Work
The full record: every company I have founded and role I have held, from 1995 to now.
- 20262025 →2025 →ArclaProduct & technology
AI-assisted heads-up display for video calls.
- 20262025 →2025 →AssemblyAdvisor
Helping families get the help their neurodivergent child needs.
- 2022Oct 2022 – Oct 20232022–23TranslucentPrincipal Software Engineer
An early-stage fintech and data startup: a finance platform for the CFOs of multi-entity businesses.
Built the first prototype, hired the early engineering team and helped raise $9m of seed investment.
- 2021Apr 2021 – Oct 20222021–22On DeckDirector of Product, Platform
A San Francisco cohort-based learning platform for people with ambition, somewhere between an accelerator and an MBA.
Joined at seed stage with a team of 30; the company grew to 350 people and a Series B during my time there.
- 2020c. Apr 2020 – Apr 2021c. 2020–21Oak National AcademyHead of Engineering
Wrote the first code and led the technical development of Oak's free online lessons: v1 shipped in the first lockdown, and by the second wave it was supporting 4.5 million children a week learning from home.
Over 120 million lessons served in the pandemic year; Oak has since become an arm's-length government body.
- 2020Jan 2020 →2020 →IndependentFractional CTO and lead engineer
Startups applying AI, as their fractional CTO or lead engineer: an AI and VR healthtech spinout from Cleveland Clinic, and Aila, Oak National Academy's AI lesson assistant.
- 2018Oct 2018 – Jun 20202018–20ING LabsVenture Builder and Tech Lead
ING's London innovation lab, building new ventures where finance, tech and sustainability meet.
Co-led Overlay, a sustainability data layer for banks, from idea to MVP and first pilots; designed its brand and website too.
- 2017Oct 2017 – Sep 20182017–18Rainmaking Venture StudioVenture Builder
New digital ventures in e-commerce logistics and supply chain, built with DHL Supply Chain's backing.
- 2016Mar 2016 – Nov 20182016–18MakelightFounder and CPTO
An online learning community for makers and creative small-business owners, led by Emily Quinton: video courses, analytics tools and a subscription community.
Bootstrapped; grew past 100,000 users.
- 2015Apr 2015 – Mar 20162015–16Rainmaking Venture StudioEntrepreneur in Residence
A venture studio to kickstart Jaguar Land Rover's InMotion newco: three teams on three areas of opportunity, each validated by building digital prototypes.
- 2013Jan 2013 – Jan 20152013–15MakeshiftFounder and CTO
An early London venture studio: fifty prototypes, twelve ideas, three taken further.
Product Hunt started as a group on Linkydink, Makeshift's link-sharing tool, in November 2013.
- 2012Apr 2012 – Mar 20132012–13Sidekick StudiosConsultant technologist
A mobile skate and BMX video app funded by Red Bull, a rapid-prototyping project with Comic Relief, and Buddy, for the NHS.
- 2009Apr 2009 – Apr 20122009–12AframeTechnical Founder
A cloud video platform for people making TV programmes and films, so a production team could work together on large amounts of footage.
Grew from two people and a prototype to a team of 36, raising $10m through pre-seed, seed and Series A; co-developed the patent behind the company's technology.
- 2001May 2001 – Mar 20092001–093formCo-founder, Creative Director, later CEO
A design and web agency set up with Antonio Gould whilst at uni.
A Webby-award-winning agency with a team of about ten at its peak, for Vivienne Westwood, the V&A, BMAG, Sprite, Mars and KitKat.
- 1999Jun 1999 – May 20011999–2001WebXpressCreative Director
A web agency; I was responsible for all of the company's visual output.
- 19961996 – 19991996–99BSc Computer Science and Software Engineering
University of Birmingham.
- 1995Jul 1995 – Jun 19991995–99FreelanceDesigner and developer
Sold my first web project before university and freelanced through a Computer Science degree: animations, video graphics, websites, micro games.