Introduction 2019

Celebrating emerging technologies

Welcome to the Top 100 Asian Stars in UK Tech 2019 list which showcases a hundred of the most inspirational Asian men and women working in Britain’s tech sector. As 2019 marks the fifth birthday of this list, we have celebrated by honouring 30 of the most inspirational Asian stars, who have appeared on our list for 3+ years, as ‘Pioneers’.

I am delighted that 41% of the people featured are new to the Top 100 Asian Stars in UK Tech 2019 and at 32%, Asian women continue to be well represented across the tech sector. This year, we extended the geographic heritage reach to include Western Asia, extending our reach from “Cairo to Tokyo excluding the Caucasus”. But we are making only slow progress to achieving a broader regional representation from across the UK – there is still much to do.

This year, it is Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) that have dominated the list as has HealthTech which is a new category in this year’s list. But Britain loves its tech entrepreneurs; 33% of the list is made up of startup founders or co-founders and 32% are in the business category with more established enterprises; 15% are investors (including angel investors, incubators, private equity and venture capitalists); HealthTech accounted for 15% of nominees with the remaining 5% made up of creatives and technologists.

The purpose of this list is to showcase the diversity and vibrancy of the tech sector and Asians who work within it. A job that could only be undertaken with the help of this year’s stellar judges: Mo Aldalou, Entrepreneur Engagement Manager at Tech Nation; Simon Calver, Partner, BGF Ventures; Paola Cuneo, Head of Advisors & Investors, London Stock Exchange Group plc Elite; Harry Rhys Davies, AI/ML Programme Lead, Tech Nation; Patrick Imbach, CFO, Call Sign Ltd; Dilip Joshi MBE, Chair, Diversity UK [Chair of the Judging Panel]; Sarah Luxford, Director of Executive Search & Talent Development, Nexec Leaders; Gurpreet Manku, Deputy Director General and Director of Policy, BVCA; Andy Miah, Chair of SciComm, University of Salford; Naomi Timperley, Co-Founder, Tech North Advocates; Elizabeth Varley, Founder & CEO, TechHub; Charlotte Walker-Osborn, Head of the UK TMT Sector, Eversheds Sutherland LLP and Guy Weaver, Director, Praetura Ventures.

My thanks to KPMG for their sponsorship over the past 5 years; for sharing their knowledge of developments on the UK tech scene and suggesting many more nominees from all regions of the UK. A special thank you to Bina Mehta for her guidance and support.

Lopa Patel MBE
Founder & CEO – Diversity UK [List Curator]