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 Chairman operating in the Robotics space. If you think a Chairman 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.
Atif Syed
Founder, Chairman and CEO of Wootzano
I am the Founder, Chairman & CEO of Wootzano Ltd where we are making robots feel and sense like humans do by using our unique electronic skin and robotic systems which can save an average fruit and vegetable packaging facility around £2.5 million at minimum a year. Ask me how we do it! Along with a PhD in Electronics and Nanotechnology Engineering from University of Edinburgh, I have extensive experience in Robotics and AI. I am also a Member of the Executive Committee for Robotics and Mechatronics at the Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET). I am also an Enterprise Fellow at the Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng). Since early age, I have had a crazy obsession with electronics and was fascinated by software development as it required not much need for any sophisticated lab. When I am not working on the business, you can find me working with machine learning algorithms, advocating why computer programming should be taught at schools from an early age and travelling.
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About Wootzano: Wootzano manufactures robots which can sense and feel like humans do using a unique electronic skin, machine learning, and electronics.
Joe Saumarez Smith
Chairman of Bede Gaming
Joe Saumarez Smith has worked in the online gambling industry for 18 years. He is currently chairman of Bede Gaming, the leading online gambling platform. He is also a non executive director of the British Horseracing Authority. Joe is an investor in numerous online gaming businesses, including IPS which was recently sold to Leo Vegas for £65m.
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About Bede Gaming: Bede Gaming is the first choice supplier of software to the online gambling and social gaming industries.
Chris Hand
Chairman of Abingdon Health
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About Molecular Vision: Abingdon Health is an innovative technology-led company focused on providing rapid and near-patient medical diagnostic testing solutions.
Richard Farleigh
Chairman of Oxonica
Richard studied economics and mathematics, before working at the Australian Central Bank and then becoming an investment banker and hedge fund manager. In 1994 Richard branched out on his own as a private backer of emerging businesses. He has since backed over 50 young, mostly UK-based technology companies, including Amino Technologies, ARC International, Celoxica, ClearSpeed Technology, Cmed Group, Radiation Watch, Wolfson Microelectronics, Green Chemicals – and Oxonica. Richard is author of the investment book, Taming the Lion, and has appeared in the BBC series Dragon’s Den. He joined Oxonica in July 2007.
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About Oxonica: Oxonica develops and commercializes advanced nanomaterials for UV protection, security, and biodiagnostics applications.
Alexander Jarvis
Chairman of LogicSaaS – Beautiful Retail Automation
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About : LogicSaaS provides beautiful retailer automation software to manage and distribute your products
Diederick van Thiel
Chairman, CEO, FOUNDER of AdviceGames
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About AdviceGames, E-cology innovations, Ikano Group, JADS (Jheronimus Academy of Data Science): AdviceGames provides virtual financial assisting and gamification for consumers and small businesses.
Nigel Gifford
Founder and Chairman of Windhorse Aerospace
Nigel Gifford OBE CP Eng.(Aero) Chairman / Founder Windhorse Aerospace Nigel is best described as an eclectic solutions architect ~ drawing on skills, practical experience, and research acquired at different times of his life. It is from his aeronautical, skydiving and catering background he conceived the Pouncer(tm) food carrying AV that is also made of edible components. Presently, using his specialist knowledge in feeding in non-human environments, Nigel is working to get Pouncer(tm) into service with his team, and is working in the critical food technology area to ensure that the food cargo and edible structure are fit for purpose on deployment as first response into disaster areas Biography Brought up in a busy restaurant, and then trained as a chef at the Army School of Catering, Nigel has extensive knowledge of differing styles of cuisine. This includes feeding explorers and adventurers in remote and hostile environments, as well as cooking at 26,000ft on Mt Everest in 1976. He wrote the present Royal Geographical Society catering manual and his advice is still sought for extreme expeditions. As an aerospace solutions architect Nigel has designed equipment for UK Special Forces, and built protective equipment housings for the RAF Tornado. In 1991 he designed a special camera platform for the first ever hot air balloon flight at 33,000ft over Mt Everest and worked on Sir Richard Branson’s round the world balloon project advising on the small capsule’s internal ergonomic layout, feeding, and the living routines for the crew confined inside. Prior to Windhorse, he was Managing Director of the Ascenta™ – The high-altitude, long-endurance, unmanned aerial vehicle acquired by Facebook in 2014 to provide Internet access into the developing world. The aircraft has since been renamed Aquila by Facebook.
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About Windhorse Aerospace: Windhorse Aerospace has created the world’s first purpose-built UAV/Drone intended for humanitarian aid delivery – POUNCER.
James Otter
Co-founder and Executive Chairman of Renovos
James has extensive corporate commercial experience including a range of international management positions with Zeneca Agrochemicals and led a major turnaround while on the board of Spectris plc. Over the last 15 years he has focused on the bioscience SME sector, both as an investor while chairman of Hygea VCT and as CEO of several SMEs focused on imaging, drug delivery, telemedicine and cell culture. James brings a wealth of invaluable start-up, investment, governance and commercialisation experience to Renovos Biologics Ltd., essential to the role of Chairman.
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About Renovos: Providing orthopaedic regenerative medicine solutions
