Introduction 2021

Celebrating Women!

Welcome to the Top 100 Asian Stars in UK Tech 2021 list which showcases one hundred of the most inspirational Asian men and women working in Britain’s tech sector. For the first time ever, women have topped the list, accounting for 52% of shortlisted nominees. The representation of women has risen from 21% in 2015 up to 52% in 2021 across all categories. HealthTech and GreenTech have dominated the list again this year with many entrepreneurs focussing their attention on helping to launch platforms and applications for the physical and mental wellbeing of people. The GreenTech category showcases founders and technologists working at the forefront of energy, environmental and combating climate change solutions.

60% of nominees are new to the list

There is no shortage of talent: 60% of the people featured are new to the Top 100 Asian Stars in UK Tech 2021 and at 52%, Asian women were well represented in all the Top 5 categories of Business, GreenTech, HealthTech, Investors and Startups.

We made some progress on achieving a broader regional representation across the UK with 70% of shortlisted nominees based in London, down from 80% last year, although there is still much to do on “levelling up” tech entrepreneurship across the UK.

But Britain loves its tech entrepreneurs; 30% of the list is made up of Startup founders or co-founders and 22% are in the Business category with more established enterprises; 18% are Investors (including angel investors, incubators, private equity and venture capitalists); with the balance made up of Healthtech (14%) and GreenTech (14%) entrepreneurs with creatives and technologists making up the balance.

Asian Tech Pioneers – 21 for 2021

We are pleased to be inducting twenty-one of the most inspirational Asian stars, who have been profiled in previous editions of the list and have been selected by a judging panel of their peers, as ‘Asian Tech Pioneers’.

You can read more about Pioneers here: https://asiansintech.com/asian-tech-pioneers/

AI Inclusion Podcast

This year, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has continued to dominate the list – a fact I’ve tried to celebrate in the AI Inclusion Podcast, the first two episodes of which are now available on the website.

https://asiansintech.com/ai-inclusion-podcast-looks-at-new-technologies/

Investing in Women Founders

In March 2021, I was pleased to host an ‘Investing in Women Founders’ online panel debate, alongside Diversity UK Trustee Gurpreet Manku, with pioneers Joyeeta Das, Priya Guha; Deepali Nangia and Neeta Patel CBE. The panel convened for the SEEMA Summit 2021 explored entrepreneurship and the development of tech businesses by South Asian women; dealing with global challenges in new and innovative ways and funding for women-led ventures.

https://asiansintech.com/seema-iwd-summit-2021-investing-in-women-founders-panel-debate/

What’s the purpose of this list?

The purpose of this list is to showcase the diversity and vibrancy of the tech sector and Asians who work within it. Our nominees go on to found multiple businesses, provide invaluable services, raise capital, employ people and change lives. We are pleased that so many go on to win prizes and awards, are shortlisted in other lists, judge pitch events, build new partnerships and give back to the community by establishing social enterprises and charities.

Judges for the Top 100 Asian Stars in UK Tech 2021

The task of selecting the Top 100 Asian Stars in UK Tech 2021 and the Asian Tech Pioneers 2021 nominees was the toughest ever with a huge talent pool and a tight turnaround. It could only be undertaken with the help of this year’s stellar judges who pulled out all the stops in judging with skill and accuracy at great speed.

My sincerest thanks to: Naheed Afzal, Co-Founder & CEO, Contracts IT; Janet Coyle, Managing Director Business Growth, London & Partners; Harry Rhys Davies, Chief of Staff, Grey Parrot; Alpesh Doshi, Founder & CEO, Fintricity; Debbie Forster MBE, CEO, Tech Talent Charter; Faisal Galaria, CEO, Blippar; Priya Guha MBE, Venture Partner, Merian Ventures UK; Volker Hirsch, Partner, Amadeus Capital Partners; Hanadi Jabado, Managing Director, CMS Ventures; Gurpreet Manku, Deputy Director General & Director of Policy, BVCA; Neeta Patel CBE, CEO, Centre for Entrepreneurs; Ash (Ashish) Puri, Investor, Lightrock; Matt Smith, Director, Centre for Entrepreneurs; Nick Travis, Head of Entrepreneurs, Smith & Williamson and Guy Weaver, Director, Praetura Ventures. A special thank you to Amit Patel of Count Creation for all the graphic design work.

You can read more about the Judges here: https://asiansintech.com/judges-2021/

I hope you enjoy this ground-breaking list!

Lopa Patel MBE
Chair – Diversity UK [List curator]