Tom Blomfield
InvestorUnicorn founderCo-Founder & former CEO at Monzo · General Partner at Y Combinator · Founder at GoCardless
London
Writes $5K – $50K checks · typically $25K
FoundedMonzo$5BGoCardless · YC
About
Co-founder of Monzo and founder of GoCardless. Awarded an OBE in 2019.
Invests in
Fintech
Beyond investing
- Founded
- Founded GoCardless and coded most of the first version alongside two co-founders. Founded the digital bank Monzo. Blomfield founded Boso.com, a student marketplace that expanded to 50 universities across the UK. He co-founded GoCardless in January 2011 with Hiroki Takeuchi and Matt Robinson. He founded the challenger bank Monzo in 2015. In March 2025 he launched Recipe Ninja, an AI recipe generation app made through vibe coding.
- Education
- Studied at University of Oxford (Degree, Law (jurisprudence)) Studied at University of Oxford (Master's, Law, 2008) Studied at Université Panthéon-Assas (Paris II) (French and European law) Studied at Dr Challoner's Grammar School
- Communities
- Is involved with Y Combinator, referencing its recent batches and mantras in his writing.
- Awards
- Blomfield was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2019 New Year Honours for services to improving competition and financial inclusion in the banking sector. In 2013 he was recognised as one of the top five entrepreneurs under 30 by the European Commission. While at Oxford he won a £1,000 prize in a business plan competition organised by Oxford Entrepreneurs in 2004.
- Hobbies
- Builds AI-assisted side projects, including the recipe app RecipeNinja.ai and games. He spends his free time making pottery. He has travelled to east Africa including Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Zanzibar.
- Family
- He grew up in Buckinghamshire and his father was an entrepreneur who set up an engineering company.
Mentioned above: the Y Combinator mafia → · the University of Oxford mafia → · the GoCardless mafia →
From Tom's own website — common ground for a warm intro.
Co-Founder & former CEO at Monzo
Intro paths
In turn, Tom can intro founders to Monzo's investors below.
Monzo's investors · 18
Co-founders at Monzo




Founder at GoCardlessYC S11
Intro paths
Tom went through Y Combinator (Summer 2011) — any YC alum in your network can reach them through the YC community.
In turn, Tom can intro founders to GoCardless's investors below.
GoCardless's investors · 12
Co-founders at GoCardless
Experience
- AnthropicMember of Technical Staffcurrent2026 — presentSan Francisco Bay Area
- Y CombinatorGeneral Partner (Leave of Absence)current2023 — presentSan Francisco, California, United States
- Y CombinatorVisiting Partner2021 — 2023San Francisco, California, United States
- Monzo BankPresident2020 — 2021
- Monzo BankCEO2015 — 2020London Area, United Kingdom
- GrouperVP Growth2013 — 2014New York City Metropolitan Area
- GoCardlessCo-Founder2011 — 2013
- OC&C Strategy ConsultantsAssociate Consultant2008 — 2011
- Boso.comCo-Founder and CTO2004 — 2006
Education
- University of OxfordMaster's Degree, 1st Class2007 — 2008
- University of OxfordBA Jurisprudence, 1st Class2003 — 2007
- Paris-Pantheon-Assas UniversityDiplôme en droit, European Law2005 — 2006
Skills & more
Languages English · French
From Tom's professional profile.
Podcasts & interviews
featuring Tom BlomfieldHow to Build a Self-Improving Company with AI
Y Combinator
The Sales Playbook for Founders
Startup School
AI Apps Are Broken — Here's How To Fix Them
The Breakdown
How AI Coding Agents Will Change Your Job
The Breakdown
Writing
All posts ↗test
Colleagues at Y Combinator
Network14
▶2 more connections
Investors connected to Tom in public investor directories — a warm-intro map.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Tom Blomfield?
- Co-founder of Monzo and founder of GoCardless. Awarded an OBE in 2019.
- Where does Tom Blomfield work?
- Tom Blomfield is Co-Founder & former CEO of Monzo and General Partner at Y Combinator and Founder at GoCardless.
- What does Tom Blomfield invest in?
- Tom Blomfield invests in Fintech.
- What check size does Tom Blomfield write?
- Tom Blomfield typically writes checks of $5K – $50K.
- What companies did Tom Blomfield found?
- Tom Blomfield founded Monzo, GoCardless.
- Where did Tom Blomfield go to school?
- Tom Blomfield studied at University of Oxford (Master's Degree, 1st Class); University of Oxford (BA Jurisprudence, 1st Class); Paris-Pantheon-Assas University (Diplôme en droit, European Law).
- What awards has Tom Blomfield received?
- Blomfield was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2019 New Year Honours for services to improving competition and financial inclusion in the banking sector. In 2013 he was recognised as one of the top five entrepreneurs under 30 by the European Commission. While at Oxford he won a £1,000 prize in a business plan competition organised by Oxford Entrepreneurs in 2004.
Founder mafias
Y Combinator mafia8,773
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
+ 8,766 more
University of Oxford mafia290
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
+ 283 more
Anthropic mafia38
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
+ 31 more
GoCardless mafia7
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Paris-Pantheon-Assas University mafia7
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Same school
Also attended University of Oxford955
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Also attended Paris-Pantheon-Assas University55
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Shared employers
Also worked at Anthropic100
+ 94 more
Also worked at Y Combinator337
+ 331 more
Also worked at Monzo Bank31
+ 25 more







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