who we are
Who We Are
Founded in 2008, Social Tech Trust backs early-stage ventures using technology to address pressing social and environmental challenges. We support innovators — from start-ups to impact funds — focused on improving lives and creating lasting impact.
We believe enduring solutions are built by people with deep understanding of the problems they are solving, through lived experience or close connection to the communities affected. Through targeted investment, tailored programmes and ecosystem building, we help ambitious ideas grow into solutions with real-world impact.
leadership
Our leadership is guided by a shared commitment to equity, accountability and long-term impact.
our Principles
Vision
We envision a world where social transformation drives technology towards a more equitable future.
Values
Our values define who we are and guide everything we do.
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We are inclusive: committed to ensuring everyone has an equal opportunity to shape, develop and benefit from technology.
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We are collaborative: bringing people and organisations together to drive meaningful transformation.
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We are outcome-driven: focused on identifying and supporting people-led solutions to social and environmental challenges.
Embedding equity in our approach
Equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) are essential to our vision of a world where social transformation drives technology. When shaped by diverse voices and lived experience, technology becomes a powerful force for change — which is why EDI is embedded in everything we do. We grow a portfolio of ventures whose core mission is to advance equity and social justice. We design investment and support that responds to the needs of underrepresented founders. And we collaborate with others to challenge bias, share learning and strengthen inclusive practice across the wider ecosystem.
Ed leads Social Tech Trust, shaping its work to support a more inclusive and effective impact ecosystem for social change, enabled by technology. With a background in impact investment and innovative finance, he brings experience in backing and scaling ventures and funds tackling complex social challenges.
Rob - Chair of Trustees, Managing Director at Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation - leads efforts to identify new investment opportunities as Managing Director at Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation. His extensive experience in investment research and business policy complements his role as Chair of Social Tech Trust, where he champions tech ventures focused on driving social transformation.
Russell - Vice Chair of Trustees, former General Counsel at EE - brings extensive legal expertise from his role leading the legal and compliance team for BT’s Consumer division (BT, EE, and Plusnet). With a career spanning the media, communications, and technology sectors, his experience includes advising high-profile clients in the UK and internationally.
Maria - Trustee, Head of Innovation and Sustainability at Aerospace Technology Institute - is an expert in advancing tech innovation and sustainability. She has honed her ability to drive impactful tech development across various sectors. As a board member at Social Tech Trust, Maria applies her strategic insights to support social tech ventures, aligning with our mission to foster tech-driven social transformation.
Mehjabeen - Trustee, Director of Finance at Arts University Bournemouth - is a seasoned executive with over 25 years of experience in finance and investment. She has a wealth of expertise that spans both public and private sectors, including work with the UN and European Commission. This makes her instrumental in driving Social Tech Trust’s mission to foster innovation and social impact through technology.
Nick - Trustee, Chief Executive at Social Investment Business and previously Deputy CEO at Social Enterprise UK - is pivotal in driving social investment and innovation. He also serves on key advisory boards, including the Impact Investing Institute, using his expertise to help guide strategic investments.
Nick - Trustee, Founder and CEO at OceanMind - is an award-winning entrepreneur using advanced technology to address global challenges like ocean health, greenhouse gas emissions, and corporate sustainability. Nick leverages his expertise in tech-driven sustainability to support the ventures we work with to drive social and environmental impact through transformative tech innovation.
Sunil - Trustee, Director at Reel Cinemas - has extensive knowledge of the early-stage social venture landscape in the UK. He is a Director at REEL Cinemas and co-founder of Greenworkx, an edtech venture addressing the green skills emergency. His experience in both entrepreneurship and non-profit governance helps drive our mission to support impact tech ventures.