Our dealmakers
Our dealmakers are experienced entrepreneurs. It is a unique role in government and requires in-depth and hands-on knowledge and experience of scaling fast growth tech companies. It includes mentoring founders by acting as counsel, adviser and strategist.
This can involve all aspects of running a business as well as advising on areas including funding, sales strategies and investor readiness.
They are part-time roles, so they remain entrepreneurs first and foremost with relevant and real-time experience.
Alpesh Patel
Sector: FinTech, Software, AI
International market lead: India
Regional coverage: Leeds, London
Alpesh is an investor and entrepreneur, having founded a private equity and hedge fund firm and developed investing software. He was named a top FTSE 100 forecaster by the Financial Times, advised the UK PM on UK-India relations, and received an OBE in 2020. A former Oxford Visiting Fellow and barrister, he frequently appears on BBC as a global politics commentator.
Eamon Tuhami
Sector: FinTech, AI
International market lead: South Africa, Turkey
Regional coverage: Belfast, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow
Eamon is a founder, investor, and ecosystem builder with over 20 years experience and multiple exits. As Dealmaker for Wales, he helps attract high-growth companies to Cardiff and London. He leads Unbound Global and Hwyl Ventures, sits on several boards, and advises startups and partners like Development Bank Wales and FinTech Wales.
Elizabeth Varley
Sector: Software, MedTech
International market lead: Australia
Regional coverage: Liverpool, London, Manchester, Northumberland, Oxford, Yorkshire and the Humber
Elizabeth is a strategic advisor, board member, founder, and venture partner. She is former CEO of TechHub, which supported over 3,000 startups raising over $1 billion with exits to Google, Microsoft and others.
Elizabeth sits on the boards of Legal Geek and The Place and is a partner at Tribe Global Ventures. She previously founded Online Content UK and advised Silicon Valley Bank and Imperial College.
Simon Sprince
Sector: EdTech, Creative, AI
International market lead: Canada, Lithuania
Regional coverage: North West, London and the South East, Yorkshire
Simon has over 20 years experience in digital product development across EdTech, e-commerce, Music-Tech, and immersive tech. He founded Focus Innovation in 2008 to help companies develop products through user and market insights.
He supports GEP clients with product-market fit, research links, and venture finance. He is based in the North West.
Stephen Mooney
Sector: FinTech, Quantum, AI
International market lead: USA
Regional coverage: Brighton, London
Stephen is an entrepreneur with over 20 years experience in startups and Fortune 500 companies. He co-founded ENXSuite, leading its expansion into EMEA before its acquisition, and has since led two more software exits.
He currently serves as a director in UK growth companies focused on the UNSDGs and has previously held roles at Pfizer. He holds a BA from the University of Calgary and an MBA from the University of Victoria.
Tim Luft
Sector: Creative, AR/VR, Tech
Market lead: Poland
Regional coverage: Birmingham
Tim is a West Midlands-based Dealmaker specialising in digital, gaming, advanced manufacturing, rail and automotive. He runs a VR/AR studio, has founded university institutes, and advises early-stage tech startups with expertise in AR/VR, ICT, capital raising and mentoring.
Dace Dimza-Jones
Sector: Pharma and Biotech, Life Sciences
International market lead: Eastern Europe
Regional coverage: Devolved nations
Dace has over 13 years of NHS operational and clinical research experience. She supports international innovators with UK market entry, R&D partnerships, regulatory navigation and NHS adoption, working closely with NHS organisations, NIHR, universities, industry and investors to accelerate the scale‑up of high‑impact technologies. Her work connects global investors with opportunities across UK life sciences clusters.
Angela Stathi MBA
Sector: Clean Teach, Defence, Deep Tech, Financial Services
International market lead: LATAM, Central Europe, Eastern Europe
Regional coverage: South East
Angela is a multidisciplinary leader with expertise spanning AI, digital assets, investments and sustainability, her work includes contributing to regulatory policy development, chairing an AI‑driven SME support organisation, and advising European deep‑tech programmes. Angela has also held global leadership positions in major financial and technology institutions and is actively involved in international leadership networks.
Tony Hughes
Sector: Creative, Gaming and VFX
International market lead: Japan
Regional coverage: Bristol, Cambridge, Liverpool, London
Tony is a media and tech entrepreneur who launched the UK’s first digital media incubator in the 1990s. He has founded multiple startups, co-founded CityCurator, and advised corporates including BBC and HP.
With over a decade at DBT, he has supported hundreds of international creative and tech companies entering the UK, connecting them with networks, mentors and funders.
Tony Kypreos
Sector: HealthTech, Sustainability, Tech
International market lead: Estonia
Regional coverage: Cambridge, London
Tony is an entrepreneur and innovation expert, focused on scaling ventures in healthcare, sustainability and tech. He is on the Advisory Council of Accelerate 2030, the UNSDG venture accelerator.
A former founder with multiple exits, he also lectures at Cambridge Judge Business School and invests in digital health and software ventures.
How we work and our criteria
Find out how we work and what the GEP is looking for. If you think your business meets our criteria, please register your interest.
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