Alex Van Someren

How does our UK-based dealmaker ensure that entrepreneurs from all over the world and funding partners benefit from the most profitable business relationships?

I joined the GEP as a Dealmaker in October 2008. My background in software and hardware ICT business and my location in Cambridge mean I’m able to help companies explore the technology options here and throughout the UK. The local technology cluster in Cambridge built around our two universities is internationally renowned, with thousands of businesses in the region offering everything from software development, semiconductor design, nanotechnology, precision engineering, materials science to basic research in physics and chemistry.

What experience do you bring to the Global Entrepreneur Programme team

As an entrepreneur, my own experience of growing teams, raising money and planning for success enable me to use my global contacts network to get great deals done for new businesses. I have founded and built four technology firms, two of which have had successful exits through IPOs on the London Stock Exchange, both on the main board and on the AIM.

How did you gain your experience of ICT businesses?

I became involved with local firm Acorn Computer as a young teenager. I left school at 17 to join the company, working on the prototype BBC before starting my own consulting firm. I went on to co-found ANT Limited in 1990 to produce networking products - ANT plc was listed on the London AIM market in 2005 and is now positioned in the embedded software market for IPTV.

From 1996 I was CEO of nCipher which I co-founded with my brother to develop internet security products. We raised a total of £14m ($28m) in venture capital investments between 1996 and 2000; nCipher plc was listed on the London Stock Exchange in 2000, raising a further £108m ($216m) at IPO. I expanded the company by making four acquisitions before recruiting my successor and exiting the business in December 2007. The company was sold to Thales SA in October 2008.

What do you do besides help entrepreneurs?

The Prince’s Trust is a UK charity whose president, HRH The Prince of Wales, is passionate about supporting young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to get a start in business. I work on a development committee called the Technology Leadership Group which aims to give benefits to technology companies and their employees, whilst at the same time supporting the work of the Trust. I’m also an Entrepreneur in Residence at the Judge Business School, University of Cambridge, where I try to help aspiring entrepreneurs understand the risks and rewards of starting the growing their own business.

Besides my family, my non-business interests include cookery, running, analogue music synthesisers and repairing my watermill in Norfolk.