Young, gifted and tech: 25 under 25

Digital business coalition Tech London Advocates has unveiled its inaugural ‘25 under 25’ list of the capital’s young tech leaders, identifying the rising talent that is vital to the future success of the UK digital sector. Purpose-driven ventures feature strongly.

Tech London Advocates, the influential UK digital business coalition, this week unveiled its inaugural ‘25 under 25’ list, identifying what it sees as the best and brightest young talent in UK tech.

TLA says the initiative “highlights the next generation of British talent – the young leaders that are set to dominate the transforming digital economy of tomorrow”.

The 25 – pictured above and listed below – reflects the breadth of tech expertise in the UK. It includes startup founders, innovative app creators, as well as heads of impact-driven non-profits and coding schools.

TLA compiled the list after asking its 6,000-strong community for insights and nominations.

Impact-focussed innovators on the list of 25 include:

  • 23 Code Street founder Anisah Osman Britton, offering a coding school for women
  • Colorintech co-founder Ashleigh Ainsley, 25, campaigning for tech diversity
  • I’m Okay app creator Katie Griffiths, 18, offering advice and support to LGBTQ teenagers

In a related move this week, TLA launched a new pledge campaign to treble tech employment in London to a million by 2023, looking to more graduates, more tech talent visas and a more diverse workforce to help reach that target.

 TLA founder Russ Shaw said: “Young, talented tech founders and entrepreneurs are the chief executives of the tech giants that will dominate our tomorrow. It is only right we champion young leaders early and support them on their journey, backing their ingenuity and ensuring they develop to their full potential.

“In light of the talent shortage we face in the UK, nurturing our brightest minds must be a priority and a necessity. They are the trailblazers that will define Britain’s success in the age of digital.”

London chief digital officer Theo Blackwell said the list was “an essential first step in highlighting the strength in numbers we have, and I am confident that this initiative will help bring even more young people into tech to meet the high talent demands of our thriving sector.”

Ainsley said: “I am thrilled to have been selected for this inaugural list, and be part of a fantastic group of young tech entrepreneurs and leaders. With the tech industry now contributing nearly £200bn to the UK economy, it is an increasingly an important sector for our society, so it is fantastic to see greater focus and attention to the work future generations are doing in shaping the UK tech community.

“The accolade from TLA is a great signal that there is support for the Colorintech mission to make the UK the most inclusive tech hub in the UK, and I look forward to growing our involvement in the UK tech community.”

25 under 25 – London’s young tech superstars

Aleksandra Pedraszewska, 24
Co-founder, VividQ
Holographic 3D display

Anisah Osman Britton
Founder and chief executive, 23 Code Street
Women’s coding school

Arya Taware, 25
Founder and chief executive, FutureBricks
P2p fintech startup for small business

Ashleigh Ainsley, 25
Co-founder, Colorintech
Tech diversity campaign group

David Bradbury, 23
Lead advocacy consultant, Duel Tech
Brand ambassador platform

David Wilkinson, 24
Executive chairman, Soho Strategy
Data and engineering consultancy

Doniya Soni, 25
Principal policy officer, digital and STEM skills, Greater London Authority

Emelia Galkowska, 25
EEE and topside integration, BAE Systems’ maritime unit

Faissal Bensefia, 18
Full stack engineer, Made Tech
Software consultancy and training business

Femi Owolade-Coombes, 12
Creator, Hackerfemo
Coding workshops

Francesco Bellanca, 24
Co-founder and chief executive, Feral Horses
Art marketplace

Franz-Josepf Schrepf
Co-founder, Inspiral
Instant knowledge micro-video platform

Harry Williams, 21
Director of operations, Subset Solutions
Small business IT consultancy

Ivan Beckley, 23
Medical student who got Deepmind to sponsor his data science masters

James Liam Cook, 24
|Special technology correspondent, The Telegraph

James McAulay, 25
Co-founder and chief executive, Encore
Booking platform for musicians

Jan Baerisywl, 24
Co-founder of BedrockX
Blockchain startup

Jessica Russell, 24
Programme manager, transport and smart cities, techUK

Joshua Uwadiae
Co-founder and CEO, wegym
Personal trainer platform

Katie Griffiths, 18
Co-creator, I’m Okay
Sexuality and gender story platform

Nicholas Shekerdemian, 23
Co-founder, Headstart
Graduate recruitment app

Ollie Forsyth, 20
Founder, The Budding Entrepreneur Club
Community and podcast for entrepreneurs

Patrick Colbeck, 25
Innovation programme manager, Sport Tech Hub

Ryan Maugin, 18
Software engineer apprentice, Google

Sara Margetson, 24
Growth and engagement lead, Unmind
B2B mental health platform.

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