Startup Britain: entrepreneurs behind it

Startup Britain launched today but who are the entrepreneurs behind it?

Although the launch of Startup Britain received backing from Prime Minister David Cameron, Chancellor George Osborne and Enterprise Minister Mark Prisk, Startup Britain isn’t actually a government programme.

The whole idea behind Startup Britain is for it to be “for entrepreneurs, by entrepreneurs”.

So who are the entrepreneurs behind Startup Britain?

1. Oli Barrett:?Oli Barrett is known for bringing speed networking to Britain, and has led five trade missions of British entrepreneurs to Silicon Valley. He was one of the founders of Make Your Mark with a Tenner (now Tenner Tycoon), and runs the Co-Sponsorship Agency, which brings brands and causes together to create social action projects.
2. Duncan Cheatle:?Duncan Cheatle is the founder of The Supper Club, which brings together 200 £1m+ turnover entrepreneurs for networking events each month. He is also the founder of The Prelude Group and ThanksTo, and has been a judge for both the National Business Awards and the Fast Growth Business Awards.
3. Rajeeb Dey:?Raj Dey is the founder of Enternships.com, a portal that connects students and graduates to work placements in startups and entrepreneurial businesses. He was the longest-serving president of Oxford Entrepreneurs, founded the English Secondary Students’ Association at 17, and is currently a trustee of UnLtd, an advisory board member of Channel 4 (education) and sits on the UK-India Business Council.
4. Michael Hayman:“Michael Hayman is co-founder of Seven Hills, the public relations firm. He is chairman of entrepreneurs at Coutts, and chairs MADE: The Entrepreneurs’ Festival. He is also a columnist for?Real BusinessAnd an ambassador for Courvoisier The Future 500.
5. Emma Jones:?Emma Jones is the founder of Enterprise Nation, the small business support community, and is a well-known business author, having written?Spare ROom Startup, Working 5 to 9, Go Global?and“The Start Up Kit.
6. Lara Morgan:?Lara Morgan is the founder of Pacific Direct, which sells hotel toiletries to 110 countries with offices in nine. She sold the majority of her company in 2008, and has been spreading her entrepreneurial knowledge to Britain ever since, through her enterprise support company Company Shortcuts. She also mentors social enterprises such as Pants to Poverty, READ and Worn Again.
7. Richard O’Connor:?Richard O’Connor is the co-founder of SEO company Ambergreen and analytics company Lynchpin. He is currently launching a new business, Company Shortcuts, with Lara Morgan. He used to run a networking organisation for entrepreneurs in the UK, Scandinavia and the Baltics.
8. Jamie Murray Wells:?Jamie Murray Wells is the founder of Glasses Direct, and is a volunteer for the Prince’s Trust. He is also the Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Atomico Ventures, and was recognised with the Queen’s Award for Enterprise Promotion in 2009.

Are these entrepreneurs representative of Britain’s startup community” Are they the right pack of entrepreneurs to lead Britain’s private-sector recovery” Leave your comments below.