Our Members

Andrew Leadley

Corporate finance advisor and investor

Andrew has built, acquired, and exited businesses across retail, online retail, import/export, agriculture, and services.

• Retail
• Technology
• Agriculture
• Services

Ashley Mason

Co-founder and Director, York Angels

Ashley is an experienced entrepreneur, investor, and civic leader focused on supporting business growth in York.

• Entrepreneurship
• Healthcare
• Events
• Civic leadership

Ben Spratt

Managing Director, Retiring IFA

Ben works across financial services M&A, property management, and early-stage investing.

• Financial services
• M&A
• Property technology

Business Enterprise Fund

Funding partner

BEF supports small businesses across the North with loans, personal service, and a mission to unlock local economic growth.

• Startup loans
• Small business finance
• Economic inclusion

David Dickson

Family business and governance specialist

David brings deep expertise in family business strategy, governance, succession planning, and regional civic leadership.

• Family business
• Governance
• Succession
• Charity

Duncan Ross Russell

Project and business change leader

Duncan is a business leader with expertise in business change, project delivery, and innovative opportunities that contribute to society.

• Project delivery
• Business change
• Social impact

Eugene Delaney

Commercial partnerships and strategy leader

Eugene has deep expertise in P&L management, strategy, acquisitions, and commercial partnerships across digital, media, and sports.

• Digital
• Media
• Sports
• Partnerships

Griff Investment Fund

Student-run investment fund

The Griff Investment Fund is a student-led investment fund based at the University of York.

• Investment
• Finance education
• University of York

James Nellist

Managing Director, Lindum York

James is a construction and property leader passionate about supporting the growth of local businesses.

• Construction
• Property
• Commercial strategy

Martin Brennan

Founder and CEO, Onside Accounting

Martin is a technology-driven accounting founder and fintech advisor.

• Accounting
• Fintech
• Automation
• AI

Matt Harbord

Product and startup advisor

Matt is an ex-quant focused on product, early-stage product-market fit, and growth strategy.

• Machine learning
• FitTech
• Product
• Growth

Nick Hawkins

Corporate barrister and angel investor

Nick has more than 35 years' experience advising companies and organisations as a lawyer, board member, and angel investor.

• Law
• Corporate governance
• Investment

Portland Fuel

York-based specialist investor

Portland Investments York Ltd is a York-based specialist investor backed by the Portland Fuel Group of Companies.

• Energy
• Logistics
• Manufacturing
• Investment

Richard Geldart

CEO, Tsugu

Richard works with entrepreneurs, families, private equity, and fast growth businesses through a private investment and advisory office.

• Private capital
• Family offices
• Tax
• Investment

Richard Hunt

Software entrepreneur and business leader

Richard has extensive experience building, scaling, and leading software and product content management companies.

• Software
• Product information
• Digital transformation

Ross Sleight

Digital strategist and entrepreneur

Ross has more than three decades of experience founding and scaling digital, mobile, and AI-era businesses.

• Digital strategy
• Mobile
• AI
• Customer strategy

RTC North

Business support organisation

RTC North helps small businesses innovate, compete, grow, and prepare to raise funding across the North of England.

• Innovation
• Investment readiness
• Business support

Russell Mills

Innovation Lead, Alt Labs

Russell brings two decades of experience across engineering, manufacturing, supply chains, and innovation.

• Engineering
• Manufacturing
• Supply chain
• Sustainability

Sam Hields

Venture Capitalist and Co-founder of York Angels

Sam is a venture capital investor and operator with experience scaling startups across data, broadband, mobility, and software.

• Venture capital
• Data
• Operations
• Software

Sam Soares

Growth-focused leader and advisor

Sam specialises in helping businesses achieve scalable, sustainable growth across marketing, sales, and customer success.

• Go-to-market
• Enterprise software
• B2B technology
• Growth

Sean Connell

Creative entrepreneur and early-stage investor

Sean builds and invests in ventures that merge creativity, technology, and commercial focus.

• SaaS
• Content
• Automation
• AI

Sergiy Tsymbal

Entrepreneur and Tech York founder

Sergiy is a Ukrainian entrepreneur with experience building tech services businesses, product startups, and founder communities.

• Technology
• Services
• AI
• Founder support

Steve Secker

Non-executive chair, investor, advisor and mentor

Steve advises growing organisations across property and construction, bringing clarity to strategy and implementation.

• Property
• Construction
• SaaS
• Governance

Tom Sermon

Global business leader

Tom has scaled global businesses across corporate wellness, consumer goods, and sustainability-focused organisations.

• Wellness
• Consumer goods
• Sustainability
• International growth