As the UK’s tech startup scene continues to flourish, a new generation of visionary founders is making its mark, driving innovation across industries and reshaping the future of technology, finance, healthcare, and beyond. These entrepreneurs are not just building successful companies; they are rewriting the rules of business and disrupting established models.
This article spotlights ten of the top tech startup founders in the UK for 2025, exploring their achievements and their impact on the thriving UK tech sector. If you’re not following these individuals already, you should be!
Top UK Tech Startup Founders: The Ones to Watch
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Rishi Khosla Rishi Khosla is an experienced entrepreneur and investor with a deep commitment to innovation. He is the co-founder and CEO of OakNorth, a leading fintech company valued at over £1 billion. Khosla has revolutionized lending for scale-up businesses through advanced data analytics, providing fast and flexible financing solutions for SMEs. Before OakNorth, he built and sold Copal Amba to Moody’s Corporation, generating significant returns for seed investors. Beyond business, Khosla is dedicated to nurturing entrepreneurial talent through initiatives like the ‘Mentorpreneurship’ Program and his philanthropic efforts via The Rishi and Milan Khosla Foundation. His investment portfolio spans fintech, biotech, and deep tech, reflecting his passion for driving progress across industries.
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Victor Riparbelli As co-founder and CEO of Synthesia, the world’s leading AI video creation platform, Victor Riparbelli is at the forefront of AI-powered video production. Synthesia enables businesses to create and scale professional-quality videos in over 50 languages. Supported by top investors such as Kleiner Perkins, Google Ventures, and Mark Cuban, Synthesia has raised £51 million and is trusted by global brands like Reuters, Nike, BBC, and Amazon. Riparbelli’s background in computer science and passion for emerging technology have driven innovation in AI, machine learning, and immersive media. Before founding Synthesia in 2017, he co-led Immersive Futures, contributing to the UK’s VR/AR industry and collaborating with the UK government to establish London’s first high-quality volumetric capture studio, Dimension. He also co-founded Coincall, a privacy-focused crypto portfolio tracker, which he later sold in 2019. With expertise in AI, blockchain, and immersive tech, Riparbelli is dedicated to making content creation more accessible, scalable, and intelligent.
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Tessa Clarke Mission-driven entrepreneur Tessa Clarke is the co-founder and CEO of Olio, a leading food-sharing app that addresses food and household waste through community sharing. Olio has grown to over 8 million users, redistributing 200 million portions of food and 14 million household items. The app also partners with major businesses to reduce waste at scale. With years of corporate leadership experience and a strong commitment to sustainability, Clarke has become a prominent voice in the circular economy. She serves as a Better Business Act Ambassador, a TED speaker, a columnist for Sifted, and an advocate for sustainable business practices. Recognized as the Veuve Clicquot Bold Woman of the Year, Clarke continues to drive policy change and invests in impact-driven ventures as a Venture Partner at Mustard Seed Maze. From advising the UK government on SME growth to mentoring startups and championing waste reduction, Clarke is reshaping how businesses and individuals think about consumption and sustainability.
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Will Donnelly Will Donnelly is a passionate entrepreneur focused on the eldercare industry. As co-founder and CEO of Lottie, he has developed a trusted platform that helps families easily navigate, find, and finance later-life care. Founded in 2021, Lottie has since expanded to include Found by Lottie, a cloud-based software for care providers, and Seniorcare by Lottie, which supports employers in delivering top-tier eldercare benefits. Before launching Lottie, Donnelly worked as a Chartered Surveyor, advising on corporate and real estate transactions in the health and social care sectors. His entrepreneurial journey began with Fever Events, a student events business he co-founded and later sold after hosting over 300 events. Through Lottie – crowned winner of the prestigious Startups 100 Index for 2025 – Donnelly continues to drive innovation in the UK tech sector, making quality eldercare more accessible, efficient, and transparent.
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Christopher Doman Christopher Doman, co-founder and CTO of Cado Security, a leading platform for cloud-native digital forensics and incident response, is a seasoned cybersecurity professional making a significant impact in the tech startup space. With a strong background in threat intelligence, security research, and forensic analysis, he holds a Computer Science degree from the University of Cambridge and is a Certified Host Intrusion Analyst (CCHIA). Doman is at the forefront of developing advanced cybersecurity solutions. Before Cado Security, founded in 2020, he held key roles at AlienVault, Vectra AI, and PwC, specializing in incident response, threat detection, and security analytics. He also co-founded Ignite Research, building and running an advanced hotel search engine. His expertise in digital forensics began early, winning the Department of Defense’s forensics competition, and he contributes to the industry through his popular threat intelligence portal, ThreatCrowd.org. Cado Security is committed to helping organizations quickly investigate and respond to cyber threats in cloud environments, strengthening their security and shaping the future of digital forensics and cybersecurity.
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Katerina Spranger Katerina Spranger is making waves in the UK’s healthcare industry with her breakthroughs in AI-powered medical technology, particularly in neurovascular surgery. As founder and CEO of Oxford Heartbeat, she leads the development of PreSize Neurovascular, an innovative software platform designed to enhance the safety and accuracy of brain implant surgeries by helping clinicians plan procedures with greater precision. Spranger, a Royal Academy of Engineering Enterprise Fellow, holds a PhD in Engineering Science from the University of Oxford. Her impact on healthcare innovation has been recognized with the Princess Royal Silver Medal, and she was named one of Forbes’ “Founders Striving to Change the World.” Through Oxford Heartbeat, Spranger is advancing AI-driven surgical planning, making complex cardiovascular procedures safer, faster, and more precise.
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Alex Kendall Alex Kendall is an AI entrepreneur and enthusiast transforming the world of autonomous driving. As co-founder and CEO of Wayve, he is revolutionizing transportation with AV2.0, a next-generation AI-driven autonomous driving system that learns and adapts to new environments through data-driven learning. Since founding Wayve in 2017, Kendall has raised significant funding from investors like SoftBank, Nvidia, and Microsoft and built a world-class team across London, Silicon Valley, and Vancouver. A former Research Fellow at the University of Cambridge, Kendall holds a PhD in deep learning, computer vision, and robotics. His expertise in AI-powered autonomy extends beyond vehicles – having contributed to Skydio’s autonomous drones and advised Scape Technologies, later acquired by Facebook. With his passion for AI, Kendall is pushing the limits of machine learning and self-driving technology.
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Ramy Shelbaya Ramy Shelbaya, the co-founder and CEO of Quantum Dice, is a quantum physicist and entrepreneur redefining information security. As businesses face increasing cybersecurity challenges, especially with the rise of AI, Quantum Dice is revolutionizing data protection with quantum randomness for encryption, delivering unmatched security. Since its launch in 2020, the startup has gained recognition for its breakthrough technology, securing major funding, including a £2.09 million grant from Innovate UK. Shelbaya is also a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Oxford’s Department of Physics, specializing in quantum mechanics, computational physics, and high-intensity laser modeling. Recognized on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list, Shelbaya is bridging advanced research and real-world cybersecurity solutions while making significant strides in securing communications through data encryption.
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Shelley Copsey Shelley Copsey is a seasoned entrepreneur and technology leader driving innovation at the intersection of AI, infrastructure, and digital transformation. As co-founder and CEO of FYLD, an AI-powered platform for real-time, data-driven decision-making in field operations, she has rapidly scaled the startup, securing £26.3 million in funding and ranking 14th in the Startups 100 Index for 2025. With over 20 years of experience in emerging tech and physical infrastructure, Copsey has built and scaled multiple successful SaaS startups, including GeoSLAM (acquired by Faro) and Coviu, a leading telehealth platform. She also played a key role in spinning out high-growth companies from CSIRO, including Emesent and PaidRight. A Chartered Accountant with executive education from MIT and Stanford, Copsey has held leadership roles at CSIRO’s Data61, PwC, and KPMG, driving funding, commercialization, and strategic growth. Passionate about AI-inspired digital transformation, Copsey is empowering industries to work smarter, safer, and more efficiently.
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Christian Lanng Christian Lanng is a serial entrepreneur and technology strategist committed to bringing AI-powered work automation to life. As co-founder of Beyond Work, he spearheads the development of the world’s first human-AI work platform, enabling businesses to streamline operations, enhance employee engagement, and boost productivity. Backed by significant funding from investors like Moonfire Ventures and the MIT-affiliated E14 Fund, Beyond Work is already being trialed by Fortune 500 enterprises. With SOC 2 compliance, the startup prioritizes data protection alongside innovation. Previously, Lanng spent over a decade at Tradeshift, co-founding and leading the company as CEO and Chairman, transforming global B2B commerce and supply chains. His expertise spans AI, automation, and digital transformation, and he has advised organizations at the World Economic Forum on the future of software and society. With a background in sociology, technology, and network economics, Lanng explores how emerging technologies shape the future of work.
Startups are leading the way in UK innovation, transforming industries and making what was once considered impossible, possible. The founders on this list are notable not merely for their entrepreneurial spirit and groundbreaking tech startups, but for creating solutions that change how we live, work, and interact.
As technology advances, so do the challenges. Cyber threats and security risks are increasing, making data security and compliance with industry standards as crucial as rapid scaling. Successful founders realize that true achievement involves more than quick expansion – it means building something exceptional that endures. Balancing innovation with security is essential for staying ahead of the curve.
