• Alex Starling

How does our European Dealmaker help bring global success to the entrepreneurial ‘cream of the crop’?

My job as a GEP dealmaker is to identify innovative European entrepreneurs and bring them to the UK – the aim is to get the next generation of successful companies headquartered in the UK where they can grow to become tomorrow’s success stories. I look for ground-breaking technology and intellectual property – the UK has a long history of nurturing such companies and my aim is to further enhance the UK’s reputation in this regard.

How do you go about doing this?

If it was a simple as A-B-C everyone would be doing it! It’s the 99% perspiration that brings the 1% inspiration to fruition…

What have you done with yourself to date?

I hold BA (hons) and PhD degrees in Engineering from Cambridge University; I am a Chartered Engineer, a Member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and a Partner at Strata Technology Partners. I have particular experience of raising capital and conducting M&A transactions for technology-focussed companies, both in the UK and the rest of Europe. I am also involved in a number of start-up organisations which are in the process of being introduced to the big wide world!

What made you join the Global Entrepreneurs Programme?

Two things – (1) excellent people and (2) massive potential. I get very excited about facilitating success, but good advice can only make a different when excellent engineers, scientists, entrepreneurs and businessmen are allowed to act unencumbered by the strictures of day-to-day life. There is enormous potential – the UK is a fertile proving ground for young business – but there are plenty of pitfalls, difficulties and hurdles to be overcome which are tricky to negotiate at the best of times, let alone if one is new to the UK. It is a crying shame when budding business ventures are unsuccessful due to purely avoidable bureaucratic or organisational shortcomings – the GEP fills a gap in helping to bring the ‘cream of the crop’ to these shores to create UK jobs, pay UK tax and become the next UK success stories. This is something I wanted to become part of.

What are you passionate about?

Everything. Creating value and fuelling success in the UK, Europe and the world; small government that promotes entrepreneurial success and social responsibility. I am keen to see the world made a better place… and very much intend to do my bit!