There’s a reason why the Hustle Awards is the unrivalled badge of excellence for the tech startup industry – it involves a rigorous judging process that’s completely independent and judged by business leaders. Our judges are handpicked by us for their knowledge, experience, and total integrity.

Introducing our Hustle Awards 2025 judges

Agata Nowicka – Agata Nowicka is a serial entrepreneur, investor, and the Managing Partner of Visionaries – an AI incubator launched in partnership with Google, focused on accelerating the growth of the most ambitious female entrepreneurs using AI. With 12 years of experience as a VC investor and founder across the UK, US, and Hong Kong, Agata is also the writer of the weekly Female Foundry newsletter and the author of the Female Innovation Index – Europe’s largest report mapping the funnel of innovation driven by female entrepreneurs

Ashleigh Ainsley – Ashleigh Ainsley is a co-founder of Colorintech, a non-profit aiming to improve access, awareness, and opportunities for ethnic minorities to enter the tech industry. It runs Europe’s largest event for Black Technologists, Black Tech Fest, and work with a number of the world’s leading tech companies to run programmes to enable students and working professionals to access career opportunities. Ashleigh started his early career in strategy at Google before moving to startup Qubit, corporate KPMG, and then consultancy. He has worked on a number of engagements for the UK government at Downing Street, the World Economic Forum, and a number of the world’s biggest organisations on a range of strategy and D&I issues.

Cynthia Davies CBE – Cynthia V Davis CBE has made it her mission to create equal career opportunities for all, regardless of people’s background or characteristics. Cynthia founded Diversifying Group in 2015, after the realisation that her young daughter would be met with the same career challenges as she herself had experienced as a woman of colour. She knew that not enough progress was being made. As a multi award-winning CEO, motivational speaker, and diversity and inclusion specialist, Cynthia is passionate about improving equal opportunities for people from all walks of life by encouraging and motivating the next generation of leaders.

Eda Taskin – Eda Taskin is an investment and venture-building expert, and currently a Manager at Tenity, where she works closely with startups, investors, and corporate partners to drive innovation and scale emerging businesses. Previously, at Antler, she played a key role in startup acceleration, investment readiness, and venture building, coaching early-stage founders, conducting due diligence, and evaluating high-potential startups for investment. Passionate about early-stage investing, technology, ecosystem growth, and fostering innovation across the UK and beyond.

Lee Chambers – Lee Chambers is the Founder and CEO of Male Allies UK. After a diverse career, from corporate finance to building and exiting a tech company, he is now focused on supporting organisations to engage men in inclusion and promote effective allyship. He has been featured on the Startups 100 Index, has received a Great British Entrepreneur Award, and sits on the board of CMI Women, Regenerage UK, and the Manchester Metropolitan University Business School. In 2024, he received the Freedom of the City of London for services to equality in business. Personally, he shares his experiences as a Black autistic man, a stay-at-home dad, and his journey to learn to walk again after acquiring a chronic illness. He lives near Preston with his three children.

Onyeka Nweze – Onyeka Nweze is a Chartered Company Secretary, board advisor, and a tech entrepreneur with extensive commercial experience within the legal and corporate governance industry. Onyeka holds two legal degrees and has had a very successful corporate career within the legal and financial services sector. Onyeka has featured and represented the first ever tech business on one of the biggest business shows in the UK “BBC The Apprentice”. Onyeka is the CEO of Unikorrn, an AI and Blockchain powered startup focused around risk management in the fintech space and is also founder of the May She Prosper Journals for women in business.

Rory Chambers – Rory Chambers is a multi-award-winning inspirational entrepreneur and bestselling co-author. While pursuing a PhD in Clinical Psychology, he combines academic insights with hands-on coaching to guide ambitious men – fathers, husbands, CEOs, leaders, and entrepreneurs – toward enhanced mental resilience, focus, and productivity. As a personal trainer, holistic wellness and performance coach, personal development specialist, and CBT practitioner, Rory’s strategies empower clients to fortify mind and body.

Shammi Raichura – Shammi Raichura is an Operations Lead at Uber where he is responsible for unlocking and operationalising growth opportunities for the UK business. His current role as Head of Cities puts him at the intersection between a company at the forefront of building technology changing the way we live, and the external business and policy enviornment evolving to meet its demands.

Vasily Alekseenko – Vasily Alekseenko is the Founder of Rare Founders, one of the largest startup communities in the UK, bringing together high-growth founders and investors through events like London’s Largest Demo Day. With a background in finance and entrepreneurship, Vasily has built a thriving ecosystem that helps early-stage startups gain visibility, secure funding, and connect with the right investors. His work focuses on identifying and supporting ‘rare founders’ – those building high-impact, scalable businesses.

Yvonne Nagawa – Yvonne Nagawa is a founding member and Chief Operating Officer of Black Seed Ventures, Europe’s first VC fund dedicated to Black founders. With a background in Legal and Compliance from Standard Chartered Bank and Bloomberg, she brings expertise in fund operations, regulatory frameworks, and organisational management. At Black Seed, Yvonne supports fundraising efforts, manages strategic partnerships, and oversees the fund’s internal operations and compliance. Passionate about financial empowerment, she is committed to creating opportunities for Black founders and fostering a more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem.

And more to be announced…

Explore the categories and submit your entry for a chance to be honoured at The Hustle Awards 2024!

To view the categories and participate, click HERE.

For further information and engagement, visit the Hustle Awards website.

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