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 Consumer 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.
Nick Rooke
Senior Director, Head of Global Partner Operations of Sony
Nick Rooke is the Senior Director, Head of Global Partner Operations at PlayStation
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About PlayStation, Sony: Sony develops and manufactures audio, video, communications, and information technology products for the consumer and professional markets.
Laurel Bowden
Partner of 83North
Laurel is a General Partner at 83North (formerly Greylock IL), which she joined in 2008. Her areas of focus include: software, internet and fintech. Laurel has led investments in many leading European companies, including Just Eat (LSE: JE), Qliktech (NASDAQ: QLIK) and Hybris (acquired by SAP). Her current company boards and investments include Workable, Mirakl, NotontheHighStreet, Wonga, Wandera, iZettle, BlueVine, Ebury and Investec PLC & Ltd. Laurel was previously at GE and JVP. She holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Cape Town and an MBA from INSEAD.
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About 83North: 83North is a global venture capital firm with more than $1.8B million under management.
David Buttress
Venture Partner of 83North
David is based in our London office. He joined JUST EAT in March 2006 to launch its UK business, and was appointed CEO in January 2013. David led JUST EAT in the UK from startup to becoming Europe’s largest technology IPO in a decade. As CEO of JUST EAT David was responsible for leading several major investments and acquisitions. Highlights include acquiring leading technology businesses in Australia (menulog), Spain (la nevera roja) , Italy (Pizza Bo), Canada (Skip the Dishes), UK (hungryhouse and Flypay) and LATAM (ifood). In 2014, David was named Entrepreneur of the Year at the Investor Allstars Awards and he was also named as one of Britain’s most influential people in the Debrett’s 500 2015, 2016 and 2017. David was a Special Advisor to 83North for several years before joining as a partner in 2017.
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About 83North: 83North is a global venture capital firm with more than $1.8B million under management.
Robert Darwent
Partner of Lion Capital
Robert Darwent is a Partner of Lion Capital. Prior to founding Lion Capital, Robert served with Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst for six years. Prior to joining Hicks Muse, he was employed in the private equity group of Morgan Stanley in London. Robert received his BA and MA from Cambridge University.
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About Lion Capital: Lion Capital is a consumer-focused investor passionate about investing in brands about which people are passionate.
Mary Minnick
Partner of Lion Capital
Mary Minnick is a Partner of Lion Capital. Prior to joining Lion Capital, Mary completed a 23-year career with The Coca-Cola Company serving in a variety of global executive positions ranging from general management to marketing. In her last role, Mary was EVP and President of Marketing, Strategy and Innovation. Prior to that, Mary held a number of general management positions outside the United States including COO of Asia, responsible for the P&L and operations of 38 countries (based in Hong Kong). She serves as a board director for Target Corporation, a US-based retailer, and Heineken, a beverage company based in Amsterdam. Mary received a BA in Business from Bowling Green State University and an MBA from Duke University.
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About Lion Capital: Lion Capital is a consumer-focused investor passionate about investing in brands about which people are passionate.
Lyndon Lea
Partner of Lion Capital
Lyndon Lea is a Partner of Lion Capital and serves as its Managing Partner. Prior to founding Lion Capital, Lyndon was a Partner of Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst where he co-founded its European operations in 1998. Prior to joining Hicks Muse, Lyndon served at Glenisla, the European affiliate of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. He was previously an investment banker. Lyndon is a strong supporter of Not For Sale (“NFS”), a charity dedicated to the abolition of modern day slavery. He currently sits on the Board of NFS. With a personal commitment from Lyndon, NFS recently built a children’s home in Romania that accommodates approximately 100 children reclaimed from trafficking. Lyndon grew up between the UK, Southern Africa and Canada. He received his BA from the University of Western Ontario in Canada.
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About Lion Capital: Lion Capital is a consumer-focused investor passionate about investing in brands about which people are passionate.
Michail Zekkos
Partner of Permira
Michail is Head of the London office. He focuses on investment opportunities in the Technology sector. He has worked on a number of transactions including Exclusive Group, Findus Italy, Netafim and Teraco. Prior to joining Permira, Michail worked for eight years in technology investment banking at JPMorgan in London.
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About Permira: Permira is a global growth obsessed private capital investor.
Elisabetta Frontini
Operating Partner of Permira
Elisabetta is Head of the Portfolio Group. She is primarily focused on portfolio opportunities in the Consumer sector. She has worked on the Arcaplanet and La Piadineria transactions and currently serves on the boards of both. Elisabetta is a member of the ESG group. Prior to joining Permira, Elisabetta was a Partner at McKinsey & Company where she worked for more than 10 years as a leader in the European Consumer and TMT Practices with clients in Europe, Asia and MEA. After McKinsey & Company, she joined Ferrero Group, where she had various transformational roles in M&A, strategy, development of new businesses and new product development.
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About Permira: Permira is a global growth obsessed private capital investor.
Simon Dunlop
CMO and Global Partnerships of Instreamatic
Simon Dunlop is the Co-founder at Instreamatic.
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About Bookmate, Instreamatic: Voice Marketing Platform
Pippa Lamb
Partner of Sweet Capital
Pippa is a Partner at Sweet Capital and splits her time between the London and LA offices. Prior to Sweet Capital, Pippa worked in Consumer Private Equity at LVMH-backed L Catterton, where she was part of the investment team that worked on a $175m co-invest with JD.com into Secoo, China’s largest luxury e-commerce player. Prior to this, Pippa spent five years at J.P. Morgan in London and Hong Kong, where she was part of the global equity strategy team, analysing companies for investment primarily in the technology and consumer space. Prior to J.P. Morgan, Pippa worked for the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office in Shanghai and Beijing, developing UK/China investment and policy initiatives. Pippa holds an BA in Chinese from Oxford University and an MBA (Fulbright Scholar) from Harvard Business School.
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About Sweet Capital: Sweet Capital is the King.com (Candy Crush) founders fund, focused on deploying capital into consumer technology companies around the world.
Bob Geiman
Managing Partner of Cava Capital
Bob joined the Cava team in 2010 and led our investment in Neuehouse, LLC. With over 15 years of experience, Bob is a proven operator and investor in mobile and new media. Bob is the Founder and President/CEO of EveryScreen Media, a mobile advertising technology and data company in New York City. In addition, Bob is Chairman of the Board of Roundbox, a leading provider of mobile video software and applications and a member of the Board of Directors of Paradigm Creatives, a Hyderabad, India -based software company that creates mobile and social applications and enabling technologies for smartphones and tablets. Bob serves on the Advisory Boards of HatchLabs, an entrepreneurial sandbox building advanced mobile products that is funded by IAC and Xtreme Labs; Keynetik, a provider of software infrastructure and applications to facilitate the delivery of sensor-enabled, environment and context aware applications for the mobile, healthcare, sports and gaming industries; Paneve, a software programmable, video processing company for mobile devices and tablets; Perky Jerky, a guerilla marketing company that sells specialty food products; and Spring Partners, a company that is building a mobile application called SpringPad. Bob was recently a member of the Board of Directors of Paratek, a wireless semiconductor company that was acquired by Research in Motion in March 2012. Bob is a founding member of First Growth Venture Network, an organization with the mission of identifying high potential technology entrepreneurs in New York City and supporting these entrepreneurs with resources and networks to succeed through a nine month boot camp
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About Cava Capital, DigiSure, Summit Partners: Organic Development Stage (Cava Studio) through Early Growth.
Magnus Jern
Co-founder and Head of Partnerships of TAPP Water
Magnus Jern is a serial entrepreneur, investor, non-exec currently serving as co-founder and head of Partnerships at Tapp Water. Prior to this he was CEO & Founder of Golden Gekko (acquired by DMI in 2014). He has spent the last 17 years as a pioneer with mobile services. His early work included working on groundbreaking digital marketing initiatives for major brands such as Volvo, Ikea, AstraZeneca, Nike and BT. He then spent 5 years creating new products and services for Orange Group in Scandinavia and later Vodafone Group including award winning and industry leading Vodafone live!. He is the founder and co-founder of more than 7 start-ups including Driftbolaget, Lechill Mobile, GeoMe, Golden Gekko, NCOMVa and Tapp Water.
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About TAPP Water: TAPP Water has the mission to empower people to easily get clean and healthy water from tap, with a minimum environmental impact.
Jakub Kamecki
VP Business Development and Partnerships of TG0
Experienced Business Development Manager with a demonstrated history of working in software and technology industries. Skilled in Sales, Partnerships and Alliances, Management, Strategic Leadership, and Product development. Holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from University College Dublin Smurfit Business School.
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About TG0: TG0 is an R&D start-up creating novel 3D controls.
Libby Gibson
Partner of Piper Private Equity
Libby heads up Piper’s added value team, which answers Piper’s key commercial questions during due diligence and post-investment helps our brands better understand and communicate with their customers, through research, branding and marketing. She has developed her customer focused understanding of branded businesses through her work with over 30 different brands in the last 30 years. Having joined Fitch & Company, the UK’s leading commercial design consultancy, Libby left in 1985 to co-found Piper. She was also intimately involved in the start-up and growth of their highly successful bar brand Pitcher & Piano. Libby takes the lead on our food and drink, beauty and travel investments.
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About Piper Private Equity: Piper is a specialist private equity firm focused on investments in consumer brands with strong growth potential.
Jerome Camblain
Partner – Sales of Smart Lenders Asset Management SA
Marketplace Lending. We invest our clients money through online lending marketplaces. Platforms selection, Due diligence, Algorithm loans selection… Where big data meets finance.
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About PrestaShop, Smart Lenders Asset Management SA: French AMF registered Asset Manager specialised in investing in loans through online marketplaces.
Erich Bonnet
CEO, Partner of Smart Lenders Asset Management SA
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About Smart Lenders Asset Management SA: French AMF registered Asset Manager specialised in investing in loans through online marketplaces.
Sarah McBride
Partner of Shrug Capital
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About Shrug Capital: Shrug Capital is a Venture capital firm that invests in consumer-based startups.
Lara Morgan
Venture Partner of Scentered
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About E2Exchange, Global Amenities Direct, Scentered, Scentered, The Supper Club, Yogi Bare: Scentered is an online shop that offers beauty, health, wellness and aromatherapy products.
Neil McKie
Partner of STANCE
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About STANCE: Stance is a behavioural design company purposed for the next generation of challenges.
