Meet the team
JEREMY BASSET
CEO
Jeremy works with clients across a range of verticals to define and develop their innovation capabilities.
In 2014, Jeremy pioneered the Unilever Foundry, partnering Unilever brands with 150+ startups around the world, with almost half being scaled across the business.
Jeremy holds an MBA from London Business School, is CPA qualified has a degree in Marketing & Accounting from the University of Technology, Sydney.
Ben helps our clients to unpick their innovation goals, translating them into crystal clear briefs, and scouting our global network of startups to find solutions that fit.
Before joining Co:cubed, Ben led startup portfolios at global innovation and industry conferences, specialising in emerging tech for the pubic and private sectors.
Applying his background in architecture, Ben combines logic with creativity to deliver results.
BEN WILKINSON
Innovation Manager
Jess heads up our partnership programmes, developing world-class accelerators and proof of concept programmes.
Jess has over ten years experience in this field. In South East Asia she transformed £10k of her savings into a £500k innovation consultancy. She has delivered innovation bootcamps in several universities and led the Lean In accelerator, empowering hundreds of women to get back to work after career breaks. A passionate speakers, Jess has delivered keynotes at TEDx, Google, WHO and ACCA.
JESSICA MACIAS
Programme Director
Laura is an employee engagement and communications specialist with 15+ years experience spanning agency and corporate roles in the UK, Europe and North America.
A passionate believer in culture change as a driver of growth, Laura works in lock-step with our clients to craft and deliver engagement strategies for their innovation programmes. Before Co:cubed, Laura led communications for Unilever Foundry, connecting bog brands with startup technology and championing a culture of experimentation.
LAURA HUMPHREYS
Communications Director
ANDRES ESPINOSA
Parnterships Director
Andres helps our corporate clients explore untapped business models and brokers the right startup partnerships to help them move into new spaces.
Prior to Co:cubed, Andres worked with the Mexican Diplomatic Service, where he led a multidisciplinary team to engage government, industry and institutional stakeholders to increase Mexico's investment and supplier footprint.
Andres holds a BA in Law, a BSc in Digital Technology, Design & Innovation and is a qualified Scrum Master.
THOMAS BASTIEN
Partnerships Manager
Thomas specialises in idea validation, startup scouting and mentorship. Having successfully founded his own agri-tech startup business, Thomas spent the last two years advising and scouting for startup accelerators including Wayra and Collider.
A keen traveller and quadralinguinst, Thomas has a BSc in Business and Sustainability from the University of Exeter and is the Vice President of the Exeter Entrepreneurs Society.
Louise works alongside our clients and event partners to deliver unique experiences that inform, inspire and engage.
Louise is expert at finding the right venues, speakers and little extras that transform a good event into a great one. She has worked on a wide range of events, from intimate startup speed-dating in corporate offices to high-profile events and global conferences, including Retail Week, Tech, Dublin Tech Summit and Cannes Lions.
LOUISE BARRASS
Events Executive
Nathan builds relationships across the corporate innovation ecosystem to find and nurture new opportunities for our clients.
Nathan brings years of experience in client development roles for commercial and non-profit organisations, and is known for his passion for opportunity spotting and building-lasting relationships.
NATHAN HODGSON
New Business Manager
CHANTELLE FRANCOIS
Event Partnerships Manager
Chantelle is passionate about the power of events to help startups and corporates connect. Working alongside our startup network, Chantelle gets under the skin of their technology and growth objectives and matches them to opportunities with our world-class industry and innovation event partners.
Before joining Co:cubed, Chantelle managed startup partnerships for a variety of industry events including Retail Week, Tech Festival and World Retail Congress.
Max advises and supports clients with investment opportunities through a deep understanding of the startup ecosystem. He has worked on a number of his own business ventures including a direct-to-consumer denim startup.
Max spent several years consulting on strategy at global firms including LEK, where he led on strategy and due diligence for the investment portfolio. Max also worked with investment teams and Founders Factory, focusing on early-stage retail and beauty investments.
MAX FISHMAN
Investment Manager
JOHN COOMBS
Venture Fund Specialist
John advises clients on the setup and optimisation of corporate venture capital funds, drawing on over 20 years experience in this field.
Before Co:cubed, John established and led Unilever Ventures, during which time they launched four funds and invested over £1billion into the startup ecosystem.
John completed his Masters at Oxford University and now serves as a Non-Executive Director on several corporate boards.