Get to know: Startup Coalition, the policy voice of UK tech

Leah Friedlander

Read • 4 min

Startup Coalition is an independent advocacy group that serves as the policy voice for technology-led startups and scaleups in the UK.

We were founded by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs and fight for a policy environment that enables early-stage British tech companies to grow, scale and compete globally.

We have over 4000 startups in our network and have been instrumental in building proactive coalitions of businesses and investors on issues that are integral to the health of the UK’s startup ecosystem. Our recent work has seen many successes, from lobbying the Government to act during the Silicon Valley Bank collapse to the design and establishment of the Future Fund during Covid and the creation of new technology-focused visas.

Get in touch with the team!

We are a chatty bunch - below is a bit more on who we are and what we all work on.

Dom Hallas, Executive Director

Dom has been influential in making sure startups and founders' voices are heard. He is a member of the UK’s Digital Economy Council and was one of Politico’s Top 20 People who matter in UK tech and 13 on the Top 40 Lobbying Power List for the UK. Dom has previously worked as a civil servant in the Brexit department and at Bloomberg Philanthropies.

Email: Dom@startupcoalition.io

Vinous Ali, Deputy Executive Director

Vinous brings over a decade of experience of Westminster and tech policy to the Startup Coalition. Vinous joins Startup Coalition from Public First where she built the technology practice and then spearheaded the company’s US expansion. She formerly led techUK’s domestic policy work after years working at the heart of Westminster as a political adviser. Vinous sits on the Board of Trustees of the Good Things Foundation and has undertaken a fellowship at Cambridge University’s Centre for Science and Policy.

Email: Vinous@startupcoalition.io

Charlie Mercer, Policy Director

Charlie is responsible for directly overseeing both our Fintech and Investment Policy work and our Climate Tech work. He was formerly at American Express for five years and worked

on the Brexit response and before working on their open data strategy team globally. He sits on the Government’s Smart Data Council. Charlie has a Masters of Science in Carbon Management from the University of Edinburgh.

Contact Charlie for more information about our work on:

Climate Tech, with current focuses including Carbon Markets, Agtech and Energy
Smart Data
Tax Policy, including small business digitalisation
Fintech Policy
Investment Policy

Email: Charlie@startupcoalition.io

Kir Nuthi, Head of Tech Regulation

Kir focuses on all things AI and deeptech as well as other major regulatory policy changes including those facing data, cyber, and privacy. She’s an experienced veteran of tech policy fights in the US, EU, and UK - including the EU’s AI Act and Data Act and the US’s intermediary liability and Section 230 battles. She’s also an alumna of Stand Together, ITIF’s Center for Data Innovation, and NetChoice.

Contact Kir for more information about our work on:

AI and Data Policy
Copyright and Intellectual Property
Cybersecurity and Defence
Deeptech and Robotics
Quantum
Regulators and Regulatory Innovation

Email: Kir@startupcoalition.io

Marcus Foster, Head of Policy Campaigns

Marcus is responsible for all of the Startup Coalition’s public-facing outputs and wider campaigns. He also manages a number of policy streams, including Crypto and Web3, Gig Economy, Sharing Economy and TransportTech. Prior to joining in 2021, Marcus was with a public affairs and engagement agency, working on some of the largest property developments in London and the South East. Marcus is a seasoned campaigner having worked on several national elections as a campaigns manager for the Liberal Democrats, and as an advisor to Ed Davey, former Cabinet Minister and the Party’s current leader.

Contact Marcus for more information about our work on:

Crypto & Web3
Gig & Sharing Economy
Transport tech
Space tech
Proptech

Email: Marcus@startupcoalition.io

Leah Friedlander, Head of Engagement

Leah helps build and maintain relationships with the coalition's broad range of stakeholders including Ministers, MPs and officials. Leah joined the Startup Coalition in 2021 following the completion of her Masters of Science from UCL in Digital Technologies and Policy. Leah has a background in US politics having previously worked on the US 2020 presidential election campaign and in the US Senate.

Contact Leah for more information on our communications, events and regional representation.

Email: Leah@startupcoalition.io

Luke Kosky, Fintech Policy Lead

Luke leads on all things Fintech including policy issues related to open banking and payments innovation. Luke also manages and monitors our Fintech support status. After

completing his Masters in Law, from the University of Bristol, Luke previously worked as a Public Policy Manager at the Royal Mail and then at the Fintech TSImagine.

Contact Luke for more information about our work on:

Consumer Credit Reform
Open Banking
Payments, including cross border payments
Financial Services Licensing
BNPL
Consumer Duty

Email: Luke@startupcoalition.io

Bella Rhodes, Talent Policy Lead

Bella leads on all policy issues related to access to talent - including immigration and skills policy. She is a former Business Immigration Analyst at Fragomen and has a Master of Science in International Social and Public Policy from the LSE.

Contact Bella for more information about our work on: