Discover the top 25 UK angel investors who are leading the charge in funding and mentoring the nation’s most promising startups.
Introduction
Angel investors play a pivotal role in the UK’s vibrant startup ecosystem. By providing not only capital but also invaluable mentorship and industry connections, these investors help turn innovative ideas into successful businesses. In this blog post, we introduce you to the top 25 UK angel investors who are at the forefront of driving startup success across various sectors.
1. Simon Murdoch
Sector Focus: DevOps, B2B SaaS, Fintech
Number of Investments: 105+
Notable Portfolio Companies: Shazam, Zoopla, Shutl
Comments:
Simon founded Bookpages in 1996 and successfully sold it to Amazon in 1998. As VP Europe for Amazon, he managed significant growth and is currently the managing partner at Episode 1. Simon has also funded FriendsAbroad.com, enhancing language skills through social networking.
2. Chris Adelsbach
Sector Focus: FinTech
Number of Investments: 110+
Notable Portfolio Companies: Atom Bank, Cuvva, Monese
Comments:
With over a decade at General Electric, Chris co-founded Marlin Financial Group and now serves as co-founder and Managing Partner at Outrun Ventures, as well as a Venture Partner at Techstars.
3. Laurel Bowden
Sector Focus: DevOps, B2B SaaS, Fintech
Number of Investments: 35+
Notable Portfolio Companies: Fizzback, Wix, FreeAgent, Secret Escapes
Comments:
A general partner at 83North, Laurel is renowned for her investments in companies like Wolt and Celonis. She brings extensive experience from her tenure on the boards of firms like Investec PLC Ltd.
4. Chris Mairs
Sector Focus: Deep Tech and AI
Number of Investments: 85+
Notable Portfolio Companies: Magic Pony, CloudNC, CreditKudos
Comments:
Co-founder of Metaswitch Networks, Chris has chaired Magic Pony Technology and is now a Venture Partner at Entrepreneur First, focusing on cutting-edge AI and deep tech startups.
5. Sarah Turner
Sector Focus: Female Founders, Scalable Tech
Number of Investments: 35+
Notable Portfolio Companies: Provenance, Raremark, Fiskl
Comments:
As a technologist and entrepreneur, Sarah co-founded Angel Academe, investing in women-led technology startups with high growth potential, fostering diversity in the tech landscape.
6. Taavet Hinrikus
Sector Focus: Fintech, Proptech, Communications
Number of Investments: 55+
Notable Portfolio Companies: Tweetdeck, Mendeley, Sunrise, Improbable, Mapillary
Comments:
Co-founder and CEO of TransferWise, Taavet was Skype’s first employee and advises the Estonian Prime Minister on digital strategies. His investments span influential platforms like Tweetdeck and Improbable.
7. Alexander Chesterman
Sector Focus: Fintech, Proptech, Communications
Number of Investments: 55+
Notable Portfolio Companies: Tweetdeck, Mendeley, Sunrise, Improbable, Mapillary
Comments:
Founder and CEO of Cazoo, Alex previously led ZPG Plc and Lovefilm, which he successfully sold to Amazon. Recognized as one of the UK’s most active tech angel investors, he has been honored with an OBE for his contributions to digital entrepreneurship.
8. Nicole Junkermann
Sector Focus: Fintech, Gaming, VR, AI
Number of Investments: 30+
Notable Portfolio Companies: Songza, Dollar Shave Club, RelatelQ
Comments:
A London-based entrepreneur, Nicole focuses on the intersection of media and technology, driving innovations that bridge medicine, education, retail, and premium content through her strategic investments.
9. Michael Pennington
Sector Focus: Fintech, Sector Agnostic
Number of Investments: 25+
Notable Portfolio Companies: Juro, Koru Kids, Breedr, HeyDoc
Comments:
Co-founder of Gumtree and Slando, Michael is highly active in funding London-based tech companies, preferring early-stage investments that support talented founders and innovative solutions.
10. Errol Damelin
Sector Focus: Fintech, Proptech, Consumer
Number of Investments: 25+
Notable Portfolio Companies: Transferwise, CityMapper, Purplebricks
Comments:
Errol, founder of Wonga.com, is a global entrepreneur with a passion for building innovative businesses, leveraging his extensive experience to support early-stage technology ventures.
11. Akhil Paul
Sector Focus: Fintech, B2B SaaS
Number of Investments: 50+
Notable Portfolio Companies: Airlift, Cresta, Fast, Fidel
Comments:
With 15 years in strategic and financial roles, Akhil provides proactive support to over 50 companies, leveraging his global network to drive growth and innovation in fintech and SaaS.
12. Reece Chowdhry
Sector Focus: B2B Software, Fintech, Entertainment
Number of Investments: 50+
Notable Portfolio Companies: Organise, Condense Reality, Cliff.ai, Workscope, Reachdesk
Comments:
An award-winning Venture Capitalist, Reece is the Founding Partner of Concept Ventures, focusing on early-stage investments that fuel the growth of innovative startups.
13. Rosemary Forsyth
Sector Focus: Circular Economy, Fintech, Impact
Number of Investments: 20+
Notable Portfolio Companies: Net-a-Porter, TransferWise, Flux, Trackd
Comments:
As Managing Director of the Forsyth Group, Rosemary has built a leading executive search firm, aiding disruptive businesses in assembling top-tier management and board teams.
14. Nick Green
Sector Focus: Agnostic
Number of Investments: 15+
Notable Portfolio Companies: Lick, Obby, Weezy
Comments:
With a diverse background in sales and growth, Nick is the founding partner at GC Growth Partners and an advisor at Antler, offering consultancy and angel investments across various sectors.
15. Oded Kobo
Sector Focus: Entertainment, Foodtech, B2B SaaS
Number of Investments: 25+
Notable Portfolio Companies: Youku, Koolanoo Group, Pheed, Telegram
Comments:
An experienced entrepreneur in financial services and technology, Oded has advised on transactions worth over $2 billion, supporting startups through strategic investments and capital raising.
16. Yoma Kukor
Sector Focus: Fintech, Enterprise, Clean-tech
Number of Investments: 35+
Notable Portfolio Companies: Crowdcube, ZingZing, Monzo
Comments:
Yoma is a prolific angel investor with a robust history in technology investments. She is a frequent speaker at industry events and holds advanced degrees in International Business and Venture Finance.
17. Ian Hogarth
Sector Focus: AI, ML, Fintech, Platforms
Number of Investments: 35+
Notable Portfolio Companies: Cleo, Cuvva, Hopin, Tide
Comments:
Co-founder of Songkick, Ian has a strong background in machine learning and computer vision. His angel investments focus on innovative startups in AI and fintech, complementing his role as chairman of Phasecraft.
18. Michelle You
Sector Focus: Consumer, Clima-Tech, Environmental
Number of Investments: 25+
Notable Portfolio Companies: Wren, SINAI, The Future Forest Company, Avant Arte, Grip Fertility
Comments:
Michelle, a Venture Partner at LocalGlobe, focuses on climate and environmental investments while nurturing consumer products that address significant problems, leveraging her experience from founding Songkick.
19. Tom Hulme
Sector Focus: E-Commerce, Entertainment, Digital, Proptech
Number of Investments: 20+
Notable Portfolio Companies: YPlan, Smol, Nextday
Comments:
A general partner at Google Ventures, Tom brings his expertise from founding OpenIDEO and launching OIEngine, supporting startups with innovative digital and proptech solutions.
20. Paul Heydon
Sector Focus: Gaming, Entertainment, Digital Media
Number of Investments: 20+
Notable Portfolio Companies: Supercell, Unity, Peak
Comments:
With 30 years of experience, Paul has co-founded LVP and previously worked in investment banking. His investments span leading companies in gaming and digital media, leveraging his extensive industry knowledge.
21. Richard Fearn
Sector Focus: B2B SaaS, Entertainment, Media
Number of Investments: 20+
Notable Portfolio Companies: Sofar Sounds, Blaze, Dojo, What3Words
Comments:
Richard transitioned from advertising to startup investing, advising over 50 early-stage companies. He co-founded the ‘Friday Club London,’ providing startups with access to senior marketing expertise.
22. Brent Hoberman
Sector Focus: Entertainment, Media, B2B SaaS, Sector Agnostic
Number of Investments: 50+
Notable Portfolio Companies: Onfido, Treatwell, Snips, YPlan
Comments:
Co-founder of Founders Factory and Founders Forum, Brent also established firstminute capital, a $100m seed fund. His extensive network and experience from founding lastminute.com drive his successful investments across various sectors.
23. Tony Jamous
Sector Focus: Platform Models, Fintech, HR Tech, Remote Work, Impact
Number of Investments: 20+
Notable Portfolio Companies: TrueLayer, Hopin, SafetyWing
Comments:
Tony is a tech entrepreneur and angel investor committed to fostering fulfilling work opportunities globally through his venture Oyster. Previously, he co-founded Nexmo, enhancing communications platforms.
24. Sherry Coutu
Sector Focus: Fintech, HR Tech, Impact
Number of Investments: 20+
Notable Portfolio Companies: Recurly, YPlan, Perkbox
Comments:
As an angel investor and board member, Sherry has successfully sold two financial services businesses and continues to support innovative startups through strategic investments and leadership.
25. Stefan Glänzer
Sector Focus: Fintech, Proptech, AI
Number of Investments: 25+
Notable Portfolio Companies: PeerIndex, Mendeley
Comments:
An entrepreneur from Germany based in London, Stefan co-founded several digital platforms and serves as the executive Chairman of Mendeley.com and Last.fm, driving advancements in fintech and AI.
Conclusion
The top 25 UK angel investors listed above are instrumental in shaping the future of startups across diverse industries. Their strategic investments, combined with mentorship and industry expertise, provide the foundation for innovative ideas to flourish into successful enterprises. Aspiring entrepreneurs seeking funding and guidance can look to these leaders for invaluable support and inspiration.
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