Alpesh's career started over 25 years ago after graduating in computer science and he now works helping enterprises innovate and implement new technology and business models. He believes that technology tied with business change can transform an enterprise or an industry. He works in the financial services, telecoms and media and entertainment sectors. A founding partner of Redcliffe Capital, the firm specialises in investing in companies that help enterprises and entrepreneurs leverage innovation in technology such as digital transformation, sustainability, data and artificial intelligence.
Ama Amo-Agyei – CEO – Plantmade: Ama Amo-Agyei is the inspiration behind Plantmade, a forward-thinking haircare company dedicated to natural, plant-based products. Drawing on her expertise in haircare and a commitment to sustainability, Ama founded Plantmade to offer high-quality, eco-friendly alternatives for hair care. Through her work, she aims to innovate the industry, providing nourishing solutions that promote healthy hair and environmental responsibility.
Andreas Adamides is a serial entrepreneur, and currently the CEO of Helm (The Supper Club), and also the founder & CEO of CatchApp.
As the CEO of Helm, Andreas heads the most established membership community for scale-up founders in the UK.
Previously, Andreas founded BuyQuick, the first online department store in Australia, the mobile handset brand WileyFox, FinluxDirect (scaled up to £30m in revenues), and launched the Vector Watch (acquired by Fitbit).
With a background in Mechanical/Product Design Engineering and experience as Founder/CEO at Instant Pickup, I bring a blend of technical expertise and entrepreneurial spirit. Currently, an Impact Analyst at Skylight Ventures Fund and a Workshop Facilitator at The Entrepreneurial Refugee Network (TERN), I leverage data analytics and strategic insights to drive community growth and support entrepreneurs. I am dedicated to fostering positive change and recognizing innovative businesses.
Dominic Joseph is a high growth, Tech and Data centric Entrepreneur, CEO, NED and Investor. Dominic co-founded the search data and intelligence company Captify, the largest independent holder of consumer Search Data outside of Google & Amazon, whose unique technology understands the intent of billions of consumers across all channels including Voice Search, Desktop on site Search and in-app Search. Captify’s search intelligence and powerful insights help inform decisions for brands globally, through consumer behavior analysis, brand trends, product and market analysis. Captify’s intent-rich data set powers advertising for many of the world’s largest brands including Bose, Apple, Disney, Adidas, American Express and Microsoft.
Led by Dominic from startup in 2011 to 2023, Captify has experienced explosive growth globally, scaling from 2 people to over 300 in 14 different markets globally including UK, USA, Ukraine and France. Having led the business through Series A and Series B venture capital rounds with Panoramic Growth Equity and Smedvig Capital, Dominic recently led Captify through its majority exit to US based Private Equity firm SFW Capital Partners in July 2021.
Previous to building Captify, Dominic used to be a professional drummer signed to Polydor Universal, featuring on various chart hits and touring the world supporting various major label artists such as Blondie, Aha, Fatboy Slim and The Bravery.
In 2020 Dominic was named Ernest and Young EY Entrepreneur of the year, for London adding to a range of other awards in his name, including GB Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2013, UK Digital Innovator of the Year as well as Scale Up Entrepreneur of the year 2018 at the Great British Entrepreneur awards and Growing Business Awards.
Dominic is currently on the board of Captify and various other companies, while acting as a strategic advisor to companies in scale-up phase. Dominic has also recently founded a technology company called Patientmaster.ai which optimises patient flow within hospitals and their emergency and urgent care departments.
When I first entered medicine in 1995 with an MBBS in medicine and surgery from The University of London, Guys and St Thomas’s, I was driven by a pure fascination with the body and brain. From here I achieved a distinction in the MRCGP (Membership of the Royal College of GPs) and 10 more titles including my Diplomas in Lifestyle Medicine and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and my EMCC Coaching qualifications (European Coaching and Mentoring Council), as well as titles in gynaecology, paediatrics, obstetrics and dermatology, culminating in over 40 letters behind my name! (yes, I’m a lover of learning!)
25 years on, and over a quarter of a million patients later, I’ve realised that my core motivation is watching incredible people transform their health trajectory. It’s their unfolding stories, and their success in health, life and business that inspires me to keep showing up and sharing data, devices, and tools to empower individual health choices directed towards longevity. Just like the ambitious individuals I now work with, I too was highly driven in my early career pulling all my energy into my ambitions, until my body shut down. I had fought through a high fever at work and ended up on a hospital bed, fighting for my life, with my beautiful husband and children at my side. When you experience the fragility of life, it teaches you to notice what’s important. During my recovery I became aware that it wasn’t the pills that were nourishing me back to life, it was my lifestyle choices; my sleep, my nutrition, my emotions. That was the turning point that now fuels my mission to synchronise ambitious individuals' success with the self-care that they need in a precise, strategic way so that they can continue to elevate their performance and impact and share their skills and passions for as long as possible.
As Co-Founder and CEO, Ed Heaver is one of the pioneering minds behind Serve Legal. Since Serve Legal's inception 18 years ago, Ed has led a team of over 40,000 auditors and staff to build a growing business; one which is now regarded as the market leading provider of age verification and compliance testing services across the UK and Ireland. Having won numerous accolades with the Growing Business Awards over the years, Ed's expertise and achievements position him as an influential voice in the industry, with the ability to inspire and acknowledge the efforts of other emerging enterprises across the UK.
Elif is the Social Mission Manager for Ben & Jerry’s Europe, where she leads impactful initiatives, including the refugee entrepreneurship program, UP Collective. She led Ben & Jerry’s first co-creation project with refugee entrepreneurs resulting in a unique ice cream flavour. Additionally, she serves as the Grant Manager for the UK Fund of the Ben & Jerry’s Foundation. Before moving to the private sector, Elif worked with various non-profit organisations, driving positive social change in Turkey, Germany, and the UK. In 2015, she launched Turkey's first national Refugee Entrepreneurship Programme to support Syrian refugees. Elif holds a degree in Business Management from Istanbul University and a Master's in the Political Economy of European Integration from the Berlin School of Economics and Law.
Executive Coach at xPotential.ie | Business & Board Advisor | Portfolio CFO | Non- Executive Director | Facilitator & Keynote Speaker | Ambassador for ICAS, Scottish Business Network, and Scottish Government | Investor
Ewan Dunbar, the former Group CFO for Virgin Media Ireland, left to establish xPotential.ie, a premier consultancy and coaching business. As an executive coach and leadership speaker, Ewan empowers leaders and teams across Ireland and the UK’s largest companies to excel amidst the complexities of the business world. xPotential.ie extends its influence to leaders in Dublin, Belfast, Edinburgh, London, and Saudi Arabia, offering tailored coaching and facilitation for senior finance leaders from some of the largest companies in the UK and Europe.
In addition to his coaching role, Ewan serves on the boards and as an external CFO for a portfolio of high-growth businesses. He is celebrated for his expertise in enhancing organisational culture, supporting operational excellence, driving enterprise growth, and providing strategic direction, consistently achieving double-digit growth for his clients.
Ewan's distinguished career has earned him numerous accolades, including Irish Accountant of the Year and a place among Ireland's top 100 CFOs.
Garvey Seaton, founder of GIBUS Consulting, specialises in talent strategy, leadership development, and culture building. With 13 years in the people space, he partners with high-growth businesses to help them attract, retain, and develop their top talent, whilst focusing on creating high-performing, inclusive cultures. His PGE Framework (People Growth Engine) provides a systematic approach to drive growth and value creation. His approach delivers measurable improvements in employee engagement, retention, and leadership.
Gemma joined All Seas Capital in 2020, where she is a Partner, and Head of Investor Relations. Prior to joining All Seas, Gemma was responsible for fundraising and investor relations at MML Capital Partners. Gemma was at MML for almost a decade, having started on the investment team.
Founder of Bambino Mio the market leading reusable nappy company . Winner of 2 previous Growing Business Awards.
Guy is the Head of Growth Capital at Santander UK a team within the Structured Finance division of Corporate & Commercial Banking. He has been at the bank for over ten years working within and leading a variety of asset backed and corporate lending teams covering Structured Real Estate, Hotels and Leveraged Finance. Over the last two years Guy has been leading the Growth Capital team with a remit to support high growth SME’s across the whole of the UK. The Growth Capital team have cumulatively provided in excess of £1.6bn of funding since they were set up in 2012, supporting over 220 high growth clients.
Henry Sallitt is Managing Partner and co-founder of FPE. He is passionate about building businesses and has spent all his career with growth companies both as an investor and as an operator. Prior to FPE, Henry was a Director of Quester, one of the largest growth capital investors in the UK. This followed eight years at AFA Systems, a financial services software company which he co-founded and joined full-time immediately prior to its IPO in 1996. From its foundation, Henry was part of a small team that drove the development of the group, both organically and by acquisition, resulting in an eight-fold increase in revenues. Henry then returned to private equity following the sale of AFA in 2004 to a trade buyer.
James is responsible for the sourcing and execution of transactions across the UK and Europe. Before Soho Square, James was a Partner at Core Capital responsible for sourcing, making and managing investments in the UK lower mid-market. James was also an Investment Manager at RJD Partners, a UK lower mid-market private equity investor. James spent nine years with KPMG within its corporate finance team in London. He holds a BEng (Civil) (Hons) from The University of Bristol and is a Member of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investments.
Jon co-founded Ārahi in 2021 having spent two decades in Private Equity Value Creation. When he met Rupert, the two immediately bonded over a shared frustration with the often-suboptimal relationship between investors and the businesses they back. Both passionately agreed that there must be a better way.
Jon started his career with PwC where he worked across the Audit, Training and Transaction Services functions. He subsequently moved into Private Equity, where he spent more than 13 years in senior roles at Lloyds Development Capital (LDC) and Inflexion, establishing and leading the value creation functions at both firms. Jon is a veteran of over 100 value creation programmes and has held a wide variety of roles including CFO, COO, CIO, Executive Chair, and Non-Executive Chair.
Jon is an authority in the Private Equity industry, he leads several flagship courses for the British Venture Capital Association, and is a regular speaker for PEP-Talks, a peer-to-peer network for investment-backed CEOs. Jon is a published author with Strategic Value Creation (2024) which he wrote together with Rupert Morrison.
Jon holds a BSc in Molecular Biology & Biochemistry from the University of Durham and is an ICAEW Chartered Accountant.
With a successful corporate IT career where she travelled the world, Julie is now one of the 14% of women in a tech leadership position. In 2019, whilst her employer went into liquidation, she was given the opportunity to start her own business launching a Managed Service Provider and she knew, right from the start that she wanted to change the face of the MSP market. For her, that meant running an ethical company that put people and the planet first. In 2023 IT naturally became a B Corp and won employer of the year – 2 of Julie’s greatest achievements with the business so far.
Kerry Baldwin co-founded IQ Capital in 2006 and has over 20 years deeptech venture capital experience. Kerry was Chair of the British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association 2021/22 and is an international advisor and speaker on venture capital, deeptech ecosystems, research and innovation. Originally with BDO Stoy Hayward, she joined Venture Technologies in 1998, investing in the first wave of UK deeptech companies and has focussed on deeptech early-stage technology over her five funds which invest from seed to £30m.
Kerry specialises in GTM, Strategic Marketing, Competitive Intelligence and heads up IQ’s cybersecurity, climate tech, supervisory tech, big data and neuro-tech portfolio. She sits on several boards including Risilience, FNA, CyberSmart, BMLL Technologies, CybSafe, Divido, Neurovalens and Worldr and has conducted several exits and IPOs.
She is known as a contributor to best practice in venture capital, from ESG and a 2018 in-depth study on Investment Committee best practice and decision making across Private Equity and Venture Capital. She is an honorary Fellow in Entrepreneurship at the University of Cambridge (Judge Business School).
Kim is an experienced Global Brand professional with a passion for capturing the truth and telling a powerful story. With over 20 years of international brand and marketing experience, Kim has developed a proven track record, with an expertise in both B2C and B2B disciplines. She is adept at maximizing the power of digital marketing to drive change in consumer buying behaviour, and her track record of brand reinvention through innovation and creativity speaks to her keen eye for identifying opportunities and creating impactful brand experiences. Moreover, Kim is accomplished in designing connected customer experiences on a global level, ensuring that the brand message is delivered consistently across all touchpoints.
As a seasoned leader, Kim has a talent for influencing, coaching, and developing high- performing teams. She believes in investing in the growth and success of her team members to achieve success. Her ability to identify the strengths and weaknesses of individuals and leverage those insights, has allowed her to build cohesive and effective teams that are able to deliver results. Because when talent wins, everyone wins. After experiencing the highs and lows of big corporate life, Kim made the decision to transition into scale-ups and start-ups to gain a different perspective on the working world. Throughout her career, she has honed her ability to navigate complex business landscapes and develop innovative strategies.
In her current role as Chief Marketing Officer at Zero Gravity, she is able to combine her extensive corporate experience with the agility and creativity of the start-up world. This has allowed her to be a part of driving significant growth and innovation while working with passionate and driven individuals who share her vision for success.
Favourite Short One Line Quotation ‘Be yourself; everyone else is already taken’
Lauraine is Head of Group Communications at The Access Group - a global business software provider.
After starting her career as a journalist at Mirror Group and then moving into PR consultancy in London and Sydney, Lauraine has 25+ years of experience working with businesses ranging from large corporations to start-ups.
Driven by a great headline and exceptional results, Lauraine has enjoyed working with fantastic brands to tell their stories through the media - including TV documentaries, national newspapers and social platforms.
Before joining Access in 2023, Lauraine managed her own PR consultancy, working for clients in technology, engineering, tourism, hospitality and fashion for 15+ years while raising a family.
Paul Baker’s career spans more than 32 years in financial services and industry. Currently, Head of Technology, Media & Telecoms (TMT) Group for Santander Corporate Banking working with fast growth and international business to help deliver their strategic ambitions. Prior to Santander, Paul had 5 years working at Sports Information Services holding various operational director roles (corporate development, strategy, product and commercial) and helped them pivot into new digital services. Paul had a fulfilling career of 20 years at RBS spanning Retail, Investment Banking and Corporate Banking with last 15 years focussing specifically on working with media and technology companies. RBS & Santander were both preceded by consultancy. Presently a mentor for UK Government’s “Help to Grow” initiative and previously NED at Charles Dickens Museum.
Rebecca Co-Founded Go Ape in 2002. She led the Marketing, PR, Corporate Events and Customer care as well as being a Board Director for twenty two years. Go Ape now has 37 locations in the UK with over a million customers a year. In October 2021 90% of Go Ape shares were transferred into an Employee Ownership Trust, for the benefit of all current and future employees. The remaining 10% of the business has been retained by Rebecca and Tristram. Rebecca is now a trustee for Go Ape and is involved with the Go Ape Foundation which has recently been set up.
Russell Dalgleish is a prominent Scottish entrepreneur and investor with a notable track record in the international technology sector. As the founding Managing Partner of Exolta Capital Partners and the Founding Chair of the Scottish Business Network, he plays a pivotal role in advising and supporting business leaders and entrepreneurs in achieving global success.
With a wealth of experience in leadership roles for international companies across Europe, the US, and Asian markets, Russell now focuses on assisting companies in developing and implementing international growth strategies. His investment interests lie in early-stage opportunities, particularly in sectors such as Govtech, Smart Cities, Fintech, and climate change technology.
Russell's core areas of expertise encompass Leadership, Innovation, Investment, and Entrepreneurship, primarily within fast-growing companies. He is a sought-after speaker and conference host, having shared his insights at events worldwide. In recognition of his contributions, he was named one of Scotland's "Unsung Heroes" in December 2022.
His roles and accolades include holding multiple non-executive and board advisory positions, being a member of the Board of Trade for Scotland, founding the GovTech Cluster in Scotland, and serving on the advisory board for Civtech, a leading Govtech innovation hub. Russell is also a Board member of the Asia Scotland Institute and represents the UK Government's Department of International Trade Global Entrepreneur Programme, attracting international entrepreneurs to Scotland.
Beyond his professional endeavors, Russell is a Founding Director of the Net Zero Nation, addressing carbon footprint reduction in SMEs, and actively works to address gender imbalances in business through support for the Association of Scottish Business Women and Changing the Chemistry organizations. As an advisor to disruptive-led companies in the UK and US, and an investor/advisor to Par Equity, Scotland's leading angel investor fund, Russell contributes significantly to the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
In a diverse range of interests, Russell is also an award-winning film producer, with the independent feature Cold Kill set for release in 2022. Beyond his professional commitments, he enjoys participating in endurance events, showcasing his passion for overcoming obstacles and staying active during weekends. Russell Dalgleish is a multifaceted individual whose contributions span the realms of business, innovation, and societal impact.
In December 2022Russell was named as one of Scotland’s “Unsung Heroes” for his work with entrepreneurs and founders in Scotland https://bit.ly/3CjWMAs
Steve Rawlingson is Founder and Group CEO of Samuel Knight. Educated at Oxford and Northumbria Uni where he graduated with an MBA and MSc in Business and Psychology. Steve has won many accolades with Samuel Knight Group over the last 10 years such as, Top 100 Staffing Leaders to Watch 2024 Entrepreneur of the Year 2023 Best Medium sized recruitment company of the Year 2023 Sunday Times Best Company to Work For 2023 Top 100 Companies to Work for In The World 2023 Great British Entrepreneur Team of the Year (GBEA Winner 2022) Scale Up Entrepreneur of the Year 2020 Lloyds Bank - Scale Up Business of the Year 2018 Emerging Talent Entrepreneur of the Year 2017
plus, many others.. Steve is an ambassador for many charities such as The Princes Trust, CEO Sleepout & STEMNET, his mission in business is to help build a greener and more environmentally friendly world by working with his global community to achieve zero carbon emissions by 2050. He is an active member of the Entrepreneurs Forum where he is involved in mentoring founders of SME’s and business startups as well as being the Founder & Host of Unlock Your Mindset Podcast which sits at number 20 in the Apple Podcast Charts.
Steve firmly remains at the helm of Samuel Knight Group planning major growth strategies within each of the group’s divisions. Day to day operational responsibilities are overseen by Board colleagues who in turn manage a global team of subject matter experts delivering project / recruitment solutions to their clients. It is in the Renewable Energy sector in particular where the group is driving an expansion programme throughout EMEA, USA & APAC regions that will grow their specialist business into a market leading renewable energy recruitment consultancy.
Suleman Sacranie is an accomplished entrepreneur in the Digital HealthTech sector, known for guiding early-stage companies through significant milestones and profitable exits. His journey began with The GP Service, an innovative telemedicine company that connects patients with GPs and enables the electronic transmission of prescriptions.
Suleman successfully led The GP Service through a £14m acquisition by Kanabo Plc, a medical cannabis company listed on the London Stock Exchange. Since the acquisition, Kanabo has expanded its services to include the prescription of medical cannabis in the UK.
Simultaneously, Suleman is nurturing Care Hires, a thriving startup that connects over 15,000 Care Workers with Care Homes across the country. This digital platform addresses staffing challenges in the healthcare sector, further showcasing his commitment to healthcare innovation.
With expertise spanning leadership in both public markets and private companies, Suleman possesses a deep understanding of the evolving healthcare sector and a unique perspective to tackle HealthTech challenges and opportunities. He excels in developing innovative strategies, fostering strategic partnerships, and driving operational efficiency.
Motivated by a vision of accessible, high-quality healthcare for all, Suleman Sacranie is passionate about forging connections in HealthTech, venture capital, and business growth, while fostering collaborations to drive innovation and success.
Vishal Bhatia is the Founder and General Partner at London Fields Venture Capital, where he leads efforts to support and invest in founders from less privileged backgrounds, with a focus on enhancing social mobility. Before founding London Fields, Vishal spent several years advising startups and entrepreneurs, leveraging his extensive experience to foster innovation and growth. At London Fields, he oversees the investment strategy and works closely with founders, providing the guidance and resources necessary to scale and succeed.
Vishal infuses a culture of venture capital and entrepreneurship at LFVC, aiming to deliver grassroots-level support, guidance, and mentorship to those who don't come from privilege. He is passionate about creating opportunities for underrepresented founders and is a prominent advocate for diversity and inclusion in the venture capital industry.
Will graduated in Business and Management in 2012, having found a particular interest in economics he discovered a love for business and the buzz in securing opportunities for growth.
Driven by family business experience, operating within an increasingly challenging international trading environment, Will is keen on building creative relationships with a focus on delivering a ‘force for good’ in our communities, countries and indeed the world of trade.
As a result, he is a true believer in providing simple and effective offerings for businesses that answer the needs of ever-growing complex challenges that business owners and employees are facing.
Now in his 11th year in Santander Will is responsible for implementing strategic opportunities for business and customer growth via Santander’s global presence and scale.
Will is currently focusing on the global expansion of a digital trade facilitation platform. This will bring together an extensive ecosystem of global providers, connected with tangible features and solutions, content and insights to enable businesses to execute growth whilst simultaneously saving considerable time whilst realising cost savings along the way.
