Maserati 100 2016 Cohort announced

by Startacus Admin

A couple of months ago we revealed that Italian car manufacturer, Maserati, and the Centre for Entrepreneurs had launched the second annual Maserati 100 index - a public hunt to find 100 of the UK’s most successful philanthropists, investors, mentors and advisors, and ascending entrepreneurs who are supporting the next generation of founders.

Aimed at recognising entrepreneurs who have given their time, efforts and resources into supporting entrepreneurs and startup founders, the awardees could be nominated by any member of the public who wishes to put forward a candidate for consideration. Our own Northern Ireland based Co-Founder Alastair Cameron was recognised in the inaugural 2015 Maserati100 list and we’ve been waiting eagerly to see what other leading lights have been acknowledged this time around.

Announced yesterday, both online and in The Sunday Times, the new cohort again combine both grassroot champions of enterprise and more well known, some might say corporate, thought leaders and investors who support the startup ecosystem with both words and hard cash. We are also delighted to see previous Startacus community members included in this list.

The Maserati 100 2016 cohort includes:

Ash Phillips -  Bristol-based Ash Phillips founded the Young Entrepreneur Networking Association - a social enterprise to help young entrepreneurs succeed. 

Alice Bentinck & Matt Clifford - Founders of both a fab social enterprise championing the number of women in technology and entrepreneurship and Entrepreneur First, a pre-seed investment programme that invests in Europe's top technical individuals and support them to build world-class startups in London.

Bruce Walker - Scottish based champion of entrepreneurs and startups - aged 21 and the Founder of @WATF_

Jamel Edwards - World renowned digital Entrepreneur, Founder, SBTV and champion of enterprise

Alex and Kitty Shepherd co-founded ‘Startisans’ (note from Startacus “equally great name!”)  helping artisan food self-starters and startups start trading in markets and grocery stores.

Ketan Makwana founder of Enterprise Lab - an enterprise agency that helps engage entrepreneurs in 11 countries.

Stuart Marks - We best know Stuart as the Founder of L Marks - an innovation consultancy that links Startups to Corporates. Check J LAB, William Hill’s Accelerator, Winton Labs, and Belron Drive Accelerator as great examples.  

Mary McKenna - MBE awardee Mary, is a London-based Irish technology entrepreneur, former co-founder of Derry based Learning Pool and angel investor who has also played a big role in NI entrepreneurship and enterprise and amongst other things has helped national youth volunteering charity vInspired, to launch social enterprise Task Squad.

Talking of Mary, we asked our friend Mary to explain what it means to be included in this year's list:

“I am so delighted to be recognised as one of the Maserati 100 of 2016. Nothing can ever be sweeter than recognition by your own peers and the Maserati 100 is an award for entrepreneurs by entrepreneurs.  I genuinely believe that it’s the job of every entrepreneur to pay it forward but maybe more importantly pay it back.  I love the famous Kevin Spacey quote that goes something like “If you’re lucky enough to do well, it’s your responsibility to send the elevator back down”.

Every entrepreneur can do this. I remember when we started Learning Pool back in 2006, the most useful help we received came from other entrepreneurs who were a bit further ahead than we were.  Even though that’s only 10 years ago, the support networks that exist now just weren’t there and it was far more difficult to source and access advice. 

It gives me great pleasure to help younger entrepreneurs and I do this in small ways by informal entrepreneur mentoring in the coffee shops of London’s Southbank and in bigger ways by angel investing plus everything in between.

Like so many awards, the list could easily have included so many other good people who conduct their business lives in this way.  I can think of hundreds without trying too hard.”

And finally big congratulations to all of the 2016 Maserati 100 - high-5’s all round!

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Published on: 22nd February 2016