Stephen Rockman

Stephen has been investing in, advising and mentoring start-ups for more than ten years. Previously he spent 25 years in commercial and strategic roles with technology corporates and start-ups. After some years as an angel investor, he founded Merism Capital in 2010, to invest in seed and early stage impact businesses.

Stephen is a Trustee of Shift Ventures Trust which researches, designs and builds social businesses that solve social problems. He sits on the Advisory Boards of Ada, the National College for Digital Skills (a new HE College providing vocational education opening in September 2016) and CW+ (the charity supporting Chelsea and Westminster Hospital by funding pioneering research, innovation, art and design.)

Stephen actively champions entrepreneurship, innovation and social impact through his participation in various conferences and investment competitions, which include: British Council Culture Hack in Johannesburg & Nairobi, Tech City Challenge, Global Social Venture Competition, Big Venture Challenge, Creative Britain and ITU Telecom. He is also an assessor for Innovate UK and was a member of the Department of Health and Design Council’s Advisory Board for the ‘Living Well with Dementia’ Challenge.