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 Board Member operating in the Venture Capital space. If you think a Board Member 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.
Bill Edwards
Executive Advisory Board Member of Kennet Partners
Bill Edwards is Chairman of the Executive Advisory Board and has served on the board, advised and/or invested in several Kennet portfolio companies including Revolution Prep, Intelepeer and Daptiv. Bill was part of the founding executive team at Siebel Systems, serving as vice president of engineering and later as chief technology officer. During his tenure, from 1993 to 2005, Siebel grew rapidly achieving revenues of almost $2 billion in just six years, went public and ultimately was acquired by Oracle for $6 billion. Siebel was one of the most capital efficient high value exits in enterprise software having raised only $8 million prior to its IPO. Prior to Siebel Systems, Bill worked with three other Silicon Valley companies that had successful IPOs during his tenure. He was responsible for graphical authoring systems at Macromedia, was senior vice president of engineering, research and development at Frame Technology, and held engineering management positions at Convergent Technologies and Apple Computer. Bill began his career at Intel. He received an M.S. in Computer Science from Rutgers University.
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About : Kennet Partners is a private equity investment firm that provides growth capital to information technology and business services companies.
Simon Guild
Executive Advisory Board Member of Kennet Partners
Simon works with a wide portfolio of early stage European media and technology businesses which have the ambition to become international market leaders. Simon is the Chairman of: Bigpoint, a German browser video-games company, WAYN, a UK-based travel and lifestyle social network, and Diffusion Media Group, a UK viral marketing business. In addition he is a Director or advisor to: Eyeka, a France-based engagement marketing company; Digicompanion, a French digital promotion business; Freerunner, a UK free WiFi startup; Xing, a Hamburg-based business social network; Horizon Media Group, an African content business; Twig, an online educational project and Spreadshirt, a Leipzig-based Kennet III portfolio company offering personalised apparel. From 1993 to 2007 he was at MTV Networks Europe, latterly as President & CEO. From a single MTV-branded channel in the mid 90’s the network grew to 75 channels, numerous online offerings and a market-leading mobile business, all spanning a variety of music, children and comedy brands. Simon is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, a Trustee of the MTV Europe Foundation and a member of Pilotlight, the organisation that supplies executive time to charities. He also participates as a mentor at Seedcamp, the annual week-long programme for young entrepreneurs. Simon holds an MBA from Insead and an MA in Modern Languages from Cambridge.
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About : Kennet Partners is a private equity investment firm that provides growth capital to information technology and business services companies.
Dean Johnson
Advisory Board Member of Continuous Ventures
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About Continuous Ventures: Supporting start-ups navigate the journey to become “fund ready” with our team of advisors with our expertise & developmental framework
Tom Spurgeon
Board Member of Syntheo Ventures
Tom Spurgeon serves as a MD Corporate Development & Company Secretary at Monitise plc.
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About : The #FinTech Factory. Syntheo Ventures is London’s first FinTech Venture Builder.
Tom Spurgeon
Board Member of Syntheo Ventures
Tom Spurgeon serves as a MD Corporate Development & Company Secretary at Monitise plc.
Follow Tom Spurgeon:
About : The #FinTech Factory. Syntheo Ventures is London’s first FinTech Venture Builder.
