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 Partner operating in the Education space. If you think a Partner 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.
Pal Erik Sjatil
Global Managing Partner and CEO of Lightrock
Pal Erik Sjatil is the Global Managing Partner and CEO at Lightrock, a global private equity partnership that seeks to achieve financial as well as societal and environmental returns. Lightrock invests in sustainable businesses built by purpose-driven entrepreneurs committed to innovation for systemic change at scale. The company has one of the largest impact-focused growth portfolios in Europe, Latin America and India. More recently, Lightrock has also started building out a portfolio of investments across Sub-Saharan Africa. It invests in companies that pursue scalable and technology-driven business models around the themes people, planet and productivity/tech for good. Specific investment sectors within these themes include education, healthcare, access to finance, mobility, transportation, renewables and circular-economy transition. Lightrock investments demonstrably contribute to the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals. Lightrock’s portfolio currently encompasses more than 70 high-growth companies, including Infarm, one of the world’s fastest growing urban farming networks with more than 1200 farms installed; PharmEasy, one of the largest omni-channel healthcare platforms in India; DrConsulta, one of the largest healthcare chains in Latin America; and M-Kopa, a global pioneer for pay-as-you-go solar energy services for off-grid customers in rural East Africa. In 2019, CMR Surgical, a developer of surgical robots that will broaden access to keyhole surgery, was the first of Lightrock’s portfolio companies to become a unicorn – followed by several others, such as Lilium, the sustainable aviation company. As an active owner, Lightrock supports its portfolio companies from a board position in their dynamic growth and expansion phase. Prior to joining Lightrock, Pal Erik Sjatil was a Senior Partner at McKinsey & Company, a member of the firm’s Shareholders Council, and the Managing Partner of McKinsey’s offices in Europe. Before assuming that role, he led McKinsey’s office in Norway, was part of the leadership of the Scandinavian offices, led the office complex in Eastern Europe, and was the Managing Partner of McKinsey’s offices in EEMA (Eastern Europe, Russia/CIS, Turkey, the Middle East, and Africa). Pal Erik also held leadership roles in the firm’s Telecommunications, High Tech, and Strategy & Corporate Finance practices. At McKinsey, he served clients in the telecom, high tech, financial services, and oil and gas industries and focused on corporate strategy, operations, and organizational transformations.
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About Lightrock: Lightrock is a global private equity platform that backs purpose-driven entrepreneurs tackling the world’s biggest challenges.
Edd Stockwell
Head of Partnerships of MEL Science
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About MEL Science: MEL Science develops up to date chemistry kit subscription and VR software for learning chemistry
Jan Lynn-Matern
Founder and Partner of Emerge Education
I am a Founder and Partner at Emerge Education. Emerge Education is a European seed investor focused on companies that bridge the skills gap. Emerge specialises in providing its portfolio companies with access to market insights, partners and customers through its unique industry network. We have a particular focus on investing in challenger universities, bootcamps, workforce re-training programmes, and companies that help universities scale online.
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About Emerge Education: The only fund backed by the world’s leading education entrepreneurs
Nic Newman
Partner of Emerge Education
Nic Newman is a Partner at Emerge Education (a seed VC investing in companies shaping the future of learning and work), a member of the DfE’s Edtech Leadership group, a mentor on the Major’s International Business program, a NED, an ex-school governor of 3 schools (special needs, primary and secondary) and an ex Digital Ambassador for the United Nations. He is ‘the product guy’ with experience built-in leading fast-growth tech startups and in multinationals. He has 2 young children and wants to create a world of equal opportunity.
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About : The only fund backed by the world’s leading education entrepreneurs
Leila-Mari Ryynänen
Partner of Claned Group
Leila-Mari has over 30 years of experience in management and business development both in the public and private sector. She has extensive experience with start-ups from start to exit, and was the director of new business development at Finpro from 2006 to 2013. Leila-Mari has successfully ran a healthcare software company in UK and contract business in Norway. Leila-Mari is used to working in international markets, and she has lived and worked in all the Scandinavian countries, the UK, the Netherlands, Canada and USA. Additionally, she has experience in Asian and Russian business.
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About Claned Group: The unparalleled digital learning solution – Modern LXP enabling superior engagement and measurement of impact
Leslie Kolber
North America Head of Sales and Partnerships of boclips
Leslie has a strong background in account management, business development, strategy, building partnerships and closing contracts with over twenty years experience. She is proficient in accessing senior level decision makers, negotiations and creating win-win situations. Her tech background includes database and software experience.
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About boclips: boclips is an online platform that enables its users to find, watch, and learn through educational video clips.
Rich Clensy
Head of Partnerships of Midrive
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About Midrive: Midrive is the modern way to learn to drive: highest-rated instructors, digital tools to support learning, and innovative insurance.
Patrick Cooke
Partner & Marketing Director of EdPlace
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About EdPlace: EdPlace is dedicated to empowering parents in their child’s education.
Alison Bukhari
Director – Business Development and Partnerships (U.K) of Dasra
Alison has a unique insight into what it takes to scale an organization, create wide impact, and become a sector leader in India. She brings distinctive experience to her role as a Director of Investor Relations at Dasra from her seven years working in India during the early years of growth at Magic Bus, now one of India’s leading child development organizations, as well as her time as a senior specialist in British and Anglo-Indian art at Christie’s, the art auction house. Alison has opened Dasra’s UK office and is forging strong connections with a wide variety of donors and partners in the European philanthropy and impact investing space. Alison has a Masters with Joint Honours in German and History of Art from the University of Edinburgh, as well as a diploma in Cross-Sector Partnerships from Cambridge University, part one of an MA in International Development.
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About Dasra: Dasra builds collaborations with organizations providing valuable consulting on strategic, management.
Jermaine Trotman
Managing Partner of Nimble AppGenie
Jermaine Trotman is a Founder of Nimble Appgenie, a company that provides mobile app development services in iOS and Android platforms for global clients. He loves to write on mobile technologies, app development, startups, entrepreneurship, and mobile app marketing.
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About Nimble AppGenie: Nimble AppGenie is leading Mobile App development company in the USA. Also, we provides you highly customized, cost-efficient apps.
Daniel Clarke
Strategy and Partnerships of Cambridgeshire County Council
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About Cambridgeshire County Council: Cambridgeshire County Council provides a range of public services including transport, highways, schools, library and learning services.
Stuart Clarke
Partnerships Officer of Synap
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About Synap: Synap is online education platform using AI to revolutionise learning.
Martin Higham
Founder & Partner of Ocasta
Martin Higham serves as a co-founder and partner at Ocasta.
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About Ocasta: Ocasta develops knowledge, training & education tech for your employees or students.
Thomas Buus Madsen
Partner & Founder of Bookboon
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About Bookboon: Bookboon, is a publisher of eBooks
Gareth James
Strategic Programs and Partnerships Consultant of World Robot Olympiad
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About World Robot Olympiad: World Robot Olympiad is a non-profit organization that promotes robotics in STEM education.
Andy Wilkins
Co-Founder & Partner of Perspectiv
Andy Wilkins has more than 20 years’ experience helping people, teams and organizations significantly improve their performance. He has delivered more than 450 programs, workshops and coaching sessions for international companies in 11 countries. In 1997, Andy co founded Perspectiv, a research, consulting and training company specializing in the use of creative problem solving, strategy, leadership, and team development methodologies to help change and growth. Before that, he worked for 16 years at international IT companies as director of innovation and change, business unit managing director and director of strategy and marketing. Andy is also an Honorary Senior Visiting Fellow at Cass Business School in London on various MBA and MSc courses on innovation and management. He is currently working with the Business School on the delivery of the new master’s program in Creativity, Innovation and Leadership. Andy is researching the leadership approach necessary for dealing with “wicked problems” to help organizations better understand how to get the most from their methods.
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About Cass Business School, Perspectiv: Perspectiv is a consulting and training company, combining proven methodologies with practical application to enable organisations.
Andy Wilkins
Co-Founder & Partner of Perspectiv
Andy Wilkins has more than 20 years’ experience helping people, teams and organizations significantly improve their performance. He has delivered more than 450 programs, workshops and coaching sessions for international companies in 11 countries. In 1997, Andy co founded Perspectiv, a research, consulting and training company specializing in the use of creative problem solving, strategy, leadership, and team development methodologies to help change and growth. Before that, he worked for 16 years at international IT companies as director of innovation and change, business unit managing director and director of strategy and marketing. Andy is also an Honorary Senior Visiting Fellow at Cass Business School in London on various MBA and MSc courses on innovation and management. He is currently working with the Business School on the delivery of the new master’s program in Creativity, Innovation and Leadership. Andy is researching the leadership approach necessary for dealing with “wicked problems” to help organizations better understand how to get the most from their methods.
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About Cass Business School, Perspectiv: Perspectiv is a consulting and training company, combining proven methodologies with practical application to enable organisations.
Paul Maidement
Partner – Managing Director of TRIARC
Paul joined TRIARC in 2016 to develop TRIARC Learning and to develop the company’s international partnerships. Paul’s career at the BBC’s commercial arm BBC Worldwide spanned almost 20 years during which time he ran a number of business units in the digital media and content spaces. Most notably he ran the clip sales arm BBC Motion Gallery which licensed video material around the world. In addition Paul also oversaw BBC Worldwide Learning, the division producing content from archive to map against learning requirements. Paul helped BBC Worldwide secure a long term contract for BBC Motion Gallery with Getty Images and he then took the opportunity to realise his ambition to run his own business, Kite Media Limited which was established in January 2015. At a time when content continues to be king, Paul helps organisations curate and commercialise their material – usually video – which more often than not has been languishing on the shelf. In addition Paul’s experience has proved invaluable to a number of start-up or immature businesses in the digital media market and he helps them with their planning, investment and ‘go to market’ activity. Paul has associates around the world and Kite Media’s client base is truly global.
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About TRIARC: Stock footage Licensing Platform
