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 CEO’ operating in the Nanotechnology space. If you think a CEO’ 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.
Gordon Sanghera
Chief Executive Officer, Co – founder of Oxford Nanopore Technologies
Gordon Sanghera was co-founder of Oxford Nanopore, together with Hagan Bayley and IP Group. He was appointed CEO in June 2005 having acted as a consultant since February 2005 whilst the Company was established. He brings over 15 years experience in the design, development and global launch of novel point-of-care biosensor devices. At Abbott Laboratories, Dr Sanghera held both UK and US Director level positions, including Research Director and Manufacturing Process Development Director. Before its acquisition by Abbott, Gordon led the R&D of Medisense Inc. where he was instrumental in the launch of several generations of blood glucose biosensor systems for the consumer and medical markets. He has also developed and validated market production processes to meet with the regulatory requirements for USA and Europe. Gordon has a DPhil in biosensor technology and a degree in Chemistry.
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About Oxford Nanopore Technologies: Oxford Nanopore Technologies develops nanopore-based electronic systems for analyzing single molecules, including DNA, RNA, and proteins.
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Sandy Chen
Founder and CEO of Graphene Composites
Sandy Chen came up with the idea of a graphene/aerogel composite six years ago. However, since he was committed full-time as a City analyst, there was little time to pursue the idea. Sandy Chen gained prominence as the analyst who called the Great Financial Crisis of 2007-9, identifying key weaknesses in the UK banks (e.g. Northern Rock, RBS) and in the financial system overall. Since then, he has written a book on bank analysis and valuation, and testified on banks at a Parliamentary committee hearing. He is a regular media commentator on banks and macroeconomic issues.
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About Graphene Composites, Unity Trust Bank: Graphene Composites is a nano-technology startup that combines graphene with aerogel .
Atif Syed
Founder, Chairman and CEO of Wootzano
I am the Founder, Chairman & CEO of Wootzano Ltd where we are making robots feel and sense like humans do by using our unique electronic skin and robotic systems which can save an average fruit and vegetable packaging facility around £2.5 million at minimum a year. Ask me how we do it! Along with a PhD in Electronics and Nanotechnology Engineering from University of Edinburgh, I have extensive experience in Robotics and AI. I am also a Member of the Executive Committee for Robotics and Mechatronics at the Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET). I am also an Enterprise Fellow at the Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng). Since early age, I have had a crazy obsession with electronics and was fascinated by software development as it required not much need for any sophisticated lab. When I am not working on the business, you can find me working with machine learning algorithms, advocating why computer programming should be taught at schools from an early age and travelling.
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About Wootzano: Wootzano manufactures robots which can sense and feel like humans do using a unique electronic skin, machine learning, and electronics.
David Hayes
Chief Executive Officer of WaveOptics
David Hayes is the CEO at WaveOptics, a company that designs and manufactures waveguides for AR wearables.
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About WaveOptics: WaveOptics designs Augmented Reality (AR) wearables with enhanced features.
Bo Jing
CEO of ONI
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About ONI: ONI is a pioneer of super-resolution microscopy, making this advanced technology accessible to new generations of researchers.
Mohammed Zulfiquar
President & CEO of Datatecnics
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About Datatecnics: Datatecnics is an intelligent infrastructure firm revolutionizing global asset management with predictive analytics.
Frank Averdung
Chief Executive Officer of Oxford PV
Frank P. Averdung joined Oxford PV as Chief Executive Officer in July 2015. He has over 30 years of experience in the Semiconductor industry in leading technology driven organisations, from small startups to large organisations with more than 1000 employees. Prior to joining Oxford PV Frank was President and CEO of SUSS MicroTec AG, a German manufacturer of semiconductor equipment with up to 250 mio US$ of sales. Under his leadership the company became listed in the “TecDAX”, the stock market index for the top 30 publicly traded technology companies in Germany. Having an engineering background (holding the equivalent of a master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the Technical University Aachen, Germany) Frank spent the first 10 years of his career with semiconductor device companies like Siemens, National Semiconductors and ITT Semiconductors. During this time he held several sales and marketing roles from Key Account Manager, Product Manager to Marketing Director. In 1995 Frank moved to the equipment side of the semiconductor industry and General Manager at Applied Materials and Managing Director of Etec Systems Europe. As CEO of the startup “NawoTec GmbH” he led the successful development and market introduction of semiconductor manufacturing equipment utilising a breakthrough proprietary technology. He sold the company to the German conglomerate Carl Zeiss AG where he became CEO of the enlarged Business Unit and later President and CEO of Carl Zeiss’ US Operations based in Massachusetts. Frank has a proven track record in enhancing companies’ values equally by acquiring and divesting businesses and technologies.
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About Oxford PV: Oxford PV is a provider of perovskite solar cells.
Grant Aarons
Co-Founder & CEO of FabricNano
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About FabricNano: FabricNano is a cell-free biomanufacturing company that develops a DNA-based flow reactor to unlock the future of biochemistry.
Ann Kramer
CEO of The Electrospinning Company
Ann Kramer is CEO of The Electrospinning Company: a biomaterial platform company with applications in regenerative medicine and medical device markets.
Ann graduated from the University of Cambridge with a degree in Natural Sciences and joined ICI Agrochemicals. Over almost 20 years with ICI, Zeneca and Syngenta she gained experience across the business including in research, sales, business development and M&A, with roles in the UK, USA and Switzerland. She managed the development of genetically modified food business streams in fresh produce crops. Since 2006 she has worked in the SME sector in the UK as Head of Business development for Oxitec Ltd. (acquired by Intrexon in 2015), COO of Immunocore Ltd. and CEO of Biosyntha Ltd. She joined The Electrospinning Company as CEO in 2012.
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About The Electrospinning Company: The Electrospinning Company is a provider of electrospun nanofibre innovations, developing solutions to industrial challenges.
Anna Perdrix Rosell
Co-Founder & Co-CEO of Sixfold Bioscience
Anna Perdrix Rosell is the Co-Founder & Co-CEO at Sixfold Bioscience.
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About Sixfold Bioscience: Sixfold Bioscience develops and researches on biotechnology advances for RNA therapies.
George Foot
Co-Founder & Co-CEO of Sixfold Bioscience
George Foot is the Co-Founder & Co-CEO at Sixfold Bioscience.
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About Sixfold Bioscience: Sixfold Bioscience develops and researches on biotechnology advances for RNA therapies.
Tim Wright
CEO of Aqdot
Tim joined Aqdot as CEO in November 2014. Prior to joining he co-founded Solent Pharma Ltd, a privately held speciality pharmaceutical company and has undertaken consulting projects supporting a variety of businesses as they develop growth and funding strategies. Previously Tim was CEO of IS Pharma plc, which he led through turnaround to become a substantial, profitable speciality business before its successful merger with Sinclair Pharma in 2011. He served as a non-executive director of the enlarged group, Sinclair IS Pharma, until 2012. Tim has previously held senior domestic and international commercial roles with Élan, SmithKline Beecham and Pfizer. Tim has successfully developed, licensed and grown brands and businesses at all stages of their lifecycle. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, a Fellow of the Institute of Directors and a Chartered Director.
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About Aqdot: Aqdot is a specialist chemical company with a focus and expertise in intelligent encapsulation technology.
Rotimi Alabi
Founder & CEO of RAB Microfluidics
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About RAB Microfluidics, University of Aberdeen: RAB-Microfluidics is a Research & Development company developing cutting-edge microfluidic technology to solve oil analysis problems.
Neciah Dorh
Co-Founder and CEO of FluoretiQ
Neciah Dorh is a Co-Founder and serves as the Chief Executive Officer at FluoretiQ.
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About FluoretiQ: FluoretiQ is a medical device company designing simple and effective bacterial detection systems for rapid diagnosis of infection.
Ady Moores
Chief Executive Officer of P2i
Ady was appointed as Group CEO of P2i in October 2016. Having previously served eight years as the Company’s Group CFO, Ady supported P2i’s fast growth from start-up to substantive, profitable business through his leadership of a series of successful funding rounds and responsibility for P2i’s financial, legal and administrative functions. Having qualified as a Chartered Accountant, Ady joined KPMG where he specialized in advising software and hardware companies. After spending time in the automotive industry, Ady spent three years as European Financial Controller for 3DO, a NASDAQ listed video games publishing company. In 2003, he was appointed Finance Director at Bright Things plc, an innovative interactive entertainment company, which he took from inception through IPO raising in excess of £11.5m. Immediately before joining P2i, Ady was Finance Director at 1E, a Sunday Times Tech Track 100 company specializing in PC power-management software with annual revenues of £15m and 120 employees. Ady joined P2i’s main Board as Group CFO in 2008; he also serves as Chairman of all three wholly-owned subsidiaries of P2i.
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About P2i: P2i is a provider of nanocoating technology.
Pritesh Hiralal
CEO, Co-Founder of Zinergy
Pritesh Hiralal, CEO/CTO, studied Physics and completed his Ph.D. in Engineering at the University of Cambridge. He has spent time in business in Spain and set up Casa Hiralal S.L. and Zendal Backup. He has spent time in industry at the Nokia Research Centre working on high power energy storage, and has published 30+ papers and 8 patents in the field. He has consulted for materials as well as energy storage device companies. He spent time as a Research Associate as well as an adjunct lecturer at the University of Cambridge and is now a founder and CEO at Zinergy.
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About Zinergy: ZInergy UK is aiming to manufacture thin, printed and flexible batteries at low cost which could power wearable devices.
Pritesh Hiralal
CEO, Co-Founder of Zinergy
Pritesh Hiralal, CEO/CTO, studied Physics and completed his Ph.D. in Engineering at the University of Cambridge. He has spent time in business in Spain and set up Casa Hiralal S.L. and Zendal Backup. He has spent time in industry at the Nokia Research Centre working on high power energy storage, and has published 30+ papers and 8 patents in the field. He has consulted for materials as well as energy storage device companies. He spent time as a Research Associate as well as an adjunct lecturer at the University of Cambridge and is now a founder and CEO at Zinergy.
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About Zinergy: ZInergy UK is aiming to manufacture thin, printed and flexible batteries at low cost which could power wearable devices.
