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 Manchester based Director operating in the Software 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.
Poornima Varadhan
Associate Director, Principal Product Consultant of Cognizant
Overall 16 years of industry experience working with Large Global insurance players. I have done various consulting, venture, advisory, product management and transformational program delivery roles across most of the Global markets (in specific NA & Asia Pacific). Currently as a Global Engagement Lead I support Change the business and Digital transformation objectives for a Fortune 100 P&C insurer that also includes partnering to strategize and deliver cloud transformation. Have an extensive speaking experience in CxO forum , various segments of clients & cross section of people in my organization in sharing experience related to IT and business transformation. Very recently started off with my public speaking as well with the recent one being for the Cloud Foundry Summit NA ’18.
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About Cognizant: Cognizant is a professional services company, transforming clients’ business, operating and technology models for the digital era.
Cathal Berragan
Creative Director and Founding Team of Thirdweb
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About Social Chain, Thirdweb: Thirdweb is a software that develops web3 apps.
Steven Dorning
Director of Software of Cubic Motion
Director of Software at Cubic Motion.
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About Cubic Motion: Cubic Motion is the world leader in real-time model-based computer vision and digital animation technology.
Doug Tate
Director of Hardware of Cubic Motion
Doug Tate is a highly experienced software developer with extensive knowledge of animation and a long track record supervising production on extremely high-volume projects. Particular expertise in capture and recording solutions for optimal data acquisition.
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About Cubic Motion: Cubic Motion is the world leader in real-time model-based computer vision and digital animation technology.
Kamelia Dimova
Co-Founder, Research Director of Mindtrace
Kamelia has 10+ years of research experience in computational neuroscience and machine learning. She has MSc degrees in Physics and Cognitive Science, and a PhD in Computational Neuroscience from the University of Plymouth.
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About Mindtrace: Mindtrace builds intelligent systems which exploit the synergy of brain-inspired algorithms and neuromorphic hardware.
Paul Morris
Acquisition Marketing Director of Visualsoft
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About Visualsoft: Visualsoft eCommerce Based in the North East of England, Visualsoft is one of the UK’s leading web development companies.
Paul Hill
Director of Client Operations of Sorted Group
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About Sorted Group: Sorted Group is a global SaaS company that provides data-driven software for checkouts, warehouses, and shipping.
Andrew Hill
Sales Director of Sorted Group
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About Sorted Group: Sorted Group is a global SaaS company that provides data-driven software for checkouts, warehouses, and shipping.
Paul Vlissidis
Technical Director of NCC Group
Paul is technical director and senior advisor at global cyber security and risk mitigation specialist NCC Group. He is responsible for communicating with and advising boards on the cyber risks facing their organisation and the threats specific to the sector in which they operate. Paul has led the cyber team on Channel 4’s Hunted for the last two years, working with ex-military personnel and former police detectives in order to track down voluntary fugitives who were on the run. The programme’s cyber team was made up of NCC Group consultants including Doug Ipperciel, Chris Mayhew and Richard Warren.
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About NCC Group: NCC Group exists to make the world safer and more secure.
Lauren Steele
Director of Business Services of IT Lab Limited
Capitalising on 25 years’ experience within JMC IT, Lauren’s role encompasses business property, central services, fleet management and health and safety keeping the business on track and compliant. And as a senior touch point for HR and staff engagement, Lauren ensures that IT Lab continues to be an award-winning, great place to work.
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About IT Lab Limited: IT Lab Limited provides IT support and consultancy business.
Mark Fusco
Member of the Board of Directors of Exa Corporation
Mark Fusco currently serves on several technology-focused company as a Member of the Board of Directors, including Viewpoint, Black Duck Software and Dyn. Mark’s leadership and expertise in helping drive operational performance, product innovation and market leadership provides an incredible asset to those organizations in which he contributes. Previously, Mark served as the Chief Executive Officer, President and a Member of the Board of Directors at Aspen Technology Inc., from January 3, 2005 until September 30, 2013. Mark served as Principal Accounting Officer and Principal Financial Officer of Aspen Technology Inc. from February 2009 to July 1, 2009 and served as its Acting Principal Accounting Officer. Mark served as Chief Executive Officer and President at Aspentech Ltd. from May 2002 to January 2005.Mark served as the President and Chief Operating Officer of Ajilon Consulting and also served as its Executive Vice President from 1999 to 2002.Mark was a Co-Founder of Software Quality Partners and served as its President from 1994 to 1999. From 1994 to 1999, Mark served as President of Analysis and Computer Systems Inc. Mark served as Director of Aspen Technology Inc., since December 9, 2003 until September 30, 2013. Prior to his business career, Mark was a professional ice hockey player and Member of the National Hockey League team the Hartford Whalers and was a member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic Ice Hockey Team.Mark holds a B.A in Economics from Harvard College and an MBA from Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration.
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About : Exa Corporation is a developer and distributor of computer-aided engineering (CAE) software.
Alex Seewald
Founder, Managing Director of Openshadow Ltd
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About Openshadow Ltd: Mobile software development. Research and Development. Project Management.
Alison Keeling
Co-Founder & Director of Jobtrain
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About Jobtrain: Streamline recruitment and secure top-talent through Jobtrain’s innovative applicant tracking system and online candidate management.
Giles Heckstall-Smith
Director of Strategic Development of Jobtrain
Giles is one of the original ‘early adopters’ in the world of ATS, having been with Jobtrain since 2002. He now champions the business to the outside world — seeking to create partnerships by sharing his knowledge and developing win/win propositions that help drive us forward.
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About Jobtrain: Streamline recruitment and secure top-talent through Jobtrain’s innovative applicant tracking system and online candidate management.
Gary Towers
Talent Intelligence Director of Jobtrain
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About Jobtrain: Streamline recruitment and secure top-talent through Jobtrain’s innovative applicant tracking system and online candidate management.
Tyler Dannat
Director of Marketing of PortalGuard
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About PortalGuard: PortalGuard is a seamless solution providing organizations & enterprises.
Neil McMurdo
Managing Director of Godel Technologies
Neil McMurdo is the managing director at Godel Technologies.
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About Godel Technologies: Godel Technologies is an agile nearshore development company, working with clients to provide high performing software development.
Travis York
Board of Directors of Explorics
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About : Explorics is a SaaS marketing technology company offering a reporting and analytics platform for results-oriented business leaders.
William Doyle MRICS
Managing Director of Raildiary
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About Raildiary: Raildiary is a Manchester-based tech start-up
Kevin Vreeland
Senior Director of Business Development of AssureTec Technologies
Kevin Vreeland is Senior Director of Business Development. He has more than ten years of experience helping high-tech organizations build structured sales approaches for unique market requirements. Prior to AssureTec, Mr. Vreeland worked for MorphoTrust USA, helping them defining and building their commercial offering and market. He has held similar roles with startups and small established organizations. He graduated from Northeastern University with a B.S. in Computer Engineering Technology.
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About AssureTec Technologies: AssureTec is an industry leader in Identity Document Authentication and Data Capture solutions.
Daniel Keighron-Foster
Managing Director of Steamhaus
Daniel is our Managing Director and started Steamhaus in August 2015. Back in 2000 Daniel set up Melbourne Server Hosting and grew it to become one of the North West’s most respected and successful independent hosting companies. Melbourne’s specific focus was on customer service, resulting in the business consistently growing at a rate of 40% per year. Daniel ran Melbourne for a total of 12 years, through to its sale in 2012; at this point having a turnover of £3.5m and a team of around 40 staff. In 2012, after exiting Melbourne, Daniel decided to spend some time focusing on starting a family. His twins were born in 2014. They’ve kept him and his partner incredibly busy since. Really, really busy. Daniel realised early on in 2015 that the cloud and DevOps are where the future lies in regards to hosting. Before he knew it, Steamhaus was incorporated and he was leading a team of experts. When Daniel isn’t working or being a Dad, you’ll find him either at the gym or at his piano playing at the skill level of a five-year-old.
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About Steamhaus: Steamhaus is a cloud and devops consultancy that enables businesses to leverage the power of public cloud providers.
Sotira Trifourki
Director of Artemis Space
Sotira is Founder and CEO of Artemis Space. She leads the overall business operations and company strategy. Sotira is an innovation facilitator with expertise in convening systems of stakeholders around complex networks, building connections between companies, researchers, government agencies and NGOs throughout Europe, the Middle East, and U.K. She started her career as a research scientist and has spent 15 years supporting businesses, social enterprises and entrepreneurs with business development and new market strategies. Sotira received her BSc. in Astrophysics from The University of Manchester.
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About Artemis Space, Cyprus Space Office, European Southern Observatory: From concept to design, build and launch, we provide disruptive access to Space.
Paul Kiveal
Sales & Marketing Director of String Computer Systems
Technology is transforming organisations. With the pace of change happening at near exponential rates; organisations need to let go of the old models and embrace change. Paul’s Job at Cetus Solutions is to help business leaders to recognise and to embrace this, to see that technology is not a threat but is, instead, a means to achieve an advantage.
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About String Computer Systems: String Computer Systems is a business-technologists design, build and support solutions that deliver Microsoft modern workplaces.
Scott Davies
Non Executive Director of NEVER NO
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About NEVER NO: never, a Norway-based company, offers its users with social TV toolkit to create forms of engagement for live and pre-recorded programs.
Paul Lamb
Technical Director & Registered Hearing Aid Dispenser of Starkey Hearing Technologies
Paul Lamb has worked with Starkey Hearing Technologies for 30 years holding the position of Technical Director. Paul is responsible for overseeing the education and training initiatives for the Starkey brand both in the UK and Europe. He joined the company in 1987 and gained invaluable experience working across manufacturing, product development, sales and technical support. Paul leads the Professional Services group at Starkey UK to create and deliver development skills and education in audiology and products for all customer groups. His team also work in product release testing, planning and release to the market in both the UK and Europe. Externally Paul lectures on audiology and hearing aid technology for many university programmes. Paul is a registered hearing aid dispenser and registered with the HCPC and also a member of BSHAA.
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About Starkey Hearing Technologies: Starkey Hearing Technologies designs, develops, and distributes personalized hearing solutions to connect people to their worlds.
Stephen Dyson
Director of R&D Funding Group
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About R&D Funding Group: We help companies secure and maximise R&D Tax Credits, R&D Grants and Video Games Tax Relief
Karl Gilbank
Managing Director of Insider Technologies
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About Insider Technologies: Insider Technologies Limited (ITL) is a UK-based software house and services company.
Bash Din
Managing Director of Zumzum
Bash Din has been serving as Managing Director at Zumzum since January 2007.
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About Zumzum: Zumzum helps business transform how their people work to become a real time business.
Bash Din
Managing Director of Zumzum
Bash Din has been serving as Managing Director at Zumzum since January 2007.
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About Zumzum: Zumzum helps business transform how their people work to become a real time business.
