited to this marketplace. Outside of crowdfunding, Davin is a business and property coach, helping others achieve their goals and aspirations. Davin is also a keen property investor, investing in parts of the UK and France.
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About Simple Crowdfunding: Simple Crowdfunding is a regulated peer to peer lending and crowdfunding platform, offering property finance.
