Top 20 Startup Advisors in London Every Founder Should Know

Launching a startup in London is thrilling , but founders don’t do it alone. Behind most successful startups is a network of seasoned advisors who guide strategy, help with fundraising, and open doors in the ecosystem. These advisors are often entrepreneurs, investors, or connectors who understand what it takes to scale. Below are 20 of the most respected startup advisors in London who every founder should be aware of. Their insight and experience can make a huge difference to your journey.

1. Sherry Coutu, CBE

A serial entrepreneur, angel investor, and a founding figure of the ScaleUp Institute, Sherry is deeply plugged into London’s tech ecosystem. She advises high-growth startups on strategy and scaling, and her network runs deep.

2. Eileen Burbidge, MBE

As a founding partner at Passion Capital, Eileen has backed many early-stage UK startups. She’s also a mentor and advisor, especially to fintech and consumer tech founders, offering sharp strategic and investor insight.

3. Judith Clegg

Judith is the founder of strategy consultancy Takeout and of The Glasshouse, a support network for tech founders. She offers advice on business strategy, ecosystem-building, policy, and scaling with purpose.

4. Michael G. Jacobides

A professor at London Business School, Michael advises startups and corporates on ecosystems, platform strategy, and business innovation. His academic insight is matched by real-world advisory experience.

5. Russ Shaw, CBE

Founder of Tech London Advocates, Russ is one of the city’s biggest connector-advisors. He helps founders navigate the London tech scene, build networks, and access growth opportunities.

6. Wendy Tan-White, MBE

Wendy is a serial entrepreneur and investor. Her background includes founding Moonfruit, working at Alphabet’s X, and investing via growth capital funds. She advises startups on product, fundraising, and innovation.

7. Michael Geer

Listed on London startup advisor directories, Michael provides operational expertise to early-stage companies. He’s known for helping founders refine their growth model and business operations.

8. Saalim Chowdhury

Former consultant (BCG), Saalim advises London startups in strategy, media, telecom, and growth. He brings rigorous business thinking combined with real-world scaling experience.

9. Gerben Visser

An investor-advisor deeply embedded in the SaaS and B2B space, Gerben helps early-stage companies sharpen their GTM, product, and fundraising approach.

10. Paul Humphreys

A mentor at Techstars London, Paul offers hands-on advice around growth, fundraising, and scaling. He’s particularly valuable to founders looking to build repeatable and scalable operations.

11. Navid Ostadian-Binai

Navid is a strategic growth and business development advisor focused on helping startups expand internationally. He blends corporate insight with startup agility.

12. Andrew Hughes

With experience in building and exiting startups, Andrew mentors around product-market fit, scaling strategy, and long-term business planning.

13. Nicholas Heller

A strategist and investor, Nicholas advises startups on media, telecoms, and tech markets. He brings strong corporate and board-level experience.

14. Colin Hayhurst

Colin is a technologist and advisor, formerly CTO in scale-ups, now mentoring startups on engineering leadership, product development, and architecture.

15. Aaron Johnston

As a mentor at the Founder Institute London, Aaron supports founders in early-stage product development, strategy, and customer traction.

16. Aline Hemmo

A strong figure in London’s startup ecosystem, Aline advises on talent strategy, growth, and company building. She mentors at Founder Institute London.

17. Ben Alderton

Working across operations and finance, Ben helps early-stage startups build solid operational foundations. He’s also active in FI’s London mentorship program.

18. Aron Lajko

Founder, author, and FI mentor, Aron brings both product sense and go-to-market experience to the table. He’s an excellent advisor for founders building scalable tech.

19 . Emma Obanye

Emma Joy Obanye is a British businesswoman and serial entrepreneur. She is founder and CEO of OneTech, a support program for entrepreneurs from underserved backgrounds, and co-founder of BuddyBounce .

20. Gerard Grech

Former CEO of Tech Nation and a serial founder, Gerard is now part of Tech Nation’s advisory board. His deep understanding of scaling digital companies, talent, and policy makes him an important advisor for London-based founders.

21. Peter Read

A former partner at Google Ventures (GV) and now at Vitruvian, Peter is a London-based advisor with deep experience in scaling tech startups. He mentors at many early-stage tech companies.

22. Brent Hoberman, CBE

Co-founder of Founders Factory and Firstminute Capital, Brent is one of the most influential serial entrepreneurs in London. He regularly advises founders on growth, business strategy, and building scalable companies.

23. Paul Heydon

Listed on the London Startups advisor directory, Paul is an investor and mentor. He brings financial experience and early-stage startup know-how as a founder of London Venture Partners.

24 . Elina Sokolovska

A fintech-focused mentor from the Barclays Rise London program, Elina offers specialized advice in digital banking, financial regulation, and product scaling for fintech startups.

25. Edward Falzon

Also from the Barclays Rise mentor directory, Edward has decades of financial services experience. He advises fintech and digital finance startups in London on business strategy and regulatory matters.

Building a startup is a marathon, not a sprint , and having trusted advisors can dramatically tilt the odds in your favour. The 20 people listed above are more than just mentors: they’re connectors, strategists, fundraisers, and ecosystem builders.

Whether you’re validating your idea, raising your first round, or scaling abroad, engaging with even a few of these advisors could bring the right guidance, perspective, and momentum to your journey in London’s vibrant startup ecosystem.