An entrepreneur in residence at Cambridge University, Alex was an early tech pioneer, finding success in IT security.
Alex Van Someren
Amadeus Capital Partners Ltd
Julia Groves
Sustainability MD, British Business Bank
Since co-founding britishairways.com in 1994, Julia has led a series of start ups in the digital and environmental sectors, including Engensa, a leading UK domestic solar installer, and Quiet Revolution, a wind turbine business which designed and built turbines for the Olympic Park.
Following a year at eVentures where she acted as Interim MD for the SoftBank/News Corp B2C portfolio, her interest in early stage disruptive companies also led her to invest a combination of her time and money in a portfolio of sustainable businesses, including Loco2, and most recently Trillion Fund, the UK’s leading social crowdfunding platform where she was Director between 2012 and 2016.
Julia co-founded the UK Crowdfunding Association in 2012, and has successfully campaigned to make finance more democratic and accessible to regular investors, under the banner #wealthisnotaskillset. She is a member of Innovate 50 in the UK, CF 50 in the States, recently completed a two year Non Executive Director role at Move Your Money and is a fellow of the RSA. Julia was a former Partner and ESG Lead at Downing LLP.
As the Sustainability Managing Director at British Business Bank, Julia leads the development of the Bank’s net zero transition programme, their ESG integration and approach to responsible investment.
Julia has mentored
Common Cause
For Common Cause is a giving and volunteering site where everyone can donate skills, equipment and money to help underserved entrepreneurs build small businesses, livelihoods and financial independence.
- Common Cause
- Entocycle
- Playlab
- Seable
- Gower Power
- Spacehive
- Reall
- Bristol & Bath Regional Capital CIC
- Melio Education
Julia was a great match. She understood the needs of the organisation well and was able to give valuable advice about the areas we need help with.”
Aroon Dougan, Founder of Common Cause
Julia has mentored
Entocycle
We turn waste food into organic insect based animal feed for the agriculture and aquaculture industries.
- Common Cause
- Entocycle
- Playlab
- Seable
- Gower Power
- Spacehive
- Reall
- Bristol & Bath Regional Capital CIC
- Melio Education
So valuable that I would say it is invaluable! The friendly, helpful and most important ‘open’ session is invaluable. It lets you ask the silly and stupid questions without feeling silly or stupid.
So valuable that I would say it is invaluable! The friendly, helpful and most important ‘open’ session is invaluable. It lets you ask the silly and stupid questions without feeling silly or stupid.
Keiran Whitaker, Founder of Entocycle
Julia has mentored
Playlab
Playlab London makes and measures social impact. We are a design and research agency which solves big problems with playful design.
- Common Cause
- Entocycle
- Playlab
- Seable
- Gower Power
- Spacehive
- Reall
- Bristol & Bath Regional Capital CIC
- Melio Education
Great session. Julia is extremely knowledgeable and clearly a talented business person. She is also an absolute delight!”
Simon Fox, Founder of Playlab
Julia has mentored
Seable
Seable organises accessible tailored holidays for blind, partially sighted, their friends, families and charities.
- Common Cause
- Entocycle
- Playlab
- Seable
- Gower Power
- Spacehive
- Reall
- Bristol & Bath Regional Capital CIC
- Melio Education
Julia is a powerhouse. She quickly understands the challenge and provided a great deal of knowledge.
Damian La Rocca, CEO, Seable
Julia has mentored
Gower Power
- Common Cause
- Entocycle
- Playlab
- Seable
- Gower Power
- Spacehive
- Reall
- Bristol & Bath Regional Capital CIC
- Melio Education
Julia was immediately able to provide perspective and insight. It was great to talk to her about strategy and we quickly honed in on those crucial decisions we are making now. A fresh pair of eyes was very helpful indeed!
James Orme, CEO, Gower Power
Julia has mentored
Spacehive
- Common Cause
- Entocycle
- Playlab
- Seable
- Gower Power
- Spacehive
- Reall
- Bristol & Bath Regional Capital CIC
- Melio Education
Julia provided me with valuable advice across growth strategy, team, and fundraising. She has a deep well of entrepreneurial expertise and tremendous energy and sense of fun.
Chris Gourlay, CEO, Spacehive
Julia has mentored
Reall
We are an innovator and investor in climate-smart affordable homes.
- Common Cause
- Entocycle
- Playlab
- Seable
- Gower Power
- Spacehive
- Reall
- Bristol & Bath Regional Capital CIC
- Melio Education
Julia was a fantastic resource. Swiftly gripped the proposition of my social business and dug into the key challenges. Julia helped crystallise a key challenge and reframe the language from an investors perspective. Excellent!
Ian Shapiro, CEO, Reall
Julia has mentored
Bristol & Bath Regional Capital CIC
BBRC creates positive change in the Bristol and Bath region by raising and deploying impact investment and also the development and creation of homes.
- Common Cause
- Entocycle
- Playlab
- Seable
- Gower Power
- Spacehive
- Reall
- Bristol & Bath Regional Capital CIC
- Melio Education
It was really good to chat with Julia. She was encouraging, friendly and approachable, and asked insightful questions about me and the business. Drawing on her extensive experience, Julia left me with a few key ideas which will be really helpful in moving our organisation to the next stage.
Edward Rowberry, Chief Executive, Bristol & Bath Regional Capital
Julia has mentored
Melio Education
We help international students discover university style learning online and make informed and competitive applications to UK universities.
- Common Cause
- Entocycle
- Playlab
- Seable
- Gower Power
- Spacehive
- Reall
- Bristol & Bath Regional Capital CIC
- Melio Education
Julia was very knowledgeable and insightful, she took time to understand the situation really well and highlighted some particularly useful areas for us to consider as the company enters its next phase of growth.
Robert Phipps, CEO, Melio Education
Want to meet Julia?
A recruitment specialist, Alexandra’s business acumen proved sound when, following rejection on Dragon’s Den, Americans snapped up her company.
Alexandra Kelly
Hire Right
Having succeeded providing luxury lifestyle services to the world’s wealthy, Ben’s experience also covers cultural and environmental sectors.
Ben Elliot
Quintessentially
The Chief Executive of investor network Pi Capital was an early entrepreneur who foresaw the popularity of gyms, setting up his own aged 17.
David Giampaolo
Pi Capital
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