Founders and chief executives of some of the UK’s most entrepreneurial businesses, from early stage start-ups to household names, have come out in support of the UK remaining within the EU.
In an open letter published in the Financial Times, the business leaders said:
We are the founders and CEOs of some of the UK’s most entrepreneurial businesses — from early stage start-ups to household names.
Every day, as we build our companies, we see the benefits of being able to do business within Europe’s single market of 500m consumers, with one set of regulations across 28 countries, and the ability to recruit the brightest people here and across Europe.
Once the latest round of British-backed EU reforms have been completed, the European market for services, as well as digital products, will create even greater business opportunities for our companies.
Of course the EU isn’t perfect; but rather than cutting ourselves off from the opportunities it offers, it is better to be on the inside helping shape the rules of this market instead of just being subject to them.
The economic shock of a vote to leave the EU would also be hugely damaging to our businesses. Leaving could lead to lost investment, missed opportunities and lost jobs.
The UK is currently the best place in Europe to launch and grow a business; leaving the EU will undoubtedly undermine the ability of Britain’s entrepreneurs to start-up, innovate, and grow. It is simply not worth the risk.
Adam Joyce
Founder and Chief Scientist,
Elliptic
Adarsh Radia
Co-Founder,
Kite Eyewear
Adrien Cohen
Co-Founder,
Tractable
Alastair Paterson
Founder and CEO,
Digital Shadows
Alastair Lukies CBE
Chairman,
Innovate Finance
Alejandro Vicente Grabovetsky
Co-Founder and CEO,
Avalon Ai
Alex Asseily
Founder,
Jawbone, State and Chiaro
Alex Chesterman
Founder and CEO,
Zoopla Property Group
Alex Depledge
Founder,
hassle.com;
and Chair,
Coadec
Alex Francis
Founder and CEO,
LoveHolidays.com
Alex Macpherson
Octopus Ventures
Alexandra Chong
Founder,
Lulu
Alexandre Dalyac
Co-Founder,
Tractable
Alice Bentinck
Co-Founder,
Entrepreneur First
Alistair Hill
Co-Founder and CEO,
On Device Research
Ambarish Mitra
Founder and CEO,
Blippar
Andrew McLoughlin
Founder,
Huddle;
and Partner,
SoftTech VC
Andrew Jervis
Founder and CEO,
ClickMechanic
Andrew P. White
Founder and CEO,
FundApps
Andy Atkins-Krueger
CEO,
Webcertain Group Ltd
Andy Phillipps
Co-Founder,
Active Hotels (now Booking.com);
and Co-Founder and Chairman,
Reevoo
Andy Williams
Co-Founder and Technical Director,
Adludio
Anya Hindmarch
Founder,
Anya Hindmarch
Arnaud Massenet
Founder and Director,
Net a Porter;
and CEO and Director,
de-pury Group
Arthur Kay
Founder and CEO,
Bio Bean
Ben Drury
Founder,
7Digital
Ben Pugh
Founder and CEO,
Farmdrop
Bindi Karia
Tech London Advocates Advisory Board
Brendan Gill
CEO,
OpenSignal
Brent Hoberman
Co-Founder,
Founders Factory, lastminute.com, Made.com, Founders.Forum
Brian Taylor
Founder and CEO,
PixelPin Ltd
Brynne Herbert
Founder and CEO,
Move Guides
Candide Kirk
Founder,
Novellic
Cassandra Stavrou
Co-Founder,
Propercorn
Charlie Bradshaw
Founder,
Matrix Apa
Charlie Muirhead
Founder and CEO,
CognitionX
Charlie Osmond
Chief Tease,
TRIPTEASE
Charlie Thuillier
Managing Director,
Oppo Ice Cream
Chris Morling
Founder and Managing Director,
Dot Zinc
Chris Hancock
CEO,
Crowd2Fund
Christoph Rieche
CEO,
iwoca
Dale Vince
Founder,
Ecotricity
Damien Kimmelman
Co-Founder and CEO,
Duedil
Damon Oldcorn
Managing Partner,
Oldcorn and Oldcorn LLP
Daniel Benamran
General Manager UK,
BlaBlaCar
Darren Westlake
CEO,
Crowdcube
Dave Thompson
Founder and CEO,
Magictab
David Garfield
CEO and Co-Founder,
Garrison Technology
Debbie Wosskow
CEO,
LoveHomeSwap;
and Chair,
Sharing Economy UK
Dinesh Dhamija
President,
TIE;
And Founder,
ebookers.com
Dom Jackman
Co-Founder,
Escape the City
Dom Lewis
Founder,
Tray.io
Doug Monro
Co-Founder and CEO,
Adzuna
Dylan McKee
Co-Founder,
SpreeTree
Eamon Jubbawy
Co-Founder and COO,
Onfido
Ed Dean
Co-Founder,
JETT customer experience
Edward Ungar
Chief Commercial Officer,
Onfido
Edward Wray
Co-Founder,
Betfair
Efe Cakarel
Founder and CEO,
MUBI
Eileen Burbidge
Partner,
Passion Capital
Emi Gal
Founder and CEO,
Brainient
Emily Brooke
Founder and CEO,
Blaze
Eric Van der Kleij
Co-Founder and CEO,
Adeptra, Level39, Tech City UK, Entiq
Ernesto Schmitt
CEO and Co-Founder,
Drivetribe
Evgeny Shadchnev
Founder and CEO,
Makers Academy
Fabien Riggall
Founder and Director,
Secret Cinema
Faith Forster
Founder and CEO,
Pinipa
Felix Leuschner
CEO and Founder,
Drover
Frances Toye
Founder and CEO,
The Unilink Group
Frankie Fox
Co-Founder,
The Foraging Fox
George Bevis
Founder and CEO,
TIDE
Ghislaine Boddington
Founder / Creative Director,
BDS Creative Ltd, body>data>space, and Women Shift Digital
Gideon Farrell
Co-Founder and CTO,
Converge
Giles Andrews
Co-Founder and Executive Chairman,
Zopa
Giles Brook
CEO – EMEA,
Vita Coco;
and Founding Partner,
BEAR
Giles Williams
Co-Founder and CTO,
Urban Massage
Graeme Risby
CEO and Co-Founder,
HiyaCar
Graham Cooke
CEO,
Qubit
Greg Marsh
Co-Founder and CEO,
onefinestay
Guy Blaskey
Founder,
Pooch & Mutt
Guy Levin
Executive Director,
Coadec
Helen James
CEO,
Investis
Henry Harrison
CTO and Co-Founder,
Garrison Technology
Hillary Graves
Founder,
Little Dish
Hiroki Takeuchi
CEO and Co-Founder,
GoCardless
Howard Kingston
Co-Founder,
Adludio
Husayn Kassai
Co-Founder and CEO,
Onfido
Ian Livingston CBE
Co-Founder,
Games Workshop;
and Chairman,
Midoki, Playdemic and Sumo Digital
Itamar Lesuisse
Co-Founder and CEO,
Peak
Jacqueline Gold
CEO,
Ann Summers and Knickerbox
James Averdieck
Founder,
GÜ, and The Coconut Collaborative
James Daunt
Founder,
Daunt Books
James King
Founder and CTO,
Encore
James Smith
Founder and CEO,
Elliptic
James Cox
CEO and Founder,
Simbasleep
James Chappell
Co-Founder and CTO,
Digital Shadows
Jamie Graves
CEO,
ZoneFox
Jason Goodman
Founder,
Albion
Jeff Lynn
Co-Founder and CEO,
Seedrs
Jenny Griffith
Founder,
Snap Fashion
Jim Creegan
Founder,
Jimmy’s Iced Coffee
Joe Cohen
Founder and CEO,
Property.Works
Joe Parry
Founder and CEO,
Cambridge Intelligence
John Earner
Co-Founder and CEO,
Space Ape Games
John Reid
Founder,
Repknight
Jonathan Williamson
Co-Founder,
Pimoroni
Jonathan Gan
Founder and CEO,
Whichit
Jonathan Newman
CEO,
Chi Ventures Ltd
Jos White
Partner,
Notion Capital;
and Co-Founder, MessageLabs and Star
Jose Marin
Co-Founder,
IG Expansion
Jose Neves
Founder,
Farfetch
Julian Ranger
Founder and Executive Chairman,
digi.me
Julie Deane OBE
Founder and CEO,
The Cambridge Satchel Company
Julien Hammerson
Chief Executive Officer,
Calastone
Karen Jones CBE
Co-Founder,
Café Rouge, and Food and Fuel
Kate Shand
Managing Director,
Enjoy Education
Kate Unsworth
Founder and CEO,
VINAYA
Kevin Cornils
CEO,
MyOptique Group
Kieran Kunhya
Founder,
Open Broadcast Systems
Dr. Kim Nilsson
CEO and Co-Founder,
Pivigo
Laurence Kemball-Cook
Founder and CEO,
Pavegen
Liam Griffin
Vice-Chairman and former CEO,
Addison Lee
Liz Rice
Co-Founder and CEO,
Microscaling Systems
Lloyd Dorfman CBE
Founder,
Travelex;
and Chairman,
The Office Group and Doddle
Lopo Champalimaud
Founder and CEO,
Treatwell
Luke Scheybeler
Co-Founder,
Rapha, and Tracksmith
Luke Ferris
CEO,
laZook
Mairtin O’Riada
Founder and CIO,
Ravelin Technology Ltd
Marc Worth
CEO,
Stylus Media Group
Marcus Greenwood
Co-Founder and CEO,
Universal Basket
Mark Russell
Co-Founder and COO,
Universal Basket
Mark Sebba
Former Chief Executive,
The Net-a-Porter Group
Mark Martin
Founder,
Urban Teacher
Marta Krupinska
Co-Founder and GM,
Azimo
Martha Lane Fox CBE
Founder,
Doteveryone;
and Co-Founder,
Lucky Voice and lastminute.com
Martin Varsavsky
Founder and Chairman,
Fon
Martin Sweeney
Founder and CEO,
Ravelin Technology Ltd
Matt Clifford
Co-Founder,
Entrepreneur First
Mattias Ljungman
Partner,
Atomico
Maurice Helfgott
Executive Chairman,
Amery Capital
Merilee Karr
Founder and CEO,
UnderTheDoormat Ltd
Michael Kent
Founder and CEO,
Azimo
Dr. Mike Lynch OBE
Invoke Capital
Mike MacCana
Founder,
CertSimple
Mike Tomkins
Co-Founder,
TopCashback
Neville Crawley
CEO,
Quid Inc
Niall Wass
Entrepreneur in Residence,
Atomico;
and formerly CEO,
Wonga
Niamh Barker
Managing Director,
The Travel Wrap Company
Nic Wistreich
Co-Founder,
Netribution.org;
and Director,
HelloIdeas.com
Nicholas Denning
Founder and CEO,
Diegesis Limited
Nick Thomson
Chief Revenue Officer,
Workshare
Nick Lally
Co-Founder and COO,
Ravelin Technology Ltd
Nicolas De Santis
Entrepreneur,
Opodo.com
Niklas Zennström
CEO and Founding Partner,
Atomico
Ning Li
Co-Founder and CEO,
Made.com
Oleg Fomenko
Co-Founder and CEO,
SweatCoin
Oliver Ragg
Co-Founder,
TopCashback
Olivia Sibony
Co-Founder,
Grub Club
Omar Moulani
COO,
Landmax.pro
Pascal Auberson
Founder,
Lumacode Ltd
Eur Ing Paul Kaye
Managing Director,
IntelliQA Limited
Paul Lindley
Founder,
Ella’s Kitchen;
and Founder and CEO,
Paddy’s Bathroom
Paul Varga
Founder and CEO,
Playbrush
Paul Gardner Bougaard
Chief Executive,
RDO
Peter Brewin
Co-Founder,
Concrete Canvas
Peter Ward
Co-Founder and CEO,
WAYN
Peter Williams
Founder and CEO,
Jack Wills
Philip Alexander
Founder,
Mentorial
Prasanna Kannan
Co-Founder,
Native
Rahul Parekh
Co-Founder and CEO,
EatFirst
Raphael Scheps
Co-Founder and CEO,
Converge
Razvan Ranca
Co-Founder,
Tractable
Razwan Ghafoor
CEO and Co-Founder,
ThirdEye labs
Reshma Sohoni
Founder,
Seedcamp
Riccardo Zacconi
CEO,
King.com
Rich Pleeth
Founder,
Sup app
Richard Harpin
Founder and Chief Executive,
Homeserve
Richard Reed
Co-Founder,
Innocent, and Jam Jar Investments
Rishi Chowdhury
Co-Founder,
IncuBus Ventures
Roberta Lucca
Co-Founder,
Bossa Studios, WonderLuk and BOLDR
Robin Klein
Co-Founder,
LocalGlobe
Ross Williams
Founder and CEO,
Venntro Media Group
Rumi Verjee
Founder,
Domino’s Pizza UK
Russ Shaw
Founder,
Tech London Advocates
Rytis Vitkauskas
Founder and CEO,
YPlan
Sam Amrani
Founder and Executive Chairman,
Tamoco and Crowdit
Sandy Forster
Co-Founder and Sales Director,
Pinipa
Saul Klein
Co-Founder,
Lovefilm, Seedcamp, Kano and Localglobe
Shaun Dowling
CEO,
Interpretive
Shelley Taylor
Founder and CEO,
Trellyz
Sherry Coutu CBE
Serial Entrepreneur
Simon Woodroffe OBE
Founder,
YO! Sushi and YOTEL
Simon Calver
Chair,
Chemist Direct
Simon Hudson
Founder and Director,
Cloud2 Ltd
Stuart Laidlaw
Co-Founder and CEO,
Cyberlytic
Taavet Hinrikus
CEO and Co-Founder,
TransferWise
Tamara Lohan MBE
Founder and CTO,
Mr & Mrs Smith
Taras Chabhan
CEO,
Sybenetix
Thomas Purchas
CTO and Co-Founder,
ThirdEye labs
Tim Hill
Co-Founder and Director,
Keyzapp
Toby Mather
Founder and CEO,
Lingumi
Tom Mercer
Founder and MD,
MOMA Foods
Tom Griffin
CEO,
RipJar
Tom Robinson
Founder and COO,
Elliptic
Tom Adeyoola
CEO and Founder,
Metail
Virginia Choy
Co-Founder and COO,
PretaGov
Dr. Vivian Chan
Co-Founder and CEO,
Sparrho
Wil Benton
Co-Founder,
Chew
Will Crawford
Co-Founder,
Concrete Canvas
William Shu
Founder and CEO,
Deliveroo
Zehan Wang
Co-Founder and CTO,
Magic Pony Technology