We are a team of practical optimists

Believers in a better future with the tools to help make it happen. Our knowledge of how to build impact-driven companies is deep and our networks in tech for good are wide.

Catherine BarkerCatherine Barker (she/her)
Catherine Barker

Head of Finance

Catherine was one of the first finance hires at Deliveroo, helping them to set up and scale their systems through a period of rapid growth. She brings this experience to help BGV portfolio ventures prepare for the same journey, in addition to advising on business and operational modelling. On a day to day basis, Catherine looks after the finances and valuations of BGV’s funds. Before working at Deliveroo and joining BGV, Catherine started her career as a chartered accountant at EY.

Dama SathianathanDama Sathianathan (she/her)
Dama Sathianathan

Senior Manager, Communities and Networks

Dama is a leading figure in the tech for good movement advocating for more investment into talented and diverse founders in the space. At BGV, Dama specialises in supporting ventures with communications and fundraising, product positioning, ESG, impact measurement and management, and hiring for diversity and inclusion. Prior to BGV, Dama worked for international NGOs in digital communications, and was formerly a Director of a social enterprise, supporting them to raise over £1M. She has a degree in international relations from Leiden University, holds a certificate in ESG Investing awarded by the CFA Institute, and sits on the steering committee of VentureESG. Outside of BGV Dama is a Trustee at Chayn - a non-profit supporting the survivors of gender-based violence.

Melanie HayesMelanie Hayes (she/her)
Melanie Hayes

Managing Partner

Melanie has 15 years of experience in early-stage investment spanning corporate venturing, M&A, specialist finance and impact investment. She’s led over 100 transactions totalling more than £75m. She specialises in supporting founders with business model strategy, commercial growth, fundraising, organisational development and impact strategy. An experienced board member, Melanie currently sits on three growth stage portfolio company boards. Prior to BGV she worked at Octopus Investments, Channel 4 and Deloitte. Melanie is also a member of the Advisory Council for ReGenerate - a charity whose mission is to make it easier to start, grow and lead a purpose-driven business.

Nelly LavielleNelly Lavielle (she/her)
Nelly Lavielle

Investment Principal

Nelly has directly supported hundreds of early-stage startups through tens of programmes. In addition to BGV’s flagship Tech for Good programme she has led on partnership programmes with the Mayor of London, Facebook, the Wellcome Trust, and Nesta. She has gained deep insight into how to build an investment-ready proposition. In her current role at BGV Nelly ensures the delivery of world-class support across BGV’s portfolio, specifically advising them on fundraising strategy, marketing and sales, user research and product testing, impact measurement and management, and hiring. Before joining BGV, Nelly worked in marketing and sales roles at startups based in France and Silicon Valley.

Paul MillerPaul Miller (he/him)
Paul Miller

Managing Partner and CEO

Paul has pioneered tech for good since 2008 as one of the co-founders of Bethnal Green Ventures. Over those years he’s supported many of BGV’s most successful portfolio companies from programme through to exit. With over 15 years of experience as a CEO he’s an expert in strategy, fundraising, leadership, hiring, communications and external relations. Previously, Paul founded and led ed-tech startup School of Everything. He’s also spent time advising on strategy for multinational companies and governments, and has written for the likes of the Financial Times and the Guardian. In 2020, he was awarded an OBE for services to startup investing. Outside of BGV he has been the Chair of Trustees at GoodGym since 2015.

Robert DangellRobert Dangell (he/him)
Robert Dangell

Operations Associate

Rob studied Banking, Finance and Management where, through work placements, he discovered his passion for venture investing and purpose-driven companies. At BGV he works on our finance functions, compliance, data collection and analysis, investor reporting, and HR. He supports programme stage ventures to receive their initial investment from BGV. Rob has previously worked at IBM as an Operations Analyst and completed an internship at Octopus Ventures covering investment, sales and venture support.

Yumi TsoyYumi Tsoy (she/her)
Yumi Tsoy

Operations and Insights Manager

Yumi is an expert in impact measurement and management for early-stage startups. In addition to running operations at BGV, she supports founders with guidance on building effective, diverse and inclusive teams, project management, data analysis, planning and running pilots, and B Corp accreditation. Before joining BGV, Yumi worked at corporate innovation consultancy The Bakery where she researched emerging technologies and facilitated strategic partnerships between founders and large corporate clients, such as AXA and P&G. She’s also worked at edtech startup Futurelearn and completed a postgraduate degree in Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Management at Imperial College London.

Our Venture Partners and Investment Committee

Bethany GreerBethany Greer (partner)
Bethany Greer

Venture Partner

Bethany supports our pre-seed and seed teams focusing particularly on fundraising, product development, and hiring. She was previously Investment Manager at BGV so has a deep knowledge of BGV’s portfolio, mentor and investor networks. Bethany previously worked at Centre for Fashion Enterprise, supporting retail tech startups to secure investment and scale their businesses. Prior to moving to London, Bethany worked in fashion design at Jonathan Simkhai and ELLERY in New York and Sydney, and for fashion media startup, The Coveteur, backed by Drake and BrandProject.

Darren CockburnDarren Cockburn
Darren Cockburn

Venture Partner

Darren Cockburn’s experience over the last 30 years spans working in finance, strategy and operations in large media companies and technology start-ups, as well as consulting and banking. He was previously Chief Operating Officer of a BBC division and has led new ventures and corporate development at Disney and Channel 4. At C4 he helped set up the 4iP fund, a UK pioneer in “tech for good”. Darren is also an experienced Non-Executive having served on the boards of several technology companies from initial stages through to successful exits. At BGV he supports a number of our later-stage portfolio companies.

George BevanGeorge Bevan (partner)
George Bevan

Venture Partner

George is a digital designer with over 10 years experience in the technology industry. He has been both a Product Design Lead and a Product Manager in numerous roles across the banking, education, humanitarian and healthcare industries. He has experience across the entire product lifecycle from initial research right through to worldwide delivery of products and services that actually enable their users to get jobs done! George supports our programme stage teams with prototyping, building, and launching their products.

Umesh PandyaUmesh Pandya (partner)
Umesh Pandya

Venture Partner

Umesh supports founders on our programme and in our portfolio as a design, strategy and digital product delivery coach. Since 2017 Umesh has been working with social entrepreneurs and impact investors to design the Social Venture Canvas - a tool for entrepreneurs who want to build thriving, purpose-driven businesses that respect the wellbeing of people and the health of the planet. He co-founded Wayfindr in 2015, a social tech start-up that empowered vision-impaired people to navigate the world independently. In 2017 Wayfindr became a UN adopted standard and now is the world's first international standard for audio-based indoor navigation. Umesh holds an MA in communication design from Central Saint Martins, is a Royal Society Art Fellow and is a Design Associate at the Design Council.

Steven ClarkeSteven Clarke (partner)
Steven Clarke

Independent Investment Committee Member, Chair

Steven has been involved as Chairman or Board Member in seven growth businesses, three with successful exits. He’s spent 21 years in private equity and venture capital with 3i, August Equity and ICG.

Trevor HopeTrevor Hope (committee)
Trevor Hope

Independent Investment Committee Member

Trevor is a Partner at Mobeus Equity Partners where he leads its growth investment team. Previously he was Chief Investment Officer at Beringea where he developed and implemented its investment strategy.