What does International Women’s Day truly mean to you? Is March 8th the day when we merely list the achievements of successful women and then move on, or is it an opportunity to celebrate and truly acknowledge the remarkable impact these females are creating?
Here at TFN, we firmly believe it’s more than just a date. It’s a time to celebrate, to raise our voices, and to make a difference!
Aligning with this year’s campaign theme of ‘Inspire Inclusion’, today TFN has chosen to shine a spotlight on 25 extraordinary women making significant contributions to the UK and Europe tech scene.
Breaking biases or barriers, these women are challenging stereotypes and leading innovation in the tech industry. Their accomplishments not only drive growth in the tech sector but also set an inspiring example for future generations, promoting and contributing to inclusivity along the way.
Siddhi Mittal and Heinin Zhang, Yhangry
Career journey so far:
Power duo, Siddhi Mittal and Heinin Zhang co-founded Yhangry, a London startup offering affordable private chefs. Mittal formerly a trader at Barclays specialising in Asset-Backed Securities, managed a £500 million portfolio and rose to Vice President. Zhang began her career at Goldman Sachs and Barclays, overseeing institutional asset managers and managing a global AUM exceeding $1 trillion.
What makes them on the list?
Both the founder’s transition from a successful finance career to entrepreneurship with yhangry showcased their drive for innovation and determination to pursue their own venture especially when yhangry was launched ahead of Covid lockdown in 2019. They transformed the startup into a leading managed service marketplace, akin to ‘Airbnb for chefs’. which also graduated from the Google for Startups Residency program in February 2020 and raised $1.5 million in a funding round. In May 2021, both the females appeared on BBC’s Dragons’ Den, where they won investment on screen from Peter Jones and Tej Lalvani. They also raised funding from US-based accelerator Y Combinator hat has backed companies like Airbnb, Coinbase, Stripe, and more.
Their diverse background
Spanning from India, and New York to London, Siddhi brings a unique perspective to her entrepreneurial endeavours. As a CFA charterholder and Computer Science (including Artificial Intelligence) graduate from Columbia University, she embodies the spirit of diversity and inclusion in the tech and startup ecosystem.
At the same time, Zhang was born in Germany, she later moved to Beijing with her family, reflecting her German Chinese heritage. Heinin holds a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and Economics from the London School of Economics. and enjoys various activities, including playing tennis, and board games, and pursuing her passion as an amateur equestrian.
Bianca Cefalo, Space DOTS
Career journey so far:
There is no better role model for the next-generation space industry than this one! Bianca Cefalo, the CEO and Co-founder of Space DOTS is building a smartphone-sized lab for space. With +11 years of experience, she’s a space engineer, a deep-tech sales executive and a public speaker.
What makes her on the list?
Cefalo was appointed as the youngest Italian analyst for the HP3 Instrument on the NASA/JPL Insight Mars Mission in Berlin, Germany. Over the years, she buffed her expertise in thermal engineering, spacecraft thermal control solutions, simulations, lab tests, integration, qualification, and satellite downlink data correlation. In 2018, she transitioned to a role as Space Systems Product Manager at Airbus Defence and Space in Stevenage, UK and co-founded Space DOTS in 2021 with James Sheppard Alden, securing $1.5 million in 2023.
She also served as Space Entrepreneurship Mentor at the ‘EIIS – European Institute of Innovation for Sustainability’, and associate member of the Women’s Engineering Society in London. In 2020, she also founded Cosmica Space Consulting to raise public awareness of space tech’s impact on human evolution, on and beyond Earth.
Her diverse background:
Born in Naples, Italy, Cefalo earned her MSc in Aerospace and Astronautical Engineering from the University of Naples ‘Federico II’, specialising in Spacecraft Systems, Hypersonic Aerodynamics, Microgravity and Satellite Remote Sensing.
Further, she’s dedicated to empowering women in STEM and it is evident in her advocacy for increased representation, promotion of safe and supportive work environments, breaking down stereotypes, and investment in workforce diversity programs. Her life motto, encapsulated by George Bernard Shaw’s quote, reflects her belief in creating one’s own circumstances and seizing opportunities with determination and resilience.
Vivian Bertseka, BlueLayer
Career journey so far:
Meet, Vivian Bertseka, one of three co-founders and Head of Climate of BlueLayer, a software company building the end-to-end operating system for developers of carbon projects. Before co-founding BlueLayer which also got $5.6M funding recently, she was a founding partner of Just Climate, a climate-led investment platform across Industrial and Nature-based climate solutions, operating as part of Generation Investment Management.
Bertseka’s sustainability journey began in 2010 when she joined Generation as an investor in the Climate Solutions Funds, after having spent the first half of her career in more traditional finance with Apollo Management and UBS.
What makes her on the list?
While BlueLayer is Bertseka’s first technology venture as a founder, she has invested in technology companies for more than 13 years as part of Generation’s Climate Solutions and Sustainable Solutions funds. She has also invested in tech companies including Nest Home (now Google Home), SolarCity (now part of Tesla), and Docusign, and was part of the team that invested in Asana, Toast, and fintech unicorn Remitly.
Further, Bertseka currently serves as a board member at TransitionZero and Senior Advisor at Blume Equity, aiding consumer-facing businesses in sustainability transformations.
Her diverse background:
Originally from Greece, Bertseka brings a rich cultural background to her ventures. She went to the same high school as her co-founder Alexander Argyros. Beyond her professional endeavours, her hobbies include yoga, swimming, and spending time outdoors with her husband and son.
Felicia Hjertman, TILLIT
Career journey so far
This is a special one! Felicia Hjertman, the visionary Founder and CEO of TILLIT, began her career journey with an 8-year tenure at Baillie Gifford, a renowned asset manager. Here, she honed her expertise as an Analyst and Investment Manager, co-managing assets exceeding $2 billion in Japanese small-cap equities. However, driven by a passion to democratise access to institutional-quality financial insights, she took the plunge into founding TILLIT, which means ‘trust’ in Swedish. With a mission to help personal investors make better investment decisions, the UK-based fintech is a curated investment platform focused on funds, accompanied by plain English descriptions and insights empowering people to make informed investment decisions with confidence.
What makes them on the list?
Hjertman’s journey is built with her tenacious devotion to empowering individuals in the financial landscape. At TILLIT, she leads a team dedicated to providing tools and information, ensuring everyone can make informed decisions confidently. Her advocacy for transparency and comprehension challenges the industry norm, making TILLIT a beacon of trust and inclusivity. With two successful funding rounds under her belt, Hjertman’s journey is honoured by milestones, propelled by investor confidence and a vision for lasting impact in the market.
Her diverse background
Well, her diverse background and contributions further solidify Hjertman’s position among the top innovators in the UK tech ecosystem. From her upbringing in Sweden to her experiences in Brussels and eventual settling in the UK, she brings a global perspective to her work. Her efforts in advocating for diversity and inclusion, both at Baillie Gifford and her own company, highlight her commitment to creating inclusive environments. Felicia has also worked with initiatives like GAIN and WealthiHer to help empower women and girls to become more confident with investing and make financial services more inclusive.
Kelli Fairbrother, xigxag
Career journey so far:
Kelli Fairbrother is the co-founder of xigxag, a British company shaping the future of books. With nearly 20 years of experience in consumer technology, Fairbrother has built her reputation innovating consumer brands and leading new market launches, including the multi-million-pound launch of Premier Inn into Germany, and four new markets for Gelato, a Norwegian-based print tech unicorn.
What makes her on the list?
Fairbrother, along with her co-founder Mark Chaplin, are challenging what they observed to be “Amazon’s dominance and neglect of audiobooks”. Their audiobook platform xigxag is attracting customers with the only publisher-sanctioned listen-and-read experience in the market, a social platform for listeners and an innovative consumer-centric pricing model. As a B CorpTM certified company and an Ethical Consumer Best Buy for audiobooks, they are tapping into the consumer zeitgeist supporting purpose-driven brands, existing alternatives to big tech, and support for local, independent businesses. Fairbrother is also a member of the Coalition for App Fairness, where she is campaigning for the passage of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers bill in parliament to create a free and fair playing field for app developers in the app store ecosystems. And she is an early member of InvestHer, working to address inequality in early-stage funding for women and other underestimated founders. Taking on Amazon, Apple, Google and the patriarchy? It’s all in a day’s work for this dynamo.
Her diverse background
Fairbrother earned a B.Sc. from West Point (the US Military Academy) and served as an officer in the US Army in Germany, Bosnia, and the US, eventually earning the rank of Captain. She led the International Division of Deluxe Entertainment, served as Chief Operating Officer at Gelato and Group Head of Strategy for Whitbread, after starting her career as a McKinsey consultant advising technology clients. Prior to joining McKinsey, she earned her MBA from Harvard Business School.
Amber Akhter, TextMine
Career journey so far:
Amber Akhtar is the co-founder and COO of TextMine, the end-to-end AI-powered knowledge base for business-critical documents. Akhtar began her career in Leeds for customer-centric and sales positions at Sky and Lloyds Banking Group before joining the legal team at a med-tech in Oxford. She was made redundant just seven months later, during the Covid-19 pandemic which subsequently led to her accepting a role with her now co-founder at TextMine.
What makes her on the list?
Akhtar’s persistence in early life meant that she later secured an undergraduate degree in Biomedical Science before realising her passion for law. In the last three years she has aided the creation of a remarkable AI platform, hired a team of 14 in London, successfully secured £4.15m in funding and qualified as a solicitor. Akhtar’s business growth is supported by Parkwalk, one of the UK’s leading growth fund managers backing world-changing technologies.
Her diverse background
Akhtar was the first person in her family to graduate from university, a moment she describes as ‘pivotal’ to her success. After growing up in a low socioeconomic household, she successfully re-sat her A-levels as an external student after a challenging period during which she resided in a women’s refuge. Following her studies, Akhtar worked in a variety of roles from outbound sales in mobile campaigns, to selling life insurance. Her diversity in focuses and responsibilities has aided her current success within a tech role. In her spare time, Akhtar volunteers at her local Saturday school, supporting underprivileged children with their education.
Emanuela Maggioni, OW Smell Made Digital
Career journey so far:
Making smell digital, Emanuela Maggioni is the CEO and co-founder of OW Smell Made Digital (OW), the science-driven B2B platform that creates and delivers scents and is working to introduce ‘Artificial Smell’ to the Metaverse. Maggioni has over 16 years of experience in research and consultancy related to smell including work with Unilever, Benetton and IFF. She co-founded OW in 2019 merging proprietary AI and databases with an adaptive system to transform industries with Sleep Tech as its first market application.
What makes her on the list?
Maggioni is a Royal Academy of Engineering Enterprise Fellow and Honorary Research Fellow at the UCL Department of Computer Science. She has over 45 scientific publications and a PhD in Psychology of Smell Perception and Emotions. The technology that OW created is validated by academics and already deployed in real-world installations, healthcare and research and has already raised a seed round. OW is an academic spin-out from University College London and Sussex University. Selected collaborators include RS Rockefeller University and commercial organisations such as Science Centre Singapore, New Reality Co. and Picture This Productions. Maggioni’s work and research have led to two invitations to exhibit novel smell technology at the World Economic Forum.
Her diverse background
Maggioni was captivated by smell from the earliest days of her childhood in Italy, she claims that it has always been indivisible from her memories and emotions, and still drives interactions with people and places. She credits her experience with Dyslexia as the source of her greatest strengths – creativity, resilience, and an ability to see solutions where others might see obstacles. This and her role as a mother to her daughters have added an extra layer of motivation to her overall entrepreneurial pursuits.
Maggie Vo, Fuel Venture Capital
Career journey so far:
A finance expert, Maggie Vo is the Chief Investment Officer and Managing General Partner of Fuel Venture Capital, the entrepreneurial-led tech-fund. Vo, formerly a Prudential Property Investment Manager, transitioned from the public markets to the world of venture capital in 2018. Her expertise has since seen the Fuel Venture Capital portfolio of tech startups grow from four to 33 companies with $700 million in AUM.
What makes her on the list?
Vo is part of the 4.9% of women who are currently Venture Capital partners, she chose to use her position as a minority as her key competitive advantage, allowing her to bring unique attributes and opinions to the table. Vo’s expertise has seen investments into fintech, AI, and SaaS companies of the UK and EU ecosystem such as Curve (UK), Soundtrack Your Brand (Sweden), Lunar (Sweden) and more. Her presence as a female is extremely important as it has a profound impact on the portfolio companies they invest in.
Her diverse background
Raised in Vietnam, Maggie moved to the United States when she was 17-years-old and after securing a full scholarship she graduated from Centre College with a double major in Financial Economics and Mathematics. She began her career at Prudential Vietnam Fund Management, and later, Prudential Property Investment Managers in Singapore before obtaining her current position. She believes being a female and a minority in a male-dominated environment would only be a weakness if she allowed it.
Amy Francetic, Buoyant Ventures
Career journey so far:
Amy Francetic, the co-founder and Managing General Partner of Buoyant Ventures in Chicago, boasts a career spanning over 20 years. With experience in high-tech entrepreneurship, private equity, and research, she previously founded Energize Ventures and served as CEO of Evergreen Climate Innovations. Amy’s roles at MVC Capital and Stanford Research Institute, where she contributed to early voice recognition technology (now Siri), add depth to her diverse career.
She was also a co-founder and CEO of a consumer technology company funded by Paul Allen, later sold to Lego Systems. Her involvement in fundraising for mobile gaming company GluMobile, on whose board she served until its NASDAQ debut, showcases her varied contributions.
What makes her on the list?
Amy’s inclusion is attributed to her leadership in Buoyant Ventures, managing an $81M AUM fund investing in digital climate solutions like London-based FloodFlash. Her diverse roles in private equity and technology entrepreneurship underline her expertise.
Recognitions like being named one of Chicago’s Top 50 Technology Leaders and receiving the “20 Most Inspiring Chicagoans” honour in 2019 emphasise her impactful contributions. Amy’s role as a lecturer in energy and entrepreneurship, coupled with advisory board positions, reflects her commitment to fostering innovation and growth in the tech sector.
Her diverse background:
Amy holds a BA from Stanford University. Living in Lake Forest, IL, with her family, Amy’s commitment to education is evident through her role as a lecturer at Northwestern University and the University of Chicago’s Law School. In 2015, she emerged as a rising leader at the Chicago Council for Global Affairs. In 2014, she received the Corporate Citizen of the Year Award from the Executives’ Club of Chicago and was recognised as a Leading Woman in Technology by the Illinois Technology Association.
Sonja Jost, DUDE CHEM
Her career journey:
An inventor, engineer, and serial entrepreneur in the field of green chemistry, Sonja Jost is the CEO of Berlin-based DUDE CHEM, a virtual green deeptech manufacturer of chemicals that €6.5 million seed round recently.
Jost has served on various boards and juries, including the Economic Advisory Board of the German Green Party and the Editorial Board of the US scientific journal “Green Chemistry Letters and Reviews”. She is also a member of the jury for the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator and writes guest comments for high-ranked political newspapers.
What makes her on the list?
Jost has been recognised with multiple awards and accolades and was featured as one of the “100 most important heads of the Berlin economy 2023” by Tagesspiegel. She also received the “Veuve Clicquot Bold Woman Award 2021” for her entrepreneurial courage and success.
Handelsblatt and ZEIT online ranked Jost among the “25 female inventors who are changing the world.” The Capital magazine named her repeatedly “40 under 40” entrepreneurs.
She has been actively involved in initiatives such as “Germany – Land of Ideas” where she was appointed as an ambassador. Additionally, she is an elected Vice President of the Berlin Chamber of Industry and Commerce, representing more than 300,000 businesses. Jost works closely with governmental organisations, scientific institutions, and political parties to promote the translation of scientific findings into practical applications in the industry. What truly makes Jost stand out is her commitment to driving positive change.
Her diverse background:
With Italian, Somali, and German roots, Jost has witnessed a blend of cultures that has contributed to her success in the field of chemistry. She is a Research Scholar from the Institute of Chemistry at the University of Technology, Berlin. She empowers women in STEM fields and is a frequent guest on panels and discussions, advocating for increased representation and supporting safe and inclusive work environments.
Jenny Ann Ax:son Johnson, Tilly
Career journey:
Amidst the maze of fertility struggles, Jenny Ann Ax:son Johnson, alongside her co-founder Anna Sane, birthed Tilly from personal turmoil. Recognising the lack of emotional support amidst fertility providers, they ventured on a mission to destigmatise and create support for the emotional and mental challenges of fertility struggles. By making mental health tools more accessible and individualised, Tilly enables more patient-centered fertility treatments.
What makes her on the list?
Founding Tilly in late 2019 amidst the pressing need for digital fertility support, Johnson navigated internal challenges while responding to the soaring demand for virtual assistance amid the pandemic. Initially focusing on demystifying fertility health, the Stockholm-based startup’s mission gradually evolved to address the mental and emotional toll of infertility and also got backing from European early-stage VC Antler. By integrating evidence-based self-care exercises and fostering a supportive community within the app, Johnson bridged the emotional gap in patient care, collaborating with fertility clinics to offer whole-patient support.
Her diverse background:
An engineer by education who spent almost 10 years in edtech developing tools for a personalised learning experience for students, Johnson’s impact extends far beyond borders, with Tilly reaching 1000s of users in over 100 countries.
With 1 in 6 people worldwide being affected by infertility the universal demand for fertility support underscores the global significance of her work. Her effort to normalise and address the mental challenges associated with fertility struggles is evident through the European firm’s selection for the Institute of Reproductive Grief Care Symposium later in March, highlighting the app’s vital contribution to developing better support for pregnancy loss and infertility.
Joanne Safo, Lukango
Career journey so far:
Joanne Safo is the Founder and CEO at Lukango, an insurtech for small businesses and the sole professional segment in the UK. Safo is at the forefront of technology in the insurance industry, aiding the launch of over 20 insuretechs throughout her career, she transitioned from graduate to founding team member and Global CIO of Munich Re’s insurtech partnership business, Digital Partners.
What makes her on the list?
Lukango’s hyper-focus on the customer has complimented the success Safo and her team have today, from the anti-jargon language used to demystify insurance, to straightforward CX, Lukango combines innovative dynamic products to support today’s entrepreneurs on their business journeys and to further differentiate it from other insurance offerings in the market. The London-based, microbusiness-focused insurtech Luango has also closed a £275k pre-seed round and is backed by investors such as Evelyn Bourke, former CEO of Bupa and Admiral Group, Andrew Rear, former CEO of Munich Re’s Digital Partners, and Mark Hunt, former Nasdaq advisor and CEO of Inbotiqa.
Her diverse background
Safo is looking to break the equality boundaries within the tech industry, something she intends to do as part of her sponsorship of insurance professionals via ICAN, the Insurance Cultural Awareness Network. Safo continually strives towards equality and works to level the playing field for women and people of colour in the insurance and technology industries. She recently mentored two young women from disadvantaged backgrounds with mental health issues as part of Twining Enterprise’s mentor programme.
Nadine Walther, SpexAI
Career journey so far:
The SpexAI founder Nadine Walther’s has a journey that dates back to her early aspirations of leading her own company and the desire to make a tangible impact in the world. Nadine’s life partner Ben Niehaus’ skydiving accident unexpectedly became the catalyst for SpexAI. Prior to this, she co-founded platform3l and Struktine.
What makes her on the list?
Nadine brought life to her dream by establishing SpexAI, an AI-driven imaging startup poised to revolutionise controlled environment agriculture (CEA). Her unique blend of personal passion and professional excellence, combined with a team of experts in digital phenotyping, positions SpexAI as a distinct player in leveraging AI for agricultural enhancement.
Balancing the roles of motherhood and entrepreneurship, Nadine’s journey reflects an unwavering commitment to pushing boundaries and transforming challenges into avenues for growth and innovation. Nadine’s background, shaped by diverse career experiences and a never-give-up attitude, forms the foundation of SpexAI’s dynamic energy.
Her diverse background:
She holds a degree in Communications, Politics and Psychology from Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz and a Diploma in Business Administration from Baden-Wuerttemberg Cooperative State University (DHBW). With personal goals like skydiving on every continent and a commitment to stoicism and Buddhism, Nadine’s leadership is guided by mindfulness, resilience, and collective well-being.
Virginia Corless, Moa Technology
Career journey so far:
Virginia Corless is the CEO of Moa Technology, a leading agricultural biotechnology company addressing the global problem of declining energy, water and agriculture. Corless, formerly the Chief Growth Officer at soil-health innovator Novihum Technologies studied astrophysics at MIT and completed her PhD as a Marshall Scholar at the University of Cambridge
What makes her on the list?
Under Corless’s leadership, Moa’s plant-based discovery engine has generated a promising pipeline of new herbicides designed to be safer and more effective than anything farmers can currently buy. With these new discoveries – which are being field-trialled this year – Moa aims to improve food security for millions of people and help tackle the related problems of deforestation and climate change. Moa is backed by top-tier life science and agritech investors including Lansdowne Partners, IP Group, BGF Investments, Bits x Bites, Parkwalk Advisors, Oxford Science Enterprises and the University of Oxford.
Her diverse background
Trained as a physicist, with experience in agriculture, clean-tech, government and academia and in working in multiple different countries, Virginia leads such a diverse team at Moa, where almost half the scientists are female and over 19 nationalities. Corless believes when attempting to solve serious and complex real-world problems, success can only be achieved through an interdisciplinary approach, where individuals with diverse knowledge and experience collaborate towards a shared objective.
Anna-Greta Tsahkna, Timbeter
Career journey so far:
Anna-Greta Tsahkna is the founder and CEO of Timbeter, a startup revolutionising the timber industry. In addition to being a business leader, she also took on the role of Vice-President at the Estonian Association of Information Technology and Telecommunications.
What makes her on the list?
Anna-Greta’s distinction lies in her commitment towards Timbeter, a global AI-based solution, which stands testament to her dedication to transforming traditional industries. By facilitating quick, accurate, and transparent digital measurement of timber, her brainchild addresses critical issues in the timber supply chain, promoting fair trade, sustainable timber management, and aiding governments in combating illegal logging.
Her initiation of Timbeter during a hackathon Garage48 is dedicated to bringing more women into IT. It showcased her commitment to gender inclusivity in the tech realm.
Her diverse background:
Holding a MA in Economics from Tartu University, Anna-Greta brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her role. She has served diverse experiences, from being deeply involved in the tech landscape to actively contributing to the Estonian Association of Information Technology and Telecommunications.
Tessa Clarke, Olio
Career journey so far:
Tessa Clarke, CEO of Olio, truly deserves a spot on the list for leading a free app that addresses waste by connecting neighbours and local businesses to share surplus food and household items, reducing waste in communities. After completing her MBA at Stanford, she began a career in the corporate sector. Over 15 years, she held leadership positions in media, retail, and financial services, ultimately serving as Digital Managing Director.
What makes her on the list?
Tessa’s presence on the list stems from her transition from a successful corporate career to the head of Olio which has over 7 million users in 63 countries. The United Nations recognised Olio as a “beacon,” and Vivatech accorded the title of “Next European Unicorn.” Clarke was able to secure over $50 million in equity financing for Olio from diverse sources and her TED talk on the influence of sharing has garnered a viewership surpassing one million. Adding to her accolades, she was honoured in 2023 with the Veuve Clicquot Bold Woman Award.
Her diverse background:
Hailing from a farming background, Tessa spent her formative years on a farm, and her journey is marked by diversity not only in her career but also in her educational and cultural experiences. She initiated Olio’s remote-first approach nine years ago, which sweetened the team’s diverse composition. Currently, 59% of their team comprises females, with 29% representing the LGBTQ community. Further, Tessa also serves as an Ambassador for the Better Business Act and London Tech Week. To conclude, she also sits on the Government’s recently established Small Business Council, advocating for the direct representation of small businesses’ voices and interests to the government.
Dr Elsa Zekeng, Founder, SӧkerData
Career journey so far:
In a world where innovation meets impact, Dr. Elsa Zekeng is a science entrepreneur with a Ph.D. in Infectious Diseases and Global Health. Throughout her 15-year career, Dr. Zekeng has shown resilience, expertise, and a relentless pursuit of diversity. From her roots in molecular biology to her role in combating the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, Dr. Zekeng’s path has been marked by transformative experiences and a deep dedication to revolutionising healthcare.
As the founder of SökerData, Dr. Zekeng leads an effort to address the critical gap in clinical trials’ diversity. Her consultancy work with the World Health Organisation (WHO) during the Ebola crisis provided invaluable insights into the importance of diverse biomarkers. Today, SökerData has emerged as a major player in digital health, securing a share of Innovate UK’s prestigious grant to build the world’s most diverse biomarker database.
What makes her on the list?
Dr. Zekeng’s inclusion in our list is a tribute to her visionary leadership and groundbreaking contributions to healthcare. Under her guidance, SökerData seeks to democratise access to comprehensive genomic datasets, challenging the dominance of Eurocentric data in medical research. With partnerships with leading pharmaceutical companies and support from Innovate UK and the Francis Crick Institute, SökerData aims to redefine personalised medicine and drive equitable healthcare solutions globally.
Her diverse background
Beyond her entrepreneurial endeavours, Dr. Zekeng’s diverse background supports her advocacy for inclusivity in STEM and community initiatives. Originally from Cameroon and raised as a diplomat’s child, she embodies a deep appreciation for cultural diversity and a steadfast commitment to bridge gaps in representation. From founding the Northwest Biotech Initiative to championing women in STEM, Dr. Zekeng’s work aligns with a vision of a more inclusive and equitable future in healthcare and beyond. Outside of her role as founder, advocate and CEO, Elsa upholds a devotion to the music of Leoni Torres, indulging her love of salsa at every opportunity.
Alexandra Smith, FuturePlus
Career journey so far:
Alexandra Smith also known as ‘Alex’, is breaking biases and promoting inclusion as co-founder and partner at FuturePlus, part of The Sustainability Group. Based in London, the startup helps businesses take incremental steps to sustainability in line with international regulations and policies. In addition to her expertise in social and environmental initiatives, Smith also served as the Commercial Director of Clipper Round the World Yacht Race.
What makes her on the list?
Smith’s inclusion in this list stems from her dynamic shift into sustainable entrepreneurship. Co-leading the development of both a consultancy practice and its multi-award-winning SaaS platform FuturePlus, she advocates accessibility, achievability, and affordability in sustainability management and ESG reporting. She also serves as a trustee for the Better Coffee Foundation and is a TEDx speaker.
Her diverse background:
Her journey weaves through the seas, hospitality landscapes, and global events, mirroring her commitment to diverse experiences. As both a leader and woman in impact tech, Smith is an advocate for providing all individuals, businesses, and communities with the resources and tools they need to instigate positive change.
Jessica Barwell, Home Grown
Career journey so far:
Jessica Barwell is an accomplished and diligent marketer, having built the Home Grown brand from its inception and launch in 2019 to now being London’s leading business community. She currently oversees partnerships and affiliations as well as the Home Grown members events programme.
What makes her on the list?
Barwell has extensive experience within the hospitality industry as well as the property and finance sphere globally. Her work within Home Grown has helped make it the private members’ club that every entrepreneur and many investors are talking about, a dedicated space for a community of scaling founders, sophisticated investors and global leaders. She has been mentioned in the ecosystem as the ‘queen of networking’ in tech for the interesting events the club hosts.
Her diverse background
Born and raised in Hong Kong, Barwell is a mentor on the Levels 2020 Change programme, speaking on a number of stages, including most recently supporting the LiteStream Ventures Impact Investment Gathering during the 2024 World Economic Forum. In her personal life, Barwell is an avid cyclist, currently partaking in Ride 25, London to Sydney cycle challenge, a former international level horse rider and is often found frequenting the latest dining spots.
Cecily Motley, Harriet
Career journey so far:
Cecily Motley is the CEO and co-founder of Harriet, a London-based HRtech startup which recently also scored a £1.2M investment to empower employees with AI. She’s an experienced entrepreneur and ex-founder of the jewellery business, Motley London. While running Motley, she became frustrated at how necessary but mind-numbing admin took away time from higher-value projects. She also noticed that of all the departments drowning in admin, HR was being hit the hardest. So she built Harriet.
What makes her on the list?
Harriet was launched in 2023 by her and her co-founder David Buxton and now they’re aiming to become an HRTech unicorn soon just like Factorial and Beamery. Harriet works with companies including Making Moves and Apolitical and has received backing from Concept Ventures, Frontline Ventures, Portfolio Ventures, and Notion Capital.
Her diverse background:
With an MA in History from the University of Oxford, Balliol College, Motley brings a unique perspective to the tech world. She has dyslexia and this makes the stacks of admin that comes with running a business even more time-consuming. She uses generative AI for tasks like editing copy and data analysis and believes that AI is a tool for good and that embracing new tech will help improve our productivity and our worklife balance.
Gabi Matic, Metta
Career journey so far:
Gabi Matic is co-founder of Metta, Venture Partner for Aerospace Xelerated and formerly Programme Director of the ATI Boeing Accelerator. Before that, she was the co-founder and former CMO of HealthTech startup MindMate, an Ignite and Techstars NYC alumni company that started in Glasgow, raised over $2M from top-tier international investors and is now headquartered in the US. Matic grew the MindMate platform from 0 to 50,000 users and sold into the NHS through her expertise in digital marketing, user acquisition, sales and fundraising.
Why she’s on the list?
Matic has successfully accelerated and supported over 150 startups and has mentored hundreds more. She has first-hand experience of being a woman in tech and uses her learnings to champion and support other women. Matic is also an angel investor specialising in female-founded startups and solutions in climate tech, femtech, health tech and others that make the world a better place.
Her diverse background
Matic dedicated the last seven years fighting to change the way accelerators operate, to be more inclusive and equitable as well as increase the number of underrepresented founders in some of the most traditional industries, like aerospace. Through mentoring and angel investment, she helps women get their businesses off the ground and opens her network to allow them to scale.
Nichola Bates, Aerospace Xelerated
Career journey so far
Nichola Bates is Managing Partner at Aerospace Xelerated & Head of Global Accelerators and Innovation Programs at Boeing. Bates joined Boeing following a decade-long career working with early-stage and scaling startups, where she championed the role of the SME to government. Nichola brings extensive experience of international business development and fundraising for growth. Having gained experience of working inside one of the world’s largest corporations, she has become even more passionate about the benefits of collaboration between startups and corporates.
Why she’s on the list
Bates is the driving force behind Boeing’s Aerospace Xelerated programme, having overseen investment and mentorship for 42 tech startups, helping to turn their potential into groundbreaking advances for the future of the industry. Her portfolio of startups have gone on to raise more than £250M in additional funding beyond Boeing’s initial investment and are engaged in projects across four different continents.
Her diverse background
Bates has spent the majority of her career in male dominated industries which ignited her passion to create an all female team within Boeing to run the Aerospace Xelerated programme and has invested heavily into female founders, with 25% of the portfolio consisting of female led teams – an outstanding achievement in the aerospace industry. Bates was influential in getting the tech ecosystem in Northern Ireland started and became passionate about helping Northern Irish entrepreneurs to succeed globally before becoming a renowned figure in a rapidly growing industry.
Vladi Mihaylova, GylcanAge
Career journey so far:
Vladi Mihaylova is the Chief Marketing Officer at GlycanAge, a British-Croatian startup. Her professional journey commenced as a seasoned consultant for global multi-billion-dollar companies. Her expertise is not confined to traditional sectors but extends into the intricate realms of digital marketing and technology.
What makes her on the list?
GlycanAge revolutionises healthcare by focusing on immune system diagnostics and chronic inflammation risk through glycans. Her transition from advising global giants to steering the marketing ship at GlycanAge highlights her foresight and dedication to making a meaningful impact.
Her diverse background:
With a background in digital marketing and tech from the Imperial College Business School and the American University in Bulgaria, Vladi has an educational prowess that speaks volumes in the ever-evolving landscape of startups and technology.
Cassandra Harris, Litestream Ventures
Career journey so far:
Last but not least, serial entrepreneur and investor, Cassandra Harris accelerates small businesses leveraging media for global impact. Transitioning from a media role at WPP to entrepreneurship, she encountered a hurdle when Hurricane Irma disrupted her accelerator plans. However, the accelerator persevered by redirecting founders to Sir Richard Branson’s Verbier lodge, prompting her to pivot her focus towards sustainability.
What makes her on the List?
Harris earned her spot on the list for her contribution to the US Season 1 of Going Public and is now leading its expansion to the UK through her venture, Litestream Ventures, with a focus on showcasing impactful founders and investors. Going Public is touted as the world’s first click-to-invest TV series.
By leading the creation of Going Public UK, Harris aims to provide tangible opportunities for impact. This series incorporates click-to-invest and click-to-buy features, empowering audiences to invest in or support groundbreaking businesses addressing pressing global issues like climate change and sustainable food solutions, bridging the gap between awareness and action.
Her diverse background:
With a UK passport inherited from her British roots, and shaped by her upbringing in South Africa, Cassandra developed empathy for impoverished societies. Seamlessly transitioning from corporate to startup environments, she adeptly combines traditional corporate practices with innovative startup approaches.
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