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 United Kingdom based Manager operating in the Funding Platform space. If you think a Manager 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.
Sajid Sabir
Investment Manager of Maven Capital Partners
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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.
Alex Marsh
Investment Manager of Maven Capital Partners
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About Growth Partner, Maven Capital Partners: Maven Capital Partners is a private equity firm that provides a range of funding options to SMEs and investment opportunities.
Gavin Bell
Investment Manager of Maven Capital Partners
Gavin joined Maven in September 2016 as an Investment Manager based in the Manchester office, responsible for new investments across Greater Manchester and the North of England. Gavin has over 10 years of experience in Private Equity. Prior to joining Maven, he was at NorthEdge Capital in Manchester where he was responsible for both new private equity investment activity and fundraising. Gavin began his private equity career at Greenpark Capital (now Stepstone), a secondaries private equity fund manager in London investing into private equity funds globally, where he spent 8 years. His prior experience was as an analyst at Schroders in London, where he spent 5 years, and at Bank of New York. Gavin holds a Bsc. (Hons) in Economics from the University of Birmingham and is a CFA Charterholder.
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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.
Mike Collis
Portfolio Manager of Maven Capital Partners
Mike is a senior consultant helping Maven drive its portfolio management process and responsible for generating and protecting shareholder value, exit planning and monitoring performance. He joined the team at Aberdeen Asset Management in 2001, and was promoted to Head of Portfolio Management in 2005. Mike spent his early career with Arthur Andersen before spending five years in industry serving in CFO roles in the heavy engineering and textile related sectors. He is a Fellow of the Institute for Turnaround and chaired the Midlands Steering Committee until 2011. Mike qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1992.
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About Arthur Andersen LLP, Maven Capital Partners, VYRE Limited: Maven Capital Partners is a private equity firm that provides a range of funding options to SMEs and investment opportunities.
Martin Clark
Investment Manager of Maven Capital Partners
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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.
James Darlington
Investment Manager of Maven Capital Partners
James is based in Manchester and is responsible for investments on behalf of the Northern Powerhouse Fund as well as Private Equity transactions across the North of England. James joined Maven in 2017, having previously spent 6 years at EY within the Assurance and Corporate Finance divisions in Manchester, where he was involved in a range of transactions including acquisition finance, large corporate refinancing and stressed deals, and worked on a variety of deal structures. James holds an Honours degree in Accounting & Finance from the University of Newcastle and is a Chartered Accountant.
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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.
Jeremy Thompson
Investment Manager of Maven Capital Partners
Based in our Manchester office, Jeremy is responsible for new investments across the North of England for the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund, and also works with portfolio companies in the region. He joined Maven in 2017 having previously worked as a corporate lawyer for Squire Patton Boggs in Manchester, where he spent over four years as a Senior Associate specialising in private equity, venture capital and acquisitions. He has experience advising management teams and companies across all stages of their development from initial investment, including follow-on fundraisings, bolt-on acquisitions, commercial contracts and exits. Jeremy is a qualified solicitor who graduated from Leeds University with a BA (Hons) degree in History & Politics and completed a graduate diploma in Law at BPP Law School in Manchester.
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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.
Steven Ford
Marketing Manager of Maven Capital Partners
Steven joined Maven in 2010 and is based in the Glasgow office. He is responsible for all campaigns across its traditional and digital marketing channels, as well as defining the strategic marketing direction for all Maven’s business areas. Steven started his career in the drinks industry with InBev UK before moving into financial services, working in a number of marketing roles. He previoulsy worked as an Assistant Marketing Manager at the Royal Bank of Scotland in Edinburgh, managing communications to its private banking customers. Steven has a BA Honours degree in Geography as well as an MSc in Marketing from the University of Strathclyde. He is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing.
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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.
Martin McLaren
Investment Manager of Maven Capital Partners
Martin is an Investment Manager responsible for new Private Equity investments across Scotland. He joined Maven in September 2013 from Lloyds Banking Group, where he worked in the Equity Risk Management Division, providing risk oversight on the Bank’s equity portfolio, and then in the Corporate Real Estate Business Support Unit. Martin previously spent 5 years with Henderson Loggie CA, where he qualified as a Chartered Accountant (ICAS) and worked in Corporate Finance. Martin graduated from Heriot Watt University in 2005 with a MA Honours in Economics and Business.
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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.
Thomas Wilczek
Project Manager of FundingBox
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About FundingBox: FundingBox is the platform for startups and SMEs to join tech-related communities and win public funding.
Anna Flannery
Brand Manager of GiveHope
12+ years market leader, 5+ years digital / analysis / optimization, known for developing winning strategies that both adapt and reshape the ever changing digital landscape. Recognized for designing online and offline solutions that increase the bottom line. Energetic, motivating leader, working collaboratively to accomplish our mission.
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About GiveHope: Online donation and crowdfunding platform for personal causes and life events.
