Introduction 2024

Celebrating a decade of success!

Welcome to the tenth edition of Top 100 Asian Stars in UK Tech list. As we mark 10 years of showcasing one hundred of the most inspirational Asian men and women working in Britain’s tech sector, we will celebrate the occasion by highlighting five key milestones which can be explored in the Asians in Tech Impact Report 2024. 

 

Successes of Asians in Tech & Top 100 Asian Stars in UK Tech list

  • The sector has not only grown, making the UK the third largest tech ecosystem in the world and first in Europe, but innovators have focused on the most pressing global challenges; from climate change and health tech to harnessing the power of Generative AI. The theme this year is innovation, particularly ‘scaling for impact’ (financial, environmental, human & social capital).
  • The findings of the research commissioned from an  independent Cambridge Venture Project (CVP) team showed the Asians in Tech initiative inspires, empowers, connects founders; helping them get funding and support.
  • The CVP team also focussed their research on the healthtech and life sciences sector, finding that nominees in the sector demonstrated two important positive economic indicators. Firstly, the number of years before a healthtech start-up receives their first funding has been reducing, and secondly, healthtech start-ups have been hiring employees in addition to the original founders.
  • Women have also held their own in this list in recent years, accounting for 48% of shortlisted nominees in 2024. The representation of women has  risen from 21% in 2015 up to a peak of 52% in 2021 and is at 48% in 2024, despite the fact that nearly 60% (2023) and 23% (2024) were new nominees.
  • Once again, we are pleased to be recognising twenty-seven of the most inspirational Asian stars with the Asian Tech Pioneers Awards. These are individuals at the peak of their tech journey; from being serial venture builders or deep-tech investors to pioneering social entrepreneurs and innovators. 

Britain loves its tech entrepreneurs


Britain loves its tech entrepreneurs; 24% of the list is made up of Startup founders or co-founders; and 29% are in the Business category, incorporating AI, Creative Industries & FinTech and more established corporate enterprises; 16% are Investors, including angel investors, incubators, private equity and venture capitalists. The Healthtech & Life Sciences sector accounts for  a healthy 17% and ImpactTech and Greentech sectors a burgeoning and blooming14% of nominees.

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’ve developed this year’s demo-day and elevator pitches to further extend our mission to be a springboard for Asian founders in the UK tech sector.

Judges for the Top 100 Asian Stars in UK Tech 2024

The task of selecting the Asian Tech Pioneers 2024, Top 5 out five categories and Top 100 Asian Stars in UK Tech 2024 nominees could only be undertaken with the help of this year’s super line-up of judges. My thanks also to the sponsors of this year’s list – Barclays Eagle Labs, Bell Container Ltd, Eversheds Sutherland, Futurum Financial Advice, private donors, supporters, trustees and friends – who met our clarion call for funding with alacrity. Thank you, we could not have achieved it without you. 

Lopa Patel MBE
Chair, Diversity UK [List Curator] – Chair of the Judging Panel