Kelston Smith

Founder, Investor & Technology Strategist
London, UK.

About

A commercially driven technologist and seasoned investor with over a decade of strategic sales and partnership-building experience, managing accounts exceeding £15M across Europe. Expert in corporate development, deal origination, and strategic technology consulting, advising startups and enterprises on high-level technical solutions. Currently focused on deepening involvement in investment, leveraging commercial acumen, extensive network, and cross-sector exposure to drive deal origination, capital deployment, and transformative partnerships.

Work

Bolt
|

Investor

London, England, UK

Summary

Provided strategic investment and growth advisory, leveraging deep industry expertise to support portfolio companies.

Highlights

Advised early-stage and growth companies on market entry, scaling strategies, and operational efficiencies to accelerate growth.

Evaluated investment opportunities and conducted due diligence, contributing to informed capital deployment decisions.

Mentored founders on business development, strategic partnerships, and fundraising initiatives.

Leveraged extensive network to connect startups with key industry stakeholders and potential investors.

Devyce
|

Investor

London, England, UK

Summary

Provided strategic investment and growth advisory, leveraging deep industry expertise to support portfolio companies.

Highlights

Advised early-stage and growth companies on market entry, scaling strategies, and operational efficiencies to accelerate growth.

Evaluated investment opportunities and conducted due diligence, contributing to informed capital deployment decisions.

Mentored founders on business development, strategic partnerships, and fundraising initiatives.

Leveraged extensive network to connect startups with key industry stakeholders and potential investors.

Incard
|

Investor/Fractional Growth Advisor

London, England, UK

Summary

Provided strategic investment and growth advisory, leveraging deep industry expertise to support portfolio companies.

Highlights

Advised early-stage and growth companies on market entry, scaling strategies, and operational efficiencies to accelerate growth.

Evaluated investment opportunities and conducted due diligence, contributing to informed capital deployment decisions.

Mentored founders on business development, strategic partnerships, and fundraising initiatives.

Leveraged extensive network to connect startups with key industry stakeholders and potential investors.

Ryft
|

Fractional Growth Advisor

London, England, UK

Summary

Provided strategic investment and growth advisory, leveraging deep industry expertise to support portfolio companies.

Highlights

Advised early-stage and growth companies on market entry, scaling strategies, and operational efficiencies to accelerate growth.

Evaluated investment opportunities and conducted due diligence, contributing to informed capital deployment decisions.

Mentored founders on business development, strategic partnerships, and fundraising initiatives.

Leveraged extensive network to connect startups with key industry stakeholders and potential investors.

Plantec
|

Founder & Principal

London, England, UK

Summary

As Founder & Principal, established and led a venture studio providing creative software expertise, advisory services, technical builds, and direct investment/fundraising support to clients.

Highlights

Orchestrated strategic advisory and technical development for diverse clients, enabling concept-to-delivery solutions across multiple industries.

Secured and managed active fundraising and deal origination mandates, facilitating investment sourcing, evaluation, and structuring for venture capital firms and family offices.

Developed and executed growth strategies for early-stage companies, leveraging deep expertise in B2B SaaS, Fintech, and next-gen technologies.

Cultivated a robust network of global partners and founders, enhancing deal flow and collaborative opportunities for portfolio companies.

IconDesk
|

Fractional Technology Growth Officer

London, England, UK

Summary

Served as a Fractional Technology Growth Officer, driving strategic product development and technological innovation for growth-stage companies.

Highlights

Defined and executed product roadmaps, aligning technology initiatives with business objectives to enhance market competitiveness.

Led cross-functional teams in product ideation, design, and development, ensuring successful delivery of high-impact solutions.

Implemented data-driven strategies for product optimization, leveraging analytics to inform decision-making and improve user experience.

Advised on technology architecture and infrastructure, ensuring scalability and robustness for evolving business needs.

Access Magic
|

Fractional Growth Advisor

London, England, UK

Summary

Provided strategic investment and growth advisory, leveraging deep industry expertise to support portfolio companies.

Highlights

Advised early-stage and growth companies on market entry, scaling strategies, and operational efficiencies to accelerate growth.

Evaluated investment opportunities and conducted due diligence, contributing to informed capital deployment decisions.

Mentored founders on business development, strategic partnerships, and fundraising initiatives.

Leveraged extensive network to connect startups with key industry stakeholders and potential investors.

Aesthetik
|

Fractional Chief Product Officer

London, England, UK

Summary

Served as a Fractional Chief Product Officer, driving strategic product development and technological innovation for growth-stage companies.

Highlights

Defined and executed product roadmaps, aligning technology initiatives with business objectives to enhance market competitiveness.

Led cross-functional teams in product ideation, design, and development, ensuring successful delivery of high-impact solutions.

Implemented data-driven strategies for product optimization, leveraging analytics to inform decision-making and improve user experience.

Advised on technology architecture and infrastructure, ensuring scalability and robustness for evolving business needs.

ListMe
|

Fractional Technology Growth Officer

London, England, UK

Summary

Served as a Fractional Technology Growth Officer, driving strategic product development and technological innovation for growth-stage companies.

Highlights

Defined and executed product roadmaps, aligning technology initiatives with business objectives to enhance market competitiveness.

Led cross-functional teams in product ideation, design, and development, ensuring successful delivery of high-impact solutions.

Implemented data-driven strategies for product optimization, leveraging analytics to inform decision-making and improve user experience.

Advised on technology architecture and infrastructure, ensuring scalability and robustness for evolving business needs.

SAP
|

Industry Director N. EMEA Region

London, England, UK

Summary

Directed industry-specific sales and partnerships across Northern EMEA, managing significant client accounts and driving strategic growth initiatives.

Highlights

Managed a portfolio of major client accounts, generating over £15M in revenue across Europe for enterprise technology solutions.

Orchestrated strategic sales and partnership-building initiatives, successfully engaging C-level stakeholders to secure complex commercial deals.

Provided expert strategic technology consulting, advising large enterprises on high-level technical solutions and corporate development.

Developed and implemented regional growth strategies, expanding market presence and achieving consistent sales targets.

TAGPAY
|

CoFounder

London, England, UK

Summary

Co-founded a technology venture, leading early-stage development and strategic direction.

Highlights

Co-led the strategic planning and initial development phases of a new technology venture, establishing foundational operations.

Secured early-stage partnerships and engaged stakeholders to build market traction and validate product-market fit.

Managed cross-functional teams to bring innovative solutions from concept to initial market launch.

Contributed to the overall business model and go-to-market strategy, positioning the company for future growth.

Sybase
|

Sales Executive

London, England, UK

Summary

Drove sales and client relationships for enterprise software solutions, contributing to regional revenue growth.

Highlights

Achieved sales targets by developing and managing client relationships within the enterprise software market.

Identified new business opportunities and executed strategic sales presentations to C-level executives.

Collaborated with technical teams to tailor solutions, ensuring client satisfaction and successful product adoption.

Contributed to market expansion efforts by analyzing industry trends and competitive landscapes.

Fujitsu Technology Solution
|

Partner Account Manager

London, England, UK

Summary

Managed key partner accounts, fostering relationships and driving sales of technology solutions.

Highlights

Cultivated strong relationships with technology partners, ensuring effective collaboration and channel sales growth.

Managed the end-to-end sales cycle for partner-driven opportunities, consistently meeting or exceeding revenue goals.

Provided strategic guidance to partners on product positioning and market opportunities for Fujitsu solutions.

Coordinated with internal sales and technical teams to support partner enablement and client success.

RBS International
|

Senior Business Associate

London, England, UK

Summary

Supported senior business initiatives within the financial sector, contributing to strategic projects and operational efficiencies.

Highlights

Assisted in the analysis and execution of key business projects, contributing to operational improvements and strategic objectives.

Conducted market research and financial analysis to support decision-making for senior management.

Collaborated with cross-functional teams to streamline processes and enhance client service delivery.

Prepared comprehensive reports and presentations for stakeholders, detailing project progress and outcomes.

Education

Nottingham Trent University
Nottingham, England, UK

Bachelor of Science (BS) Computing

Information Communication Technology

Skills

Venture & Investment

Deal Origination, FO Mandates, VC Mandates, Investor Outreach, Investment Rounds, Capital Deployment, Investment Sourcing, Investment Evaluation, Investment Structuring, Angel Investing, Fundraising.

Business Strategy & Development

Corporate Development, Strategic Partnerships, Commercial Deals, C-level Stakeholder Engagement, Business Intelligence, Growth Strategy, Market Entry, Scaling Businesses, Innovation Identification, Business Model Development, Go-to-Market Strategy.

Technology & Product Management

Ideation, Discovery, Design, Development, Delivery, Interoperability Services, Analytics, Strategic Technology Consulting, Product Roadmapping, Product Optimization, Technology Architecture, Infrastructure Scalability.

Industry Expertise

Telecommunications (Telco), Enterprise Technology, B2B SaaS, Fintech, Consumer Tech, D2C, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), Web3.

Professional Skills

Commercial Acumen, Networking, Public Speaking, Founder Support, Due Diligence, Cross-functional Leadership, Problem-Solving, Data-Driven Decision Making, Client Relationship Management, Sales Strategy.

Interests

Personal Interests

Family Time, DJing, Hiking, Music Appreciation, Exploring Nature.