Women storm the Top 100 Asian Stars in UK Tech 2021 list

Women have stormed the Top 100 Asian Stars in UK Tech 2021 list, for the first time ever, accounting for 52% of the index which is published annually by equality charity Diversity UK in its effort to celebrate diversity in the digital sector. Now in its seventh year, the Top 100 Asian Stars in UK Tech List focuses on disruptive technologies and showcases the wealth of talent that is currently growing the British tech scene.

Over the last seven years, women’s representation in the Top 100 Asian Stars in UK Tech list has increased from 21% in 2015 to 52% in 2021 even as the list has grown and become increasingly competitive, with each year attracting more nominations than the previous year.

In 2019, the charity created the additional Asian Tech Pioneers list, now judged by a panel of their peers, to highlight the role well-known individual pioneers play in the growing recognition of the UK as a world leading innovator. Women account for 18% of the Asian Tech Pioneers list, perhaps reflecting their historic under-representation in the tech sector.

Lopa Patel MBE, list curator and Chair of Diversity UK said: “It took me by surprise that women accounted for more than half the shortlisted nominees in this year’s Top 100 Asian Stars in UK Tech list as I was focussed on reaching as many more new nominees this year as we did last year. I am delighted that the list has marked its seventh anniversary with a stellar list of nominees, including another year with a record number of new nominees (60%) and that we have been able to honour twenty-one amazing Asian Tech Pioneers who have been selected by a judging panel of their own peers.

It is doubly pleasing that newer sectors like GreenTech and HealthTech at 14% each are now being represented well against categories like business (47.9%) and investors (28.2%). In addition to dominating the list, women are also well represented in all the Top 5 categories the list showcases and 3 women were highlighted in the investors and startups categories, which have historically been largely male-dominated. For five years, we had a ‘Women’s’ category, only dropping it last year in favour of the healthtech category. The emergence of leading women in the life sciences, healthtech and wellbeing category is pleasing and if Britain is to bounce back entrepreneurially from the impact of the pandemic, it is doubly thrilling to see women coming through the ranks in all other sectors too.”

The judging panel for the Top 100 Asian Stars in UK Tech list is evenly balanced between female and male judges and included new judges Naheed Afzal, Co-Founder & CEO or recruitment consultancy Contracts IT; Janet Coyle, Managing Director Business Growth at London & Partners and Debbie Forster MBE, CEO at Tech Talent Charter, alongside a panel of investors, technologists and tech ecosystem supporters. The judges also showcase the top five Asians in the UK involved in Business, GreenTech, HealthTech, Investors and Startups.

The official list of the Top 100 Asian Stars in UK Tech 2021 was published yesterday by Diversity UK and aims to highlight the ground-breaking business models, apps, funding and support networks being created by Asian digital entrepreneurs. Based on feedback received by the charity, Top 100 Asian Stars in UK Tech nominees make valuable connections that help fund and scale their businesses; join accelerator programmes and trade missions; are recognised by other publications and go on to win competitions, grants and awards.

Click here to read the full Top 100 Asian Stars in UK Tech 2021 list