Find your path to James
14 people in our graph share verified history with James — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.
Matt MelymukaunlockedJames: together at Cognism (2019–2025)
×10James: together at Cognism
James: together at Axpo Group
About
James Isilay is the Founder and CEO of GrowthNation, with a background in engineering, quant trading, and enterprise software. He previously founded Cognism, scaling it to over $80M ARR and a team of more than 500, and currently works on Agentic AI while serving as an investor in B2B software companies and a board advisor on areas including AI-driven revenue analytics and corporate governance. He also helped produce the film Last Swim, which received an award at the Berlin Film Festival.
Founder at Cognism
Intro paths
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In turn, James can intro founders to Cognism's investors below.
Cognism's investors · 9
Atlantic Vantage PointParis · $1M – $150M checksAXA Venture PartnersNew YorkBlue Cloud VenturesNew York · $5M – $30M checksInnvotec Ltd.London · $317.5K – $635K checksPeakSpan Capital PartnersNew York · $3M – $50M checksSouth Central VenturesLjubljana · $1M – $2M checksSwisscom VenturesZurich · $2M – $10M checksVenture FoundersLondonVolution VenturesLondon
Experience
- GrowthNationFounder & CEOcurrent2025 — presentZurich, Switzerland
- CognismFounder & CEO2016 — 2025London, UK / Zurich, Switzerland
- Axpo GroupAlgorithmic Trader | Energy Markets2011 — 2016Zurich, Switzerland
- Axpo GroupQuantitative Trading Analyst | Energy Markets2009 — 2011Zurich, Switzerland
- UBS Investment BankTrader | Metal Sales, Financing & Exotic Options2007 — 2008London, UK
- UBS Investment BankTeam Lead | IT Development & FX Derivatives2001 — 2007
Skills & more
Enterprise SoftwareSaaS SalesSoftware as a Service (SaaS)Trading Systems74VBA10C#3Generative AIAI StrategyAI AgentsMarketing Operations9Strategic Vision8Creativity and Innovation6
+12 more
Organizational CultureOperational ExcellenceThought LeadershipData VisualizationBusiness Intelligence (BI)Fund ManagementCorporate FinanceCapital RaisingInvestor RelationsFinancial ForecastingDue DiligenceBusiness ValuationLanguages English · German
- Certificate in Quantitative Finance (CQF) — Fitch Learning
- STA Diploma — Society Of Technical Analysts Limited
- Certificate in Corporate Governance — INSEAD
From James's professional profile.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is James Isilay?
- James Isilay is the Founder and CEO of GrowthNation, with a background in engineering, quant trading, and enterprise software. He previously founded Cognism, scaling it to over $80M ARR and a team of more than 500, and currently works on Agentic AI while serving as an investor in B2B software companies and a board advisor on areas including AI-driven revenue analytics and corporate governance. He also helped produce the film Last Swim, which received an award at the Berlin Film Festival.
- Where does James Isilay work?
- James Isilay is Founder of Cognism.
- What companies did James Isilay found?
- James Isilay founded Cognism.
- Where did James Isilay go to school?
- James Isilay studied at INSEAD (International Directors Programme); Imperial College London (Master of Engineering - MEng, Information Systems Engineering).
Founder mafias
Imperial College London mafia377
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Nessan BerminghamDoctor of Philosophy - PhDFounded Korro Bio +2David SchilanskyMScFounded One Biosciences +2David MyttonMaster of Science - MSFounded Server Density +1Slava SolonitsynMBAFounded No Cap +1Barnaby MaletTeaching AssistantFounded machine0 +1Advait RuiaBachelor of Engineering (BEng)Founded SuperTokens +1
+ 370 more
INSEAD mafia269
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Alexandre ProtMBAFounded Smartven +1Steve AnaviMBAFounded QontoThomas FornerBertelsmann ProgramFounded Focused Energy +3Kevin RyanMBAFounded Transcend Therapeutics +2Naveen NishchalExecutive Healthcare Management ProgramFounded Uncover +2Julián MeloLeaders at scale - Executive programFounded Ubits +1
+ 262 more
Same school
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Shared employers
Also worked at Cognism13
Matt MelymukaCo-Founder & Managing Partner at PeakSpan Capital PartnersTatjana Zabasu MikužManaging Partner at South Central VenturesJames CodlingManaging Partner at Volution VenturesTatjana Zabasu MikuzManaging Partner at South Central VenturesNicholas de VibeSenior Associate at AXA Venture PartnersWanja HumanesCEO at Kickfund
+ 7 more
Also worked at Axpo Group1
Also worked at UBS Investment Bank1,010
Vlad YatsenkoCo-founder & CTO of RevolutJen WangDeal Operations Manager at Felicis VenturesMartin MignotInvestor at Index VenturesBirgitteInvestor at InvestinorSauvanne Saint-LégerInvestor at DaphniElena PantaziPartner & Head of Platform at Northzone
+ 1,004 more