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 Founder operating in the Industrial Engineering space. If you think a Founder 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.
Alexander Guslisty
Founder, CEO of BIG Atom
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About BIG Atom: Recycling company on a mission to end polymer waste. They develop, build and operate new generation infrastructure for processing waste.
Gareth Maker
Co-Founder & Managing Director of M Squared Lasers
Gareth Maker attained a first class honours degree in Physics from Southampton University in 1986. The laser research group at Southampton is one of the largest and most prestigious in the UK, and as part of this group Gareth completed PhD research into laser development in 1989, producing many firsts in the field of diode-pumped solid-state lasers. He then spent a year working on laser research within the new Optical Research Centre (ORC), also based in Southampton. This was part of a government initiative to create centres of excellence for research within UK universities, and as such the ORC represented a £10M investment by the UK government. In 1991 he co-founded Microlase Optical Systems Ltd. Gareth then took the company from a startup to one having a turnover of around £3M and a worldwide reputation for excellence. The technical and financial success of this business eventually led to a trade sale to Coherent Inc (one of the world’s largest laser companies and NASDAQ listed) in 2000. Gareth continued as joint Managing Director until 2002, at which point the business had grown to 50 employees, had achieved a turnover of £7M, and occupied purpose-built prestigious premises within Glasgow, Scotland. He then acted as a technical consultant to several photonics companies, helping them to remain forward looking both in their R&D activities and in key areas of product design and manufacturing.
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About M Squared Lasers: M Squared Lasers develops and manufactures next-generation lasers and photonic instruments.
Graeme Malcolm
Co-Founder & CEO of M Squared Lasers
Graeme’s interest in laser technology began at Strathclyde University with a degree in ‘Laser Physics and Optoelectronics’ followed by PhD research into Compact Solid-State Laser Sources. Shortly after he co-founded his first company Microlase Optical Systems, which went on to catch the eye of global laser company ‘Coherent Inc.’. Today, Graeme leads M Squared Lasers to specialise in novel laser solutions for use in a myriad of academic and commercial applications. Here, he develops a range of world-class laser and photonics systems, which are not only ‘one of a kind, they are critical enablers in fundamental physics research, underpinning many world firsts. The rapid growth of M Squared, as evidenced by its place in the Deloitte Technology Fast 50, Deloitte EMEA Fast 500 and Sunday Times Tech Track 100, goes to show how important laser technology is to unlocking the future secrets of science. Graeme is a visiting Professor and Entrepreneur in Residence at the Institute of Photonics at the University of Strathclyde and a Member of the Royal Society of Edinburgh Young Academy of Scotland. He also sits on the advisory board of the Fraunhofer Centre for Applied Photonics. He has authored and co-authored 62 papers and conference proceedings and has secured 14 active patent families with 52 individual fillings worldwide. Earlier this year, Graeme was awarded an OBE for his services to Science and Innovation.
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About M Squared Lasers, University of Strathclyde: M Squared Lasers develops and manufactures next-generation lasers and photonic instruments.
Jarek Rosinski
Founder and CEO of Transmission Dynamics
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About Transmission Dynamics: Transmission Dynamics is an independent privately owned company
Gilo Cardozo
Founder ,Chairman & CTO of Gilo Industries
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About Gilo Industries: Gilo Industries, a Dorset-based aerospace technology startup
Alexander Schey
CEO & Co-Founder of Vantage Power
Alexander Schey is the Chief Commercial Officer & Electrification at Allison Transmission .
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About Allison Transmission Holdings, Vantage Power: Vantage Power designs and manufactures powertrain electrification and connectivity technologies for heavy-duty vehicles.
Toby Schulz
Co-Founder & CTO of Vantage Power
Toby Schulz is the Director Electrification & Systems IRD at Allison Transmission.
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About Allison Transmission Holdings, Vantage Power: Vantage Power designs and manufactures powertrain electrification and connectivity technologies for heavy-duty vehicles.
Paul Domjan
Founder and Chief Executive Officer of ENODA
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About ENODA: ENODA provides the transition to a zero-carbon energy system in a way that is economically sustainable for all.
Mike Gascoyne
Founder & CEO of MGI Engineering
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About MGI Engineering: MGI Engineering provides technology and engineering solutions on improving various kinds of transportation.
Monika Tomecka
Executive Director, CEO & Co-Founder of uFraction8
Dr Monika Tomecka has a PhD with a background in biology, genetics and biomedical research. This gives her insight into the science and operations of uFraction8’s customer segments. She is able to converse at an appropriate level to engage and sell the benefits of uFraction8 technology.
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About uFraction8: uFraction8 develops microfluidics-based filtration systems to help bio-manufacturers to harvest biomass sustainably and more efficiently.
Brian Miller
Managing Director & Co-Founder of uFraction8
Dr Brian Miller is one of the original inventors of uFraction8’s technology. Following the successful PhD where the technology was developed, he undertook a Royal Society of Edinburgh Enterprise Fellowship to learn the skills required for commercialisation of the technology. Furthermore, he has a background as a professional engineer and was involved in delivering high value projects in gas turbine control systems in industry.
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About uFraction8: uFraction8 develops microfluidics-based filtration systems to help bio-manufacturers to harvest biomass sustainably and more efficiently.
Dominic Vergine
CEO and Co-Founder of Monumo
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About Monumo: Monumo is an electronic and mechanical engineering company that develops optimal electric motors.
Ken Ritson
Group Managing Director and Co-Founder of EDS HV Group
Ken Ritson is Group Managing Director. Ken is responsible for installation contracts and services/project management within EDS. Ken started his career with a UK Electricity Company and progressed to a Training & Development Engineer. In 1993 he joined a UK contracting firm as Contracts Manager, and formed EDS in 1994. As a founder member of EDS Ken has a vast experience from installation, training and development through management of multi-million pound companies. Ken’s practical, commercial, business and industry knowledge has left him well placed to deliver solutions to clients in the most challenging situations.
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About EDS HV Group: EDS HV Group engages in the design and installation of wind farm construction projects.
Jianguo Lin
Founder of Impression Technologies
Jianguo has been the driving force behind the development of the HFQ process and has developed significant know how in the processing of hot and warm formed aluminium & steel . He currently heads the mechanics of materials division at Imperial, and previously was at Birmingham University.
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About Imperial College London, Impression Technologies: Impression Technologies is leading the path towards lightweighting solutions in automotive, aerospace and consumer product sectors.
Trevor Dean
Founder of Impression Technologies
Trevor has had a long and distinguished academic career. he has been involved with HFQ since its inception. Both Professor Lin and Dr Foster worked with him.
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About Impression Technologies, University of Birmingham: Impression Technologies is leading the path towards lightweighting solutions in automotive, aerospace and consumer product sectors.
Gordon McInroy
Founder and CTO of Nuclera
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About Nuclera: Nuclera makes biology accessible through desktop enzymatic protein and gene synthesis.
Adrien Hitz
Co-Founder and COO of Materialize.X
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About Materialize.X: Data-Driven Directors for Manufacturing
Haidin Rashid
Co-Founder and CEO of Materialize.X
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About Materialize.X: Data-Driven Directors for Manufacturing
Nigel Hall
Founder & Managing Director of WHP Engineering
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About WHP Engineering: WHP Engineering is a multi-disciplined, engineering company dedicated to providing both standalone and turnkey solutions.
David Weir
Founder & Technical Director of WHP Engineering
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About WHP Engineering: WHP Engineering is a multi-disciplined, engineering company dedicated to providing both standalone and turnkey solutions.
Phill Adamson
Managing Director & Co-Founder of Paragon Rapid Technologies Ltd
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About Paragon Rapid Technologies Ltd: A leading product development and production support company, offering prototyping, manufacturing and supply chain management solutions.
Chris Dodson OBE DL
Chairman and Founder of Torftech
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About Torftech: Torftech group of companies develop, licence and provide the TORBED Energy Technologies to a wide range of industries.
Paul Evans
Founder of Halo X Ray Technologies
Paul is co-inventor of HXT technology and head of The Imaging Science Group at NTU. He has extensive experience in innovating novel solutions to complex imaging applications and will guide the technical team at HXT, whilst continuing to lead the research group at NTU. Paul will act as the principal liaison between commercial and research teams and coordinate programmes that enhance and develop our technology.
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About Halo X Ray Technologies: Halo X Ray Technologies is developing commercially-focused OEM X-ray diffraction solutions.
David Thomas
Founder of Hoxy Tronic
David Thomas, tuned and fixed engines for cars and motorbikes that his father raced. Later he studied engineering, then joined IBM in South Africa as a hardware engineer for thirteen years. He facilitated setting up a national co-operative for taxi operators in SA, and project managed setting up petrol stations for the taxi co-ops with an independent fuel company. He researched the HHO industry to find methods of improving the efficiency and performance of the design, knowing that the only way for HHO to advance was to build the product cheap enough so that it paid for itself very quickly and to solve the inherent problems. A meeting with Paul Mullen of Cubik Innovation sparked the electronic current-mode control of gas output which formed the basis of the new Hoxy Tronic technology. His tasks are to develop, research and test the new designs and provide sales technical support.
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About Hoxy Tronic: Hoxy Tronic specializes in developing fuel saving and emissions reduction technology.
