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 News 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.
Dhruv Ghulati
Co-Founder and CEO of Factmata
Dhruv holds a Distinction in Computer Science and Machine Learning from University College London, and a 1st Class BSc in Economics from the LSE. He was a product manager and co-founder of two London based machine intelligence startups, and is an Entrepreneur First alum and Forbes 30 Under 30 leader in Technology. He wrote his thesis in cost-sensitive classification and distant supervision for statistical claim detection.
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About Factmata: Factmata is an artificial intelligence company for automated content understanding..
Tony Hall
Chief Executive Officer and Editor-in-Chief of BBC
Tony Hall is the 16th Director-General of the BBC. The Director-General is the Chief Executive Officer of the BBC, its Editor-in-Chief and chairs the BBC’s Executive and Management Boards. The Director-General is the editorial, operational and creative leader of the BBC, with responsibility for a significant global workforce and the Corporation’s services across television, radio and online. Tony Hall – Lord Hall of Birkenhead – was appointed Director-General of the BBC on 22 November 2012. He is the 16th Director-General of the BBC. Prior to this, Tony was Chief Executive of the Royal Opera House from April 2001 until April 2013. He joined the BBC as a news trainee in 1973 and during a 28 year career at the Corporation he held roles including Senior Producer at World at One, Assistant Editor of the Nine O’Clock News, Output Editor for Newsnight, culminating as Chief Executive of BBC News from 1996 to 2001. While at the BBC he launched Radio 5 live, BBC News 24, BBC News Online and BBC Parliament. He was Deputy Chairman of Channel 4 Television and the Paul Hamlyn Foundation. He is passionate about education and skills within the cultural industries. He was the founder Chair of Creative & Cultural Skills and Chairman of the Musical and Dance Scheme.He spearheaded the development of the new High House Production Park in Thurrock, Essex. He has been Chair of Stratford East Theatre, and Honorary Visiting Fellow of Journalism at City University, a member of the Regeneration Through Heritage Steering Group, a board member of Race for Opportunity, a former non-executive director of HM Customs and Excise and was a member of the Council for Brunel University. In 2009 he was asked by the Government and the Mayor of London to set up and chair a board to direct the Cultural Olympiad and also joined the board of the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games. He was appointed a CBE in 2005 and in 2010 was created a life peer with the title Baron Hall of Birkenhead. He sits on the Crossbenches in the House of Lords.
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About BBC: BBC is a large-scale broadcasting corporation that offers content to inform, educate, and entertain people.
Tim Davie
CEO & Director-General of BBC
Before he took up the role of CEO BBC Worldwide and Director, Global, Tim Davie was made Acting Director-General following the resignation of George Entwistle on 10 November 2012. Prior to this Tim was Director of BBC Audio & Music (now known as Radio). He had overall responsibility for BBC Radios 1, 2, 3, 4 and the BBC digital-only stations 6 Music, 1Xtra, Radio 4 Extra (formerly Radio 7) and the Asian Network. He also oversaw the three BBC orchestras in England, the BBC Singers and the BBC Proms. Classical Music & Performance Television, Television Music Entertainment, Factual Radio and Radio Drama production are all within his remit, under the A&M Production department. Tim was appointed to the role of Director, Audio & Music on 1 September 2008. Previously he was Director of the BBC’s Marketing, Communications & Audiences division from April 2005 and before that Vice President, Marketing and Franchise, PepsiCo Europe. He read English at Cambridge University and from there joined Procter and Gamble’s marketing department, becoming a Brand Manager in 1991. He is a trustee of BBC Children in Need, Board member of RAJAR and Board member of DRUK. Tim is married with three young sons.
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About BBC: BBC is a large-scale broadcasting corporation that offers content to inform, educate, and entertain people.
John Ridding
CEO of Financial Times
John Ridding is the Chief Executive Officer of the Financial Times Group, one of the world’s leading business news organisations recognised internationally for its authority, integrity and accuracy. Under his stewardship, the FT has expanded its global operations, successfully scaled and transformed its core business and acquired a number of companies that support its multichannel strategy, including Money-Media, Medley Global Advisors, Exec-Appointments, Assanka (renamed FT Labs), Alpha Grid and Longitude. John sits on the board of Bonnier Business Press, part of the international media conglomerate Bonnier AB. He is also Chairman of Room to Read, a US-based charity that supports education and literacy in developing countries, and a member of its UK Advisory Board.
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About Financial Times: Financial Times is a business news organization providing essential news, comments, data, and analysis for the global business community.
Jon Moore
Head of BNEF / CEO of BloombergNEF
Jon has over 20 years’ experience of building professional service firms in the financial services industry, serving clients across the US, Europe and Asia. Prior to Bloomberg New Energy Finance, Jon’s career started with a decade at J P Morgan, supporting their Commodities business and Accenture within their Financial Services practice, including two years helping build the Asian Financial Services practice. This was followed by a decade where Jon was co-founder then CEO of a business consulting firm, m.a.partners, which provided services to the global capital markets community. Jon has a B Eng (Hons) in Electronic Engineering from Nottingham University and has attended professional development classes at Harvard and NYU.
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About BloombergNEF: BloombergNEF provides industry information, analytics, and research services for the clean energy and carbon markets.
Michael Liebreich
Chairman & CEO of BloombergNEF
Michael Liebreich is Founder and Chair of the Advisory Board of Bloomberg New Energy Finance, the world’s leading provider of research on clean energy, energy technology and advanced transportation. Michael founded New Energy Finance in 2004 and acted as Chair and Chief Executive before selling it to Bloomberg LP in 2009. Bloomberg New Energy Finance is headquartered in London and now has over 200 staff in 13 offices around the world.
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About BloombergNEF, Imperial College London: BloombergNEF provides industry information, analytics, and research services for the clean energy and carbon markets.
Paul Zwillenberg
CEO of Daily Mail and General Trust
Paul Zwillenberg has over 25 years’ experience as an operator and advisor across the media, technology and telco sectors. He has a breadth of experience across the B2B and media sectors of DMGT’s portfolio and a broad knowledge of the Group, having set up the digital division of dmg media (formerly Associated Newspapers digital) in 1996. Prior to joining DMGT, Paul was the Global Leader Media Sector at The Boston Consulting Group and before that founded an early interactive media company and launched a European technology services firm.
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About Daily Mail and General Trust: DMGT provides businesses and consumers with compelling information, analysis, insight, events, news, and entertainment.
Nick Sabine
Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Resident Advisor
Nick Sabine is the co-founder of Resident Advisor (RA). Established in 2001, RA enables the discovery of new music and events through a unique combination of original content and listings. By providing a platform for artists, promoters and fans RA connects the global dance music community and plays an indispensable role in supporting the electronic music industry worldwide.
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About Resident Advisor: RA is an online music magazine and community platform that’s dedicated to showcasing electronic music, artists and events across the globe.
Lyric Jain
Founder & CEO of Logically
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About Logically: Logically develops the latest in AI technologies to combat information overload, misinformation, fake news & other types of harmful content.
Sacha Deshmukh
Interim Chief Executive Officer of Amnesty International
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About Amnesty International: Amnesty International is a global charity organization of people fighting injustice and promoting human rights.
Rebecca Miskin
CEO of Gloo Networks plc
Rebecca Miskin has 23 years’ executive experience re-aligning UK, US & European organisations in media and sport, deploying a data driven, customer centric and collaborative operational approach. She has held a number of high profile industry roles in publishing, digital & sport. She specialises in business turnarounds and digital transformations delivering new revenue streams and operational improvements with a proven track record of generating growth & value in a public environment. Rebecca co-founded Gloo Networks Plc at the beginning of 2015.
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About DC Thomson, Gloo Networks plc: Gloo Networks plc is a new blueprint for digital media.
Zillah Byng-Thorne
CEO of Future
Zillah serves as a CEO at Future plc.
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About Flutter Entertainment, Future, Gocompare.com: Future creates high-quality multi-media products which reach their audiences online, on mobile and in print.
Sharon White
CEO of Ofcom
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About Ofcom: Ofcom is the UK’s communications regulator.
Donna Barrett
President & CEO of Community Newspaper Holdings
Donna J. Barrett is President & CEO at Community Newspaper Holdings. She is Member of the Board of Directors at Associated Press.
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About Community Newspaper Holdings: Community Newspaper Holdings is the parent publisher to over one hundred and thirty local community newspapers in the United States.
Adam Penny
Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer of The Beautiful Truth
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About The Beautiful Truth: The Beautiful Truth is a magazine that honors people and businesses who live their lives with purpose.
Neil Patel
CEO/ Publisher/ Co-founder of The Daily Caller
Neil Patel is the IT Director at Apax Partners based in the London office. Neil joined Apax Partners in 2005. He is responsible for developing and maintaining the Information Technology strategy to meet business requirements. Neil started his career at Apax Partners as a Network Analyst and was promoted through various roles within IT to become IT Director. Neil holds a BSc degree in Business Studies from Cass Business School.
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About Apax Partners, The Daily Caller: The Daily Caller is a 24-hour news publication site providing reporting on politics, world, sports, business, breaking news and more.
Mohammed SHK
Chief Executive Officer of Bazaar Daily UK
Mohammed Abdul Abidiz Sultan Haleem Wali Khane II (b 31 Jan 1995) is a British-American newspaper publisher; blogger, columnist, digital developer, and influencer quietly regarded as a prolific name in European blogging. Having never spoken to the mainstream press, Mohammed is world-renowned for his staunch privacy and elusiveness of the media. He is a mainstay fixture at Hollywood events; Silicon Valley forums, and fashion week. He rose to prominence in the blogging and tech community in 2002 with the launch of Fashion Bzaar (the original Bazaar Daily) and what would become of it today. He has been nominated for numerous accolades as a blogger although has refused to ever appear at any such ceremony. At 25 years old, Mohammed is one of New York ‘s most prominent bloggers given his status and estimated 101M website subscribers. He is best known for having joined the ranks of Wallis & Holdings when he was 7 years old. The partnership led to the creation of a joint agency between Taylor Wallis & Mohammed that would later become Khane Enterprise. When Wallis died at the age of 18, Mohammed became the sole heir to each of their estates.
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About Bazaar Daily UK, Bazaar Daily UK, Daily Chronicle, Gladeon Entertainment, Khane’s Landing: Bazaar Daily (UK) is the British counterpart to Bazaar Daily News, a massive online news agency founded by Sultan H. Khane II.
Asaf Peled
Founder and CEO of Minute Media
Asaf is the Chief Executive Officer of Minute Media, parent company of 90min. Asaf founded 90min in 2011as FTBpro. Since then, 90min has grown to be the world’s largest football media platform, driven by a contributor-driven model, and has expanded the brand throughout Europe, North America, South America and Asia. Asaf is involved in all aspects of Minute Media’s growth and operations, from product development to marketing and content. Prior to 90min, Asaf was the founder and Chief Marketing Officer at Top 7 International and also spent four years at Cisco Systems Israel where he was responsible for business development in the Israeli market. Asaf has a M.B.A. from The Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania and a bachelors of arts from Tel Aviv University. He resides in London and his favorite team is the San Antonio Spurs.
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About 90min, Minute Media: Minute Media is a media and technology brand focused on two main pillars—platform and content.
Steve Timmins
Chief Executive Officer of THE GROOVY GROUP
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About SHOPWITHUSNOW.COM, SOUNDS-MIXES.COM, THE GROOVY GROUP, THE GROOVY GROUP, THEGROOVYGROUP.COM: THE GROOVY GROUP is an online company providing users with the tools to publish multimedia.
Gang Lu
Founder and CEO of TechNode
Gang Lu is the founder and chief editor of TechNode.com, a Chinese tech blogger in global internet industry, chief researcher at Media Lab of Hunan University, open concept and technology evangelist, co-founder of OpenWeb.Asia Workgroup and OpenWebAsia conference, and a co-founder of kuukie.com. With academic background in wireless communications, years of research and development experience in mobile industry and international business management in web industry, Gang Lu is very passionate about the Open Web concept and plays a very active role in building efficient channels among Asian local markets as well as between Asia web and global industry. Gang Lu was the Asia Business Development Director of Netvibes.com, a personalized homepage and widget technology provider. He is one of the first members, who introduced Widget economy and Open Platform into Asian market. Prior to joining Netvibes, he was in charge of research and development of Multimedia Messaging Service platform and 3G applications in Dialogue Communications. Gang Lu is also the initiator of ChinaBang Awards, an annual event rewarding the best startups in Chinese local internet industry. As an independent industry observer, technology and social media expert, he has been invited to deliver keynote speeches and panel discussion at diverse international events and conference ranging from TechCrunch Disrupt Beijing, APEC SME Summit, SXSW Technology Summit, Global Mobile Internet Conferenc, the China Internet Annual Summit to Tencent MIND Summit to Google China Developer Day, Milan Digital Entertainment Jam, NetExplorateur Forum, Paris, and more. Gang Lu was awarded the TOP10 Best Experts of 2008 by iResearch, an internet consulting company in China. He obtained an MSc and PhD in wireless communications from the University of Sheffield, U.K.
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About TechNode, TechNode Global: TechNode is a leading China tech blog that targets to bridge the Chinese technology sector and the English speaking world.
Michael Berhane
Co-Founder & CEO of People of Color in Tech
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About People of Color in Tech: POCiT’s objective is to highlight the current achievement of ‘people of color’ within the sphere of technology & startups to inspire others.
Joshua Nino De Guzman
CEO, Co-Founder & Director of Dexerto
Joshua Nino De Guzman is the CEO & Co-Founder at Dexerto
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About Dexerto: Dexerto is the world’s largest digital esports and gaming lifestyle platform news platform.
Anthony Geffen
CEO and Creative Director of Atlantic Productions
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About Atlantic Productions: Atlantic Productions is one of the world’s leading factual production companies.
Alexandra Hussenot
Founder & CEO of Immersionn
Alexandra is the founder of Immersionn, the world’s first VR Discovery Engine and she is also the UK lead for ‘Women in Immersive Technologies’, a community of 1000 members that aims to empower European women working in XR. She is also 1 in 10 members of the UK5G Creative Industries working group reporting the department in charge of Digital, Medias, Culture and Sport (DCMS). Prior to this, Alexandra pursued an international business career at insurance firm, Allianz, managing an £80M global business. She has also worked all over Europe during her 11 years at Sony Ericsson (now Sony Mobile) and has solid experience designing and launching software and service products, particularly covering user experience design and continuous improvements. She also lead large scale operations for mobile phone repairs and remanufacturing.
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About Immersionn: Immersionn is a content discovery company. We allow people to discover VR content they would never find
Alex Northcott
Founder and CEO of Roxhill Media
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About Roxhill Media: Roxhill Media provides media intelligence and journalist information.
Chloe Spoerry
Co-Founder & CEO of HiviSasa.com
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About HiviSasa.com: At Hivisasa, we believe that societies function best when information flows freely among people.
Jodie Ginsberg
Chief Executive Officer of Internews Network
Jodie Ginsberg is CEO @ Index on Censorship.
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About Internews Network: Internews Network is a non-profit news providing organization.
Simon Hellier
CEO of GLOBALDRUM
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About GLOBALDRUM: GLOBALDRUM enables secure mobile-to-mobile social interaction for enterprises and their audiences.
Stuart Miles
Founder and CEO of Pocket lint
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About Pocket lint: Pocket-lint the largest independent gadget news and reviews site in the UK.
Jack Rivlin
CEO of Tab Media
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About Tab Media: Tab Media is a global youth media startup for people under 25. It publishes The Tab and babe.
Gintare Zitkeviciute
Founder and CEO of Hype App
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About Hype App, Hype Experiences: Hype App is a smartphone application that enables users to find out what events and places are placed in and around their locality.
David Creuzot
Founder and CEO of Konbini
David Creuzot is a Founder at Konbini.
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About Konbini: Konbini is a media company and an advertising agency focused on delivering creative content over the internet.
Lyndon Wood
CEO & Creator of SunZu
Many businesse’s start and then spend their time and money on doing things that everyone else is doing, assuming it must be right or why are they doing it. The fact is the masses are not maximising or generating leads and opportunities, so if you follow them you could be or are falling into the same trap. Being social all over the place is fun, and of course you may generate the odd lead or opportunity, however for the time you spend versus the return, you should question why you do it from a business and commercial point. I have Created SunZu because I too was fed up of wasting my time posting content, and more, in a hope to get noticed and create new customers. Now everyone can create landing pages, distribute content and manage leads, all in one place, on SunZu. More importantly SunZu is your tool to generate new leads and opportunities. I believe in you getting a return on time (ROT). Enjoy and make sure you use and refine everyday to maximise your benefit.
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About Cardiff University, SunZu: SunZu, the network for people doing business that lets you meet, share, learn, trade and grow with other business owners.
Mantas Malukas
Founder & CEO of Dapp Life
Mantas Malukas is an entrepreneur, journalist & blogger. As an entrepreneur his main focus is in the development of high level concepts mainly in the editorial news projects and journalism.
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About Dapp Life: Dapp Life is an online platform that features cryptocurrency news, crypto app reviews and incisive commentary on blockchain and dApps.
Drew Thomson
CEO of Live For Football
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About Live For Football: Live For Football is a vertical social network co-owned by the people that make the content that matters most to fans
Joe Levi
CEO & Co-founder of Noise Media
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About Noise Media: Noise Media is an award winning social-first media agency that helps brands scale to universal heights.
Michele Kuegler
Wine Educator, Founder, CEO & Editor-in-Chief of Peku Publications
Michele Pesula Kuegler is the CEO and Editor-in-Chief of PeKu Publications and has held this role since March 2010. Prior to that Ms. Pesula Kuegler was the director of content for PeKu Publications (formerly known as Wasabi Media Group) since its inception in July 2008. Prior to this position Michele was the editor of Tasty Thoughts, an independent food and restaurant website that she started in 2007. Ms. Pesula Kuegler entered the world of publishing with a unique background and fresh perspective. Having built a small audience in her initial niche property, Tasty Thoughts, she decided to combine her management and editing skills from her teaching career with her newly developed publishing skills by expanding from one property to a network of publications. Since the launch of Wasabi Media Group, she has overseen the continued growth of content and readers. Michele holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice and a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education. She volunteers for several non-profit groups, which are focused on literacy and education.
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About Peku Publications, Think Tasty, Wasabi Ventures Stables: Founded in 2008, PeKu Publications is one of the fastest growing media companies that delivers original quality content.
Franky Branckaute
CEO of Splashpress
Franky Branckaute is CEO at Splashpress.
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About Splashpress: Splashpress Media is offered consultancy service in content, design, business blogging, and new media marketing in general.
Daniel Chubb
CEO of Product-Reviews
Daniel is the CEO of Dansway Communications LTD and founder of product-reviews.net; a top blog dedicated to breaking tech news, hands-on reviews and delivers real solutions to everyday consumer electronics hang-ups. The site serves over 2 million monthly unique readers and has 5 full time writers. It also has a number of guest contributors and has produced millions of dollars in revenue through its advertising. Daniel now spends his time keeping an eye on the latest technology and business trends. Also developing other blogs/news sites in the entertainment and business industries.
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About Product-Reviews: Product-Reviews is an online resource for product reviews, trending apps, news, and more.
Sven Herold
CEO & Founder of LiveTube
Sven is a Media Executive with more than 15 years’ experience in Television, Communications and Reputation Management. He is an award-winning broadcast journalist who worked as a Senior Investigative Correspondent, Feature Writer and News & Entertainment Correspondent at major broadcasters across Europe and the U.S. Most recently, he was a global VP and member of the Communication & Marketing leadership team at Shell International. He built and led both Shell’s and SAP’s global Television divisions. In 2015, Sven founded LiveTube, a global media-house specialising in original live content-creation and distribution via mobile devices.
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About LiveTube: The world’s first Curated Live Video Platform.
Nick James
Chief Executive Officer of GRC World Forums
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About Fresh Business Thinking, GRC World Forums: GRC World Forums provides expertise in the field of business insight and educational resources that govern risk and compliance.
Corrina McCann
Co-Founder / Chief Executive Officer of Infinite Mixed Reality
Corrina McCann is the creative director of Infinite Mixed Reality.
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About Infinite Mixed Reality, Infinite Mixed Reality: Infinite Mixed Reality is a full-service virtual reality and augmented reality agency.
Katherine Wood
CEO of Phonics Hero
Katherine has spent the last ten years working in Synthetic Phonics on both print and online products. She works side-by-side with our educational contributors developing Synthetic Phonics products which are fun, but most importantly make an impact.
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About Phonics Hero: Phonics Hero supercharges your child’s reading and spelling using the power of phonics!
Eugene Shestopal
CEO and Co-Founder of Poptop Entertainment Booking Platform
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About Poptop Entertainment Booking Platform: Poptop helps event planners find and book entertainment professionals quickly, easily and safely.
Frank Monkam
Co-Founder; CEO of Pyrablu Inc.
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About Pyrablu Inc.: A Dynamic and Interactive Gamified News Platform
Matteo Bergamini
CEO & Founder of Shoutout UK
Matteo Bergamini is the CEO and Founder of youth news network, Shout Out UK. A graduate in Politics & History from Brunel University London. Matteo started working on his company while at university, securing a variety of projects since; from the Channel 4 Youth Leaders’ Debate to the creation of a Political Literacy Course which he now takes to schools across the UK. An avid promoter of Political Literacy amongst young people, he has won a number of awards for his entrepreneurship and work in political education.
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About Shoutout UK: A multi-award winning independent news network and course provider that aims to get more young people into and discussing politics.
Juliet Tzabar
CEO & Owner of Plug-in Media
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About Plug-in Media: Plug-in Media is a BAFTA-winning digital media production company.
Antony Jones
CEO of Desirable Objects Ltd
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About : Desirable Objects specialising in Internet and Online Media.
Robert Deco
CEO of Elexonic
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About : Elexonic | The latest breaking news around the world from different sources, all in one place.
