Future Planet Capital

Ed Phillips is a Managing Director at Future Planet Capital, where he manages the Blue Ocean fund and serves on the Investment Committees for the firm's flagship funds and the UK Innovation and Science Seed Fund. As part of the firm's founding team, he helped scale it from a $20M fund to over $400M in committed capital and led strategies including a pandemic-response micro-fund with Barclays and an ocean-focused fund for the government of Monaco. He previously researched molecular genetics at Hong Kong University and holds a first-class honours degree in Biological Sciences from Bristol University.

Former VC with NESTA who previously held roles at Zeneca and a US startup. Holds an MSc and PhD in Chemistry from Oxford.

Investment director with previous venture capital experience at NESTA. Holds an MSc and PhD in Chemistry from Oxford and has worked in pharmaceutical and startup sectors.

Innovative researcher with experience conducting large-scale statistical analyses for government and international organizations. Completing a PhD at the University of Oxford with a master's degree from Harvard.

Investment Director and Investment Committee member of the UK Innovation and Science Seed Fund with over 20 years of investment experience including UK investment banking. Led NESTA's investment operations.

Investment Director and Investment Committee Member for the UK Innovation & Science Seed Fund with fifteen years of VC experience across deep tech, specialising in life sciences.

Rupert Lyle joined Future Planet Capital in 2023 as fund principal for the West Midlands Co-Investment Fund (WMCIF), with more than 30 years of investment experience. His role focuses on connecting early-stage, high-growth companies in the West Midlands with capital and positioning the fund within the regional SME ecosystem. He previously held director roles at 3i Group and Barclays Ventures in Birmingham and has served on the advisory committee of the London Co-Investment Fund since 2014.

Sakura Holloway joined UKI2S, managed by Future Planet Capital (Ventures), in December 2023 to lead its Knowledge Assets investment portfolio. She previously served as Head of Asset Portfolio at the University of Manchester Innovation Factory, as a Partner at Start Codon evaluating early-stage healthcare companies, as a Venture Coach for the EIC Accelerator programme, and in an investment role at OneVentures. She was also Chief IP Counsel at Benitec, holds a Master's in IP Law, and has a background in molecular biology.

Shruti Iyengar is an Investment Director at Future Planet Capital, where she leads the Space sub-fund within the UK Innovation & Science Seed Fund (UKI2S) and sits on the Investment Committee of the Blue Ocean Fund. She previously worked as an Investor at Sustainable Ventures, managing a portfolio of climate technology companies and running the fund's accelerator, and earlier worked across Southeast Asia from Singapore on programmes spanning manufacturing, energy, healthcare, and robotics. She holds a dual degree in Mathematics and Economics from Nanyang Technological University and a Master's in Finance from London Business School.

Tony is an Investment Director at Future Planet Capital, working primarily on funds managed from the Birmingham office, including the MEIF West Midlands Equity Fund and The Exceed Partnership. He has also worked on two earlier regional equity funds in the West Midlands and has sourced and led more than 50 investments. A chartered accountant who trained with Deloitte & Touche in Birmingham, he holds a degree in Economics with Politics from Manchester University.

Abi Wye is Network Director at Future Planet Capital, where she focuses on advisor and stakeholder communications, manages the firm's network of experts and influencers, coordinates its Investment Governance Board, and leads communications. She has been with the firm since its early days as it grew to over $400m in committed capital. Before venture, she served as Political Private Secretary to Prime Minister David Cameron at 10 Downing Street and previously assisted Stephen Crabb MP in the House of Commons, including coordinating Project Umubano in Rwanda and Sierra Leone.

Alex Leigh is a Managing Director at Future Planet Capital, where he focuses on the UK Innovation and Science Seed Fund, deploying the Defence & Security fund into pre-Seed+ deeptech startups, and also supports the Blue Ocean Fund investing at Series A+. He started his career in high-tech startups and engineering in South Africa across R&D, manufacturing, robotics, marine and renewable energy, and later moved into private equity buyouts in Johannesburg and operational improvement roles in London. He trained as a Mechatronics Engineer at the University of Stellenbosch and holds an MBA from the University of Cape Town and London Business School.

Alex Shadbolt is an Investment Manager at Future Planet Capital, where he leads the firm's impact efforts and heads up ESG. He previously worked in research with the University of Cambridge's Keynes Fund and at the Open Data Institute, where he developed an impact framework and co-authored the organisation's five-year strategy. He works on both the Blue Ocean Fund and Global Growth Fund as part of the Origination Team, and holds a first-class degree in Liberal Arts (majoring in Economics) from Exeter.

Andrew Carpenter is General Counsel at Future Planet Capital, overseeing the firm's legal operations. An English-qualified solicitor, he has worked on cross-border and domestic private company M&A for corporates, private equity, venture capital investors and high-net-worth individuals, and has advised on funds and W&I transactional risk underwriting. His career includes equity partner roles at global law firms where he opened and managed offices across Asia and the Middle East, a partner role at DWF, and a managing partner role in the international division at Addleshaw Goddard; he previously worked as a pharmaceutical research chemist and holds a PhD in Organic Chemistry from the University of Liverpool.

Andy Bard is the Portfolio Manager for the Midlands, working with investees across the regional Midven-focused funds and supporting boards and management teams through growth and exit strategy. Before joining the firm in 2018, he spent 15 years in the Corporate and Commercial Restructuring team at RBS plc. He is a Fellow of the ICAEW, trained with KPMG in Leeds, and holds a degree in Accounting and Finance from Leeds University.

Daniel Gaize is an Investment Associate at Future Planet Capital, working within the regional SME investment team supporting the Midlands Engine Investment Fund and the West Midlands Co-Investment Fund, where he sources and executes early-stage investments of up to £2m. He joined Midven in 2021 and previously worked at Standard Life Investments on target return funds, a family office focused on alternative assets, and at LGPS Central as a private equity portfolio manager investing pooled assets of Midlands-based local government pension schemes. He holds the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) designation.

Darren Heffernan is a qualified accountant who joined Future Planet Capital in January 2023, where he oversees finance, compliance, technology, legal, HR, and operations. He previously spent over 13 years at Commerzbank, gaining experience in accounting, financial products, and multi-jurisdiction regulatory environments.

David Knox is a founding director and shareholder of Future Planet Capital, focused on connecting investors with impactful innovation. He trained in medical and actuarial science and has worked in financial services, including at Munich Re, as a partner at Cazenove, and as Head of Research and Executive Management Committee member at J.P. Morgan Cazenove. He was CEO of Oriel Securities and founded Lazarus Research, an independent research advisory firm.

Emma Jacobs is Executive Assistant to Douglas Hansen-Luke at Future Planet Capital, managing his schedule and correspondence and supporting related projects. She has more than 30 years of experience as an assistant, primarily in the finance industry, covering administration, events, HR, and office management.

Hassan Mahmudul is an Investment Manager at Future Planet Capital, where he supports the UK Innovation and Science Seed Fund with a focus on engineering biology investments. He previously founded and led a venture-backed tech startup, was an early employee at a Newcastle start-up, and worked as a start-up scout for Ada Ventures. He holds a Research Masters in Biology from Durham University.

Investor on the Midlands Engine Investment Fund team with prior experience at a boutique venture consulting firm. Holds a BSc in Economics with Politics from the University of Birmingham.

Previously worked in the Housing Division at Gresham House. Holds a BA in Politics from the University of Exeter.

Jordan Ong is an Investment Associate at Future Planet Capital, which he joined in 2023, working across the Midlands Engine Investment Fund and the Co-Investment Fund and focusing on sourcing and evaluating opportunities in Birmingham and the West Midlands. His prior experience includes roles as a Finance and Operations Consultant at Saglobal, work in transformation and change management at Propel Finance, and a position as an Investment Analyst on the Technology Ventures Team at The Development Bank of Wales. He holds a first-class BSc in Business Economics from the University of Reading, a postgraduate diploma in Financial Services Management from the University of South Wales, and an MSc in Finance from the University of Gloucester.

Julie Davies is the Fund Accountant at Future Planet Capital, where she handles reporting for the managed funds including valuations, investor reporting, accounting, and tax. She has been with the organisation for 13 years, including time at one of its acquisitions, and previously managed the group's finances. She is a Chartered Accountant and Chartered Tax Advisor with a degree in Agricultural Economics from Reading University, and previously worked as a senior manager at Ernst and Young and Deloitte advising owner-manager businesses.

Luize Silina is an Investment Analyst at Future Planet Capital, based in the firm's Birmingham office as part of the regional investment team. She graduated with First-Class Honours in Economics and Politics from the University of Leeds, including an exchange year at Bocconi University in Milan, and previously interned at Citibank and Callidus Capital. She also serves as the UK Ambassador for Female x Finance, a women-only finance community.

Leader of a major sustainable architectural and design house and founder of The Norman Foster Foundation.

Researcher experienced in large-scale statistical analysis for organisations such as the UK Cabinet Office and OECD. Finishing a PhD at the University of Oxford after a master's from Harvard.

Rebecca Starkings is a regulatory compliance professional with over 15 years of experience, focusing on financial crime prevention, business integrity, due diligence, portfolio monitoring, corporate governance, and risk management. She has worked with impact funds, private equity, venture capital, and corporate financiers in the UK and abroad, advising firms across the regulatory lifecycle from authorisation applications to cessations. She has advised Future Planet Capital since 2016 and now serves as its Compliance Officer, MLRO, Non-Executive Director, and Group DEI lead.

Sam Martin is a Portfolio Manager at Future Planet Capital, working on the UK Innovation and Science Seed fund (UKI2S) and supporting portfolio companies with post-investment needs such as investment readiness, fundraising, and talent acquisition. Before joining the firm, he worked at the equity crowdfunding platform Seedrs, supporting a portfolio of over 700 early-stage startups. He holds an Integrated Masters in International Relations and Global Issues from the University of Nottingham.

Surjit Kooner is a Managing Director at Future Planet Capital and serves as a Fund Principal and Investment Committee Member for the MEIF West Midlands Equity Fund, with a similar ongoing role for the Exceed Partnership. A Chartered Accountant, he has over eleven years of experience advising small and medium-sized private companies on fund raising. He trained in corporate finance at Arthur Andersen, later joining Deloitte Corporate Finance in 2003, and holds a degree in Economics and Finance from Brunel University and a Master's in Corporate Strategy & Governance from Nottingham University.

Thomas Storey is a Senior Associate at Future Planet Capital, working across the UKI2S Defence, Space and Fusion portfolios. He holds a Master's degree in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering and has over a decade of experience in the aerospace industry, including engineering roles at Surrey Satellites (SSTL) and defence technology work at QinetiQ. Before joining the firm, he was a Principal Consultant at London Economics advising on space-sector opportunities.