Team

Ilian founded EMV Capital in 2018. After its acquisition by NetScientific PLC (now EMV Capital PLC), he became group CEO. Previously he co-founded and was CEO of CambridgeIP Ltd, which he built into a leading IP strategy and patent data analytics provider. He also worked as a strategy advisor for various corporate blue chip clients and public policy. Previously he founded and co-led a family business in industrials and electric engineering in Southern Africa. He is a Board member on behalf of the Group at many portfolio companies, including , Glycotest Inc. (Chair), Sofant Technologies, PointGrab, Q-Bot, Martlet Capital, DName-iT, Vortex and Wanda Health. He is a Board member of NASDAQ-listed PDS Biotech Inc.

Ilian holds a PhD from Cambridge University’s Judge Business School with a focus on Venture Capital and science commercialisation models; Master’s in Economics and BA Politics, Economics and International Relations from the Witwatersrand University, South Africa. He was an Associate Fellow at Chatham House with a focus on sustainability and renewables.  He has authored numerous academic, policy and industry reports.

Ed Hooper is Executive Director, General Counsel and Group Company Secretary of EMV Capital, providing legal, strategic and commercial support to the Group and its Portfolio Companies.

Ed joined from his position as a Partner at an international law firm, where he led and developed the firm’s Corporate Finance team in London. He has over 20 years’ experience as a lawyer in the City, specialising in advising on a broad range of transactions, including fundraisings, M&A, IPOs, joint ventures and restructurings, many on an international scale.

Ed is a Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales. He holds a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) degree (LL.B) in Law and German Law from the University of Exeter, and a Master of Laws degree (LL.M) from the University of Saarbrücken.

Charles Spicer is an experienced chair and director specialising in the medtech and life sciences industries. He advises both public and private companies. He currently chairs Creo Medical Group plc and Korn Wall Limited (KwickScreen). Furthermore, he serves as the Chair for the UK Department of Health’s Product Development Awards Selection Panel B for Invention for Innovation (i4i). Charles previously held directorships at Aircraft Medical (acquired by Medtronic Inc. in 2015) and Stanmore Implants (acquired by Stryker Inc. in 2016).

Charles was previously Chief Executive of MDY Healthcare plc, a strategic healthcare investor and, prior to that, Head of Healthcare Corporate Finance at both Numis Securities and Nomura International. Charles has a PhD in History from London University and an MA in History from Cambridge University.

Jonathan Robinson is an experienced company director and entrepreneur with a focus on business development. Most recently he chaired the board of the international top-level domain registry operator, Afilias (until its acquisition in December 2020). Jonathan is a current investor in private growth businesses in a wide range of sectors.

Jonathan previously co-founded the publicly quoted Group NBT plc (formerly NetBenefit) which ultimately became NetNames Group. He was main board director and Chief Operating Officer of the Group, from 1999 until June 2009. At Group NBT, Jonathan was responsible for all areas of product management and associated strategic planning, fulfilment operations and industry policy issues, as well as acquisition integration projects. NetNames was taken private by HG Capital in 2011. Jonathan was also previously a non-executive director of the .uk internet registry operator, Nominet (UK) Ltd for two distinct terms of office. He remains active in the domain name sector.

Jonathan has a PhD in Materials Engineering and a BSc (Physics) from the University of Cape Town. Previously he held research posts at Imperial College, London from 1993-1994 and then at the Rolls Royce Technology Centre at the University of Cambridge until 1997. During his research career, Jonathan published numerous research papers and enjoyed periods of research work at the University of Groningen, Netherlands, and the University of California, Berkeley, USA.

Anesh Patel is a strategic finance leader with over twenty years of experience spanning accountancy, investment banking and industry. Anesh began his career at Ernst & Young, qualifying as a Chartered Accountant and working across audit, assurance and private equity transaction support, before spending seven years in investment banking executing M&A and capital-raising transactions. Prior to joining EMV, Anesh held senior roles at AIM-quoted life sciences and med-tech companies, where he enhanced finance systems and processes and led a range of strategic initiatives, including fundraisings, M&A and partnerships.

Anesh holds an M.Sci (Hons) in Mathematics with Economics from University College London (UCL).

Anesh Patel is a strategic finance leader with over twenty years of experience spanning accountancy, investment banking and industry. Anesh began his career at Ernst & Young, qualifying as a Chartered Accountant and working across audit, assurance and private equity transaction support, before spending seven years in investment banking executing M&A and capital-raising transactions. Prior to joining EMV, Anesh held senior roles at AIM-quoted life sciences and med-tech companies, where he enhanced finance systems and processes and led a range of strategic initiatives, including fundraisings, M&A and partnerships.

Anesh holds an M.Sci (Hons) in Mathematics with Economics from University College London (UCL).

Alpesh is a seasoned professional specialising in Salesforce consulting and administration, bringing a robust foundation to streamline processes and optimise workflows for organisations. As a certified Salesforce Consultant and Administrator, he possesses a comprehensive understanding of the platform’s capabilities, delivering tailored solutions to meet the unique needs of EMV Capital and its portfolio companies.

From implementing efficient CRM strategies to customising workflows and ensuring seamless integrations, Alpesh is committed to leveraging Salesforce’s robust features for maximum impact.

Harry is an Investment Associate at EMV Capital, where he plays a critical role in evaluating investment opportunities, performing due diligence analysis, and developing internal processes for fund operation. Before joining EMV Capital, Harry worked as an Associate at an IP consultancy firm, where he analysed patent data and advised on patent strategy.

Harry holds both a BA and MSci in Natural Sciences from The University of Cambridge, demonstrating his expertise in the field.

Laksh joined EMV Capital in July 2025 as a Summer Analyst transtioning to a full time role thereafter, supporting the marketing and investor relations team in strengthening EMV’s market presence. Prior to joining EMV, Laksh gained consulting experience with Deloitte and Manchester Consultancy Services.

Laksh holds an MSc in Finance from Imperial College London and a First-Class Honours BSc. degree in International Business, Finance and Economics from the University of Manchester.

Nick brings a wealth of experience from his private client network, having built a strong community of High Net Worth Individuals helping raise considerable assets into some of the UK’s most exciting companies.

Nick’s particular focus has been structuring investments under the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS), with experience ranging from Deep Tech, Engineering, Real Estate and Asset Backed securities. Nick holds a BSc from King’s College London’s School of Medicine.

Selina is a seasoned Client Services Manager in the financial services sector, specialising in back-office and operational support. Selina excels in managing complex client needs and operations, demonstrating skills in problem-solving, effective communication, and attention to detail.

A commercial, growth-focused and highly experienced Finance Leader with over 20+ years of experience in a wide range of financial institutions from blue chip organizations such as AXA to owner managed SME’s such as THB Group, R K Carvill & Co. and Towergate Partnership. A qualified chartered accountant by profession with a degree from Auckland University (NZ).

Most recently have undertaken a number of interim roles within financial services for a number of high growth tech enabled SME’s, before which worked at Source for 6 years a European ETP provider (Investment Manager) which was sold to Invesco in 2017.

Svetlana has substantial experience working in Financial Planning and Analysis roles across Private Equity/Tech, Retail, Services and Energy.

Tom has worked in the early stage investment ecosystem for over a decade, with roles across that period working for two UK Angel Investors of the Year award winners, Cambridge Enterprise and Cambridge Capital Group.

Tom joined Martlet in 2015. He has a First Class Business Degree and has previously worked in operational and finance based roles for a number of technology companies.

Tom joined EMV Capital in August 2025 as a Business Development Manager, focused on raising capital for EMV’s early-stage EIS Fund. Tom was previously Director of Investor Relations at MMC Ventures, a leading UK Series-A investor. Prior to that he worked in Investor Relations for Findlay Park Partners, a US equity fund.

Tom holds an MA in International Relations from Goldsmiths, University of London, as well as a BA in Business Administration from LSBU. He also holds the Investment Management Certificate (IMC) and has passed Level 1 of the CFA program.

Nigel Brooksby is Chair of AMR Bio, Symbiotic Blue and Vortex Liquid Biopsy Solutions. He is a past President and Lifetime Member of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), Chair of the European Medicines Group and Non-Executive Director of Novacta Biosystems, Chronos Therapeutics, Porton Biopharma and the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI).

Earlier in his career, Nigel served as Chair and CEO of the Sanofi Group in the UK and Ireland, and held senior leadership roles across the USA, Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East with Pfizer and GSK. His charitable appointments include Chair of the Catherine Hamlin Fistula Foundation International and Global Trustee of the LouLou Foundation.

Dr Stephen Cook brings 25 years of experience in the energy industry, including senior roles at BP focused on commercialisation and innovation. He led BP’s IP monetisation and licensing activities, as well as its scale-up and corporate venture capital efforts.

Dr Cook has advised investment funds and held multiple Non-Executive Director and Chair positions across deep-tech start-ups. He brings a strong track record in strategic leadership, technology commercialisation and supporting high-growth, innovation-driven companies.

John Clarkson is an experienced business professional and qualified accountant, who had a successful early career working in various financial, audit and management positions in the UK and overseas. John brings many years of commercial expertise in leadership roles, including that of CEO, Chairman and Non-Executive Director, including former Chair of NetScientific Plc. He has been a member of a number of business and professional groups, and has written articles and undertaken speaking engagements in both the UK and Europe.

John is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, a qualified Public Finance Accountant, a Fellow of the Institute of Consulting and Chartered Manager. He is an active investor in start-ups, high-tech and growing businesses, where he has been involved in strategy development, fundraising, contract negotiations, remuneration and corporate governance arrangements. John supports our portfolio company, DeepTech Recycling.

Kevin Dean is an engineer with 30+ years of experience in technology, information systems and informatics innovation. He is the Managing Director of Health Tech consultancy Smart Health Science Limited, working with innovators and venture funders to bring health technology and services to the market. Kevin is also Chair of Combinostics Oy, a Finland-based international company that provides advanced tools for data-driven diagnostics in dementia, MS and Alzheimer’s Disease, giving the physician a holistic view of all patient data.

Kevin is also a Senior Research Fellow with the RAND Corporation in Europe; Adjunct Professor of Telehealth and Assistive Living at the Maersk Institute in Denmark, and is a member of the Pistoia Alliance Advisory Board. Kevin has worked in health & care for over 20 years, with past roles including health & care Innovation Director for Cisco, and as Non-Executive Director of Genomics England Limited (the world’s largest Whole Genome Sequencing programme) with responsibility for Information. Kevin supports portfolio companies Wanda, Vortex and DName-iT

The Health Services Journal named Kevin, in 2013, as one of the Top 50 Innovators in Healthcare.

Dr Stephen Cook brings 25 years of experience in the energy industry, including senior roles at BP focused on commercialisation and innovation. He led BP’s IP monetisation and licensing activities, as well as its scale-up and corporate venture capital efforts.

Dr Cook has advised investment funds and held multiple Non-Executive Director and Chair positions across deep-tech start-ups. He brings a strong track record in strategic leadership, technology commercialisation and supporting high-growth, innovation-driven companies.

Nigel Brooksby is Chair of AMR Bio, Symbiotic Blue and Vortex Liquid Biopsy Solutions. He is a past President and Lifetime Member of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), Chair of the European Medicines Group and Non-Executive Director of Novacta Biosystems, Chronos Therapeutics, Porton Biopharma and the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI).

Earlier in his career, Nigel served as Chair and CEO of the Sanofi Group in the UK and Ireland, and held senior leadership roles across the USA, Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East with Pfizer and GSK. His charitable appointments include Chair of the Catherine Hamlin Fistula Foundation International and Global Trustee of the LouLou Foundation.

Ilian founded EMV Capital in 2018. After its acquisition by NetScientific PLC (now EMV Capital PLC), he became group CEO. Previously he co-founded and was CEO of CambridgeIP Ltd, which he built into a leading IP strategy and patent data analytics provider. He also worked as a strategy advisor for various corporate blue chip clients and public policy. Previously he founded and co-led a family business in industrials and electric engineering in Southern Africa. He is a Board member on behalf of the Group at many portfolio companies, including , Glycotest Inc. (Chair), Sofant Technologies, PointGrab, Q-Bot, Martlet Capital, DName-iT, Vortex and Wanda Health. He is a Board member of NASDAQ-listed PDS Biotech Inc.

Ilian holds a PhD from Cambridge University’s Judge Business School with a focus on Venture Capital and science commercialisation models; Master’s in Economics and BA Politics, Economics and International Relations from the Witwatersrand University, South Africa. He was an Associate Fellow at Chatham House with a focus on sustainability and renewables.  He has authored numerous academic, policy and industry reports.

Ed Hooper is Executive Director, General Counsel and Group Company Secretary of EMV Capital, providing legal, strategic and commercial support to the Group and its Portfolio Companies.

Ed joined from his position as a Partner at an international law firm, where he led and developed the firm’s Corporate Finance team in London. He has over 20 years’ experience as a lawyer in the City, specialising in advising on a broad range of transactions, including fundraisings, M&A, IPOs, joint ventures and restructurings, many on an international scale.

Ed is a Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales. He holds a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) degree (LL.B) in Law and German Law from the University of Exeter, and a Master of Laws degree (LL.M) from the University of Saarbrücken.

Charles Spicer is an experienced chair and director specialising in the medtech and life sciences industries. He advises both public and private companies. He currently chairs Creo Medical Group plc and Korn Wall Limited (KwickScreen). Furthermore, he serves as the Chair for the UK Department of Health’s Product Development Awards Selection Panel B for Invention for Innovation (i4i). Charles previously held directorships at Aircraft Medical (acquired by Medtronic Inc. in 2015) and Stanmore Implants (acquired by Stryker Inc. in 2016).

Charles was previously Chief Executive of MDY Healthcare plc, a strategic healthcare investor and, prior to that, Head of Healthcare Corporate Finance at both Numis Securities and Nomura International. Charles has a PhD in History from London University and an MA in History from Cambridge University.

Jonathan Robinson is an experienced company director and entrepreneur with a focus on business development. Most recently he chaired the board of the international top-level domain registry operator, Afilias (until its acquisition in December 2020). Jonathan is a current investor in private growth businesses in a wide range of sectors.

Jonathan previously co-founded the publicly quoted Group NBT plc (formerly NetBenefit) which ultimately became NetNames Group. He was main board director and Chief Operating Officer of the Group, from 1999 until June 2009. At Group NBT, Jonathan was responsible for all areas of product management and associated strategic planning, fulfilment operations and industry policy issues, as well as acquisition integration projects. NetNames was taken private by HG Capital in 2011. Jonathan was also previously a non-executive director of the .uk internet registry operator, Nominet (UK) Ltd for two distinct terms of office. He remains active in the domain name sector.

Jonathan has a PhD in Materials Engineering and a BSc (Physics) from the University of Cape Town. Previously he held research posts at Imperial College, London from 1993-1994 and then at the Rolls Royce Technology Centre at the University of Cambridge until 1997. During his research career, Jonathan published numerous research papers and enjoyed periods of research work at the University of Groningen, Netherlands, and the University of California, Berkeley, USA.

Anesh Patel is a strategic finance leader with over twenty years of experience spanning accountancy, investment banking and industry. Anesh began his career at Ernst & Young, qualifying as a Chartered Accountant and working across audit, assurance and private equity transaction support, before spending seven years in investment banking executing M&A and capital-raising transactions. Prior to joining EMV, Anesh held senior roles at AIM-quoted life sciences and med-tech companies, where he enhanced finance systems and processes and led a range of strategic initiatives, including fundraisings, M&A and partnerships.

Anesh holds an M.Sci (Hons) in Mathematics with Economics from University College London (UCL).

Alpesh is a seasoned professional specialising in Salesforce consulting and administration, bringing a robust foundation to streamline processes and optimise workflows for organisations. As a certified Salesforce Consultant and Administrator, he possesses a comprehensive understanding of the platform’s capabilities, delivering tailored solutions to meet the unique needs of EMV Capital and its portfolio companies.

From implementing efficient CRM strategies to customising workflows and ensuring seamless integrations, Alpesh is committed to leveraging Salesforce’s robust features for maximum impact.

Harry is an Investment Associate at EMV Capital, where he plays a critical role in evaluating investment opportunities, performing due diligence analysis, and developing internal processes for fund operation. Before joining EMV Capital, Harry worked as an Associate at an IP consultancy firm, where he analysed patent data and advised on patent strategy.

Harry holds both a BA and MSci in Natural Sciences from The University of Cambridge, demonstrating his expertise in the field.

Laksh joined EMV Capital in July 2025 as a Summer Analyst transtioning to a full time role thereafter, supporting the marketing and investor relations team in strengthening EMV’s market presence. Prior to joining EMV, Laksh gained consulting experience with Deloitte and Manchester Consultancy Services.

Laksh holds an MSc in Finance from Imperial College London and a First-Class Honours BSc. degree in International Business, Finance and Economics from the University of Manchester.

Nick brings a wealth of experience from his private client network, having built a strong community of High Net Worth Individuals helping raise considerable assets into some of the UK’s most exciting companies.

Nick’s particular focus has been structuring investments under the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS), with experience ranging from Deep Tech, Engineering, Real Estate and Asset Backed securities. Nick holds a BSc from King’s College London’s School of Medicine.

Selina is a seasoned Client Services Manager in the financial services sector, specialising in back-office and operational support. Selina excels in managing complex client needs and operations, demonstrating skills in problem-solving, effective communication, and attention to detail.

A commercial, growth-focused and highly experienced Finance Leader with over 20+ years of experience in a wide range of financial institutions from blue chip organizations such as AXA to owner managed SME’s such as THB Group, R K Carvill & Co. and Towergate Partnership. A qualified chartered accountant by profession with a degree from Auckland University (NZ).

Most recently have undertaken a number of interim roles within financial services for a number of high growth tech enabled SME’s, before which worked at Source for 6 years a European ETP provider (Investment Manager) which was sold to Invesco in 2017.

Svetlana has substantial experience working in Financial Planning and Analysis roles across Private Equity/Tech, Retail, Services and Energy.

Tom has worked in the early stage investment ecosystem for over a decade, with roles across that period working for two UK Angel Investors of the Year award winners, Cambridge Enterprise and Cambridge Capital Group.

Tom joined Martlet in 2015. He has a First Class Business Degree and has previously worked in operational and finance based roles for a number of technology companies.

Tom joined EMV Capital in August 2025 as a Business Development Manager, focused on raising capital for EMV’s early-stage EIS Fund. Tom was previously Director of Investor Relations at MMC Ventures, a leading UK Series-A investor. Prior to that he worked in Investor Relations for Findlay Park Partners, a US equity fund.

Tom holds an MA in International Relations from Goldsmiths, University of London, as well as a BA in Business Administration from LSBU. He also holds the Investment Management Certificate (IMC) and has passed Level 1 of the CFA program.

John Clarkson is an experienced business professional and qualified accountant, who had a successful early career working in various financial, audit and management positions in the UK and overseas. John brings many years of commercial expertise in leadership roles, including that of CEO, Chairman and Non-Executive Director, including former Chair of NetScientific Plc. He has been a member of a number of business and professional groups, and has written articles and undertaken speaking engagements in both the UK and Europe.

John is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, a qualified Public Finance Accountant, a Fellow of the Institute of Consulting and Chartered Manager. He is an active investor in start-ups, high-tech and growing businesses, where he has been involved in strategy development, fundraising, contract negotiations, remuneration and corporate governance arrangements. John supports our portfolio company, DeepTech Recycling.

Kevin Dean is an engineer with 30+ years of experience in technology, information systems and informatics innovation. He is the Managing Director of Health Tech consultancy Smart Health Science Limited, working with innovators and venture funders to bring health technology and services to the market. Kevin is also Chair of Combinostics Oy, a Finland-based international company that provides advanced tools for data-driven diagnostics in dementia, MS and Alzheimer’s Disease, giving the physician a holistic view of all patient data.

Kevin is also a Senior Research Fellow with the RAND Corporation in Europe; Adjunct Professor of Telehealth and Assistive Living at the Maersk Institute in Denmark, and is a member of the Pistoia Alliance Advisory Board. Kevin has worked in health & care for over 20 years, with past roles including health & care Innovation Director for Cisco, and as Non-Executive Director of Genomics England Limited (the world’s largest Whole Genome Sequencing programme) with responsibility for Information. Kevin supports portfolio companies Wanda, Vortex and DName-iT

The Health Services Journal named Kevin, in 2013, as one of the Top 50 Innovators in Healthcare.