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 Managing Partner operating in the Information Technology space. If you think a Managing 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.
Ian Lobley
Managing Partner – Asset Management of 3i Group
Ian is Managing Partner (Asset Management Group) at 3i – a leading international investment manager focused on mid-market private equity and infrastructure. Ian has been an investor with 3i for 30 years where, in addition to a number of board roles, he is a member of the Group Investment Committee and on the board of 3i Infrastructure plc (the FTSE 250 listed infrastructure fund). Ian has been an active board member on a wide variety of companies across 3 continents and numerous sectors. Those boards have included both private and public companies with a number of ownership dynamics including institutionally-owned, founder-owned and startups.
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About 3i Group: 3i is an international investment manager focused on mid-market Private Equity, Infrastructure & Debt Management.
Philip White
Managing Partner, Head of Infrastructure of 3i Group
Phil joined 3i in 2007 and is Managing Partner and Head of 3i’s Infrastructure business and a member of 3i’s Executive Committee, Investment Committee and Group Risk Committee. Prior to joining 3i, he was Division Director in Macquarie’s Infrastructure Funds business, where he managed investments in the transport sector. Phil has over 20 years of infrastructure investment, advisory and finance experience from earlier roles at Barclays and WestLB. Phil has an MBA from London Business School.
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About 3i Group: 3i is an international investment manager focused on mid-market Private Equity, Infrastructure & Debt Management.
Spyro Korsanos
Founder & Managing Partner of Fuse Venture Partners
An award-winning corporate advisor, investor and dealmaker, Spyro Korsanos is the founder and Managing Partner of Global Venture Partners. Global Venture Partners invests in the consumer internet sector and provides strategic advice and corporate finance for technology ventures. Since 2014, Spyro has led over 40 e-commerce transactions, valued at $2bn, which have created more than €1bn in capital gain. As a global development advisor, Spyro has been instrumental in the impressive growth of Delivery Hero, foodpanda and various Rocket Internet-backed businesses. Global Venture Partners has recently invested in Kurly, the Korean online grocer, and pet tech platform Felcana, based in the UK. Spyro was awarded TMT Rising Star in 2017. Previously, he held corporate strategy and investment roles with Sky, Liberty Global and Cable & Wireless. Spyro started his career as a corporate lawyer at Gilbert & Tobin and holds an MBA from INSEAD.
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About Fuse Venture Partners: FUSE VENTURE PARTNERS Investors in, and advisors to, investors and ventures in the high-growth internet space
Tim Smeaton
Co-Founder, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Partner of Kubrick Group
Tim Smeaton co-founded Kubrick Group in March 2016. Tim is responsible for the overall strategy of the company and its execution. Tim was previously the CEO of a public company that he grew with his co-founders to have revenues in excess of £200 million and 10 offices around the world. Tim also has a background in the technology industry with multiple non-executive roles, with a strong focus on education and charitable organisations helping them increase diversity in the technology industry. Tim also has experience as an advisor and investor in technology start ups. Tim believes that all organisations have a responsibility to develop their people to compensate for the huge impact that automation and artificial intelligence will have on the global workforce.
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About Kubrick Group: Kubrick Group is a new force in technology consulting, providing fully trained and accredited junior consultants to organisations.
Simon Walker
Managing Partner & Co-Founder of Kubrick Group
Simon walker co-founded Kubrick group with Tim Smeaton in March 2016. Simon is responsible for Kubrick’s client and channel partner relationships, with in depth experience as a business leader and investor. Tim and Simon have worked together for 20 years setting up and growing businesses. Simon spent 6 years in Singapore building a $25m APAC business and returned back to the UK with his family, for the opportunity to establish Kubrick.
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About Kubrick Group: Kubrick Group is a new force in technology consulting, providing fully trained and accredited junior consultants to organisations.
Kerry Baldwin
Managing Partner, co-founder of IQ Capital
Co-founder/Managing Partner of IQ Capital, a Cambridge based, deep tech focused, early stage venture capital investor, which invests in Machine Learning, AI, Data Science and Data-based propositions and IP based on disruptive algorithms. IQ Capital invests £1-5m in the first round and subsequently adds further capital through follow-on investments, IQ Capital is actively seeking Series A with rich deep tech IP at the core. Kerry has 20 years in early stage Venture Capital both in the UK and Europe starting with VTL in 1997 (the first investor in Autonomy), KVS amongst other deep tech investments and had numerous successful exits including to Yahoo, Sun Microsystems and other secondary sales. In 2006 she co-founded IQ Capital raising a £25m fund, followed by a £50m fund in 2015 with British Business Bank as a key investor. The fund has enjoyed exits to Google, Huwaei and Becton Dickinson. She specialises in Competitive Intelligence, Product, Strategic Marketing and team dynamics.
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About Cambridge Judge Business School, CybSafe, IQ Capital, The British Private Equity & Venture Capital Association: IQ Capital is a Cambridge & London -based VC firm investing in early-stage deeptech companies.
Ed Stacey
Managing Partner of IQ Capital
Co-founder and Managing Partner of IQ Capital, a Cambridge based, deep tech focused, early stage venture capital investor, which invests in Machine Learning, AI, Data Science and Data-based propositions and IP based on disruptive algorithms. IQ Capital invests £1-5m in the first round and subsequently adds further capital through follow-on investments, IQ Capital is actively seeking Series A with rich deep tech IP at the core. In 1997 Ed co-founded Venture Technologies, a predecessor of IQ Capital. Having invested £31m in 22 investments, the fund achieved a number of highly successful exits and delivered over 30% net IRR to its investors. Successful exits included three flotations, (including Autonomy plc, the first technology company on EASDAQ), a secondary purchase, and a number of trade sales to companies including Sun Microsystems, Veritas and Yahoo. Post 2002, when Venture Technologies portfolio was fully realised, Ed advised a private UHNWI syndicate on the execution of over 15 investments and advising on sustainable growth strategies and maximising shareholder returns. During his time with IQ Capital, Ed has been responsible for the technology side of portfolio companies, investment strategy and, as a member of the Investment Committee, general investment activity. Ed is currently in on the board of Speechmatics and serves as board observer in Privitar, Biobeats, Oxford Space Systems, SenseEye and CPS. His IQCF1 exits include Imsense (Apple, 2010) and Rosslyn (AIM, 2014). He holds an MBA from Manchester Business School and a BSC in Physics.
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About IQ Capital, The ID Co.: IQ Capital is a Cambridge & London -based VC firm investing in early-stage deeptech companies.
Max Bautin
Managing Partner of IQ Capital
Max has worked in venture capital since 2001, first building seed stage investment business at NW Brown and then co-founding IQ Capital in 2007. He has led investments in over two dozen high-technology companies – including Phonetic Arts (Google), Sirigen (BD), Neul (Huawei), DanioLabs (Summit), Quotient (EKF), Reevoo, Novacta and Transversal – and currently represents IQCP on the boards of Grapeshot and Stillfront. Max started his career in Millicom, a corporate investor into mobile telecom companies in developing countries. He holds a BSc in Economics from the University of Maryland and an MBA from the University of Cambridge.
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About IQ Capital: IQ Capital is a Cambridge & London -based VC firm investing in early-stage deeptech companies.
Alpesh Doshi
Managing Partner, CEO of Fintricity
Alpesh is an entrepreneur and innovator in how enterprises can transform and future-proof their business using disruptive technologies and business models, particularly around digital, big data & analytics and blockchain. He is focused on innovative thinking and practical strategies to add value for his clients fast and often, introducing the agile approach of working to digital transformation.
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About Fintricity, Redcliffe Capital: Fintricity have been at the forefront of technology and digital transformation for over 15 years.
David Leftley
Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Bloc Ventures
David has more than 30 years global technology industry experience in start-ups and multi-nationals as an engineer, manager, director and investor. From 1983 he worked as a design engineer in the defence industry, specialising in radar and airborne electronic countermeasures, first at Cossor Electronics and then at Racal Defence. In 1987 he moved into the TV and film industry, working for Abacus Cox and then Vistek on the design of the world’s first digital TV production technology. In this time he progressed to become R&D Manager and later became General Manager. In 1996, as CTO he founded Digital Vision UK for DV AB of Sweden, a world leader in video compression, transmission and post production technology, securing contracts with the BBC, several Hollywood studios and customers as far afield as China. In 1999 DV AB successfully went to an IPO. In 2009 he joined Vodafone’s corporate venture team as head of its European activity, closing numerous investments in Mobile Health, Clean Tech, Infrastructure and Financial Tech services. In this time the fund ranked in the top 5 CVCs, achieved an IRR of 27% and in 2012 received an industry award for its exit of portfolio company Amobee for $321M. In 2010 David was ranked in Wired Magazine’s top 100 innovators’ list. He represented Vodafone on the boards of nine portfolio companies. In April 2013 David departed Vodafone to establish Bloc Ventures with Bruce. He has a Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the University of Aston Birmingham, and is a Chartered Engineer.
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About Bloc Ventures: Bloc Ventures is an early-stage Deep Tech investment company. Pitch to Bloc here: https://blocventures.com/pitching/
Sulabh Sharma
Managing Partner of Sush Labs
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About Sush Labs: Sush Labs is in designing, developing mobile and webs cloud-backed digital solutions.
Chris Love
Managing Partner Workforce Transformation of REPL Group
One of REPL’s original two founders, Chris is a renowned expert in workforce management with two decades of retail and supply chain experience. He’s worked with many of the world’s largest retailers, helping to deliver transformational technology and change projects. Chris has gained broad experience across all retail functions and disciplines. He is often called upon to share his expertise and best practice insights with his peers.
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About REPL Group, REPL Group: REPL Group delivers technology and management solutions which transform business operations and processes.
Will Shepherd
Managing Partner of REPL Group
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About REPL Group: REPL Group delivers technology and management solutions which transform business operations and processes.
Ali Beklen
Founder and Managing Partner of HotelRunner
After working for several financial institutions and IBM, Ali Beklen co-founded HotelRunner with Arden Agopyan, with the ambition of converting the long-tail accommodation sales and distribution management from offline to online at global scale. For the last 10 years, he has been advising many organizations and initiatives focusing on digital transformation of the travel industry globally. He has publications in international refereed journals and conferences about service and cloud computing. He is Advisory Chair for Software Service Computation at the International Academy, Research and Industry Association. Beklen holds an M.Sc. in Computer Engineering and a B.A. in Economics. He is also a PhD candidate in computer engineering.
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About HotelRunner: SaaS enabled B2B network for accommodations and travel agencies to find, contract, connect, and transact with each other online.
Arden Agopyan
Founder and Managing Partner of HotelRunner
Arden Agopyan is an experienced entrepreneur and business development executive with a proven track record. Prior to founding HotelRunner, he led IBM’s Cloud Computing Software technical sales and market creation activities across Central and Eastern Europe, Russia, Middle East and Africa. His areas of expertise also include international team management, business execution, strategic marketing and financial management. As a talented hacker coming from software development background, along twenty years of business experience in technology, Arden is a Ph.D. candidate in Finance, holds a BSc in Computer Engineering degree and an MBA. Arden speaks five languages and is also Advisory Chair for Cloud Computing at International Academy, Research and Industry Association and co-author of a book, academic journals and articles.
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About HotelRunner: SaaS enabled B2B network for accommodations and travel agencies to find, contract, connect, and transact with each other online.
Katy Turner
Co-founder & Managing Partner of Multiple London
Katy is Managing Partner and co-founder at Multiple. Multiple supercharges the progress of high growth companies and funds through brand and culture. They support European tech founders and funds building the capabilities, culture and communications that will enable them to take out the competition, take a big exit or take over the world. At Multiple, Katy has worked alongside the founders of companies such as Pipedrive, WeTransfer, Unbabel, Kalo, Aire, Beryl (formerly Blaze), Verve, Drover, Favro and Trouva, and funds such as Kindred, Connect, Whitestar and Albion; to clarify purpose, shape vision, define positioning, refine strategy, develop culture, build brand, acquire customers and drive growth. Katy began her career in publishing before choosing a bright future at Orange (in a time when it was actually cool to work for a mobile operator), where she launched products nationally and internationally. Roles in tech include VC at Eden Ventures, VP of Marketing at Videoplaza (acquired by Ooyala) and CMO at Tech City UK (now Tech Nation), as well as mentoring for Seedcamp and Techstars. She sits on the Investment Committee for the University of Bristol’s Enterprise Fund.
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About Multiple London: Their drive growth through purpose, platforms and people for organisations with customers at their heart and tech at their fingertips.
Ron Martin
Managing Partner of Enapps
Over the years Ron has held various roles in product management, project management and technical positions in companies such as Toshiba, Dr Solomon’s Software, Nvidia, ATI and AMD.
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About Enapps: Enapps is an unique Business Management Software Solution Company.
Tony Morris
Managing Partner of Red LeeMor LLC
Tony Morris brings strategy, mobile, sales, and PR experience to the digital industry. He received his start in PR/marketing and media at the Federal Reserve Bank, serving as the Los Angeles media spokesperson supporting the release of the new $100 bills. Tony holds a B.A. from Yale University. He lives in Los Angeles. His specialties include Digital Media, Online Video, Mobile Advertising, Mobile UX/UI Design, Social Media, Brand Strategy: CPG, Gaming, Entertainment, Travel; Contract Negotiation, Direct Response, Advertising Sales; Presentations and Public Speaking; Business Development; Marketing.
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About Red LeeMor LLC: Red LeeMor LLC is a technology platform of mobile applications geared toward contractors and architects.
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.
Lee Durham
Co-founder and Managing Partner of durhamlane
Lee, co-founder of durhamlane, is a chartered marketer (MCIM) with over 20 years commercial sales and marketing experience, delivering progressive development solutions to ambitious organisations and their investors throughout the UK and worldwide. He has realised high growth programmes for businesses of all sizes from SME’s to Blue Chip clients, primarily in the technology, software and manufacturing sectors. One of his overriding business goals is ‘to raise the bar of the sales profession in Europe and make it a profession to be proud of, as it is in the US’, after all, we all sell in some shape or form.
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About durhamlane, Powerhouse Software: durhamlane is a sales performance specialist.
Richard Lane
Co-Founder and Managing Partner of durhamlane
Before becoming a recognised keynote speaker, sales trainer and sales improvement thought leader, Richard spent his career in sales management and leadership positions for learning and software technology companies. Throughout his career he has led both UK and global sales organisations to consistently out-perform expectations by selling, and helping others to sell, complex solutions. As the creator of the methodology “Selling at a Higher Level”, Richard has built up an enviable reputation by helping the likes of Sage, Xero, HP, British Gas, Aviva, NatWest (and durhamlane) become more profitable and transition towards developing performance cultures.
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About durhamlane: durhamlane is a sales performance specialist.
Alex Miller
Managing Partner of Forestreet
Alex Miller is founder and Managing Partner at Forestreet. Forestreet has indexed and categorised suppliers of digital and emerging technology to create a new source of advantage for their clients. Providing independent advice and a whole-of-market view they help their clients design and deliver transformational outcomes. Prior to founding Forestreet Alex was COO and a member of the Management Committee at Octopus, on of Europe’s largest VCs. Before joining Octopus, Alex was Director of Strategy and Operational Performance at Lloyds Banking Group. Prior to that, Alex held senior positions at BT Group, Orange UK and Accenture. His experience spans multiple industries and geographies, where he has been responsible for leading transformation and service delivery.
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About : Enables businesses select the right firm to partner, invest or acquire using a proprietary whole-of-market database digital leaders.
David Doyle
Managing Partner of Forestreet
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About Forestreet: Enables businesses select the right firm to partner, invest or acquire using a proprietary whole-of-market database digital leaders.
Tom McCann
Managing Partner of equityfor
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About equityfor: Re inventing Venture Capital Investment. Providing investment access for institutional and accredited investors.
Jason Nunn
Managing Partner of equityfor
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About equityfor: Re inventing Venture Capital Investment. Providing investment access for institutional and accredited investors.
Jason Nunn
Managing Partner of equityfor
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About equityfor: Re inventing Venture Capital Investment. Providing investment access for institutional and accredited investors.
Mark Evans
Managing Partner of Define:Athene
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About Define:Athene: Define:Athene is a specialist in the field of cybersecurity, cyber governance, data protection, and information technology.
Nicola Hayes
Managing Partner of Andrasta Consulting Ltd
Nicola has been involved in the data centre market since 1998, prior to which she was involved in telecoms network rollout following European de-regulation. As Managing Partner of the London based Philips Group, Nicola was responsible for the formation of the companies Data Centre Consultancy Practice and was the author of the first ever industry report into the fledgling colocation market as well as speaking at the first conferences in both Europe and the US on the subject. With experience advising colocation providers, government agencies, financial institutions and vendors on data centre strategy, rollout and investment, Nicola has an unrivalled knowledge on the sector. Following a role as Vice President of BroadGroup, a UK based company specialising in data centre conferences and consultancy, Nicola then joined DatacenterDynamics where she was responsible for establishing a data centre research practice, DCD Intelligence, which is now one of the leading sources of global data, research and consultancy on data centre trends. She has recently established her own consultancy, Andrasta Consulting providing strategic business advice to companies involved in the sector.
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About Andrasta Consulting Ltd: Andrasta Consulting provides strategic business and marketing consultancy services.
Kit Jackson
Managing Partner, Strategy Together of Strategy Together
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About Strategy Together: Strategy into execution. Better. Faster. More sustainably.
Gert den Poel
Founder & Managing Partner of Cybervalue
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About Cybervalue: Cybervalue offers security solutions that provide value to an organization’s performance, reliability, agility, and reputation.
Sassan Danesh
Managing Partner of Etrading Software
Sassan Danesh has extensive experience assisting capital markets institutions to grow their OTC market franchise by optimising the business performance of their technology offerings. Sassan’s recent focus is on the role of technology and standards in addressing industry-wide issues. He is passionate about the benefits of industry collaboration and the use of open standards to provide technology solutions that optimise inefficiencies in market structure.
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About Etrading Software: Etrading Software founded in 2005 with the goal of bringing efficiency and stability to the burgeoning electronic trading markets.
Philip Sheldrake
Managing Partner of Euler Partners
Philip is a founding partner of Meanwhile, the venture marketers.
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About Euler Partners, Meanwhile, techUK, The hi:project: Euler Partners provides performance management services to help businesses work more efficiently and effectively.
Philip Sheldrake
Managing Partner of Euler Partners
Philip is a founding partner of Meanwhile, the venture marketers.
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About Euler Partners, Meanwhile, techUK, The hi:project: Euler Partners provides performance management services to help businesses work more efficiently and effectively.
