Partners

Evgeny Shadchnev is a seasoned entrepreneur and certified professional coach specializing in CEO succession for startup founders. He co-founded Makers in 2013, establishing one of the UK's premier coding bootcamps dedicated to training individuals as software developers and addressing the tech talent shortage. 

 

After serving as CEO of Makers, Evgeny transitioned into coaching, focusing on guiding founder-CEOs through the complexities of leadership transitions. His firsthand experience in stepping down as a founder-CEO informs his coaching practice, where he assists entrepreneurs in navigating both the personal and professional challenges associated with CEO succession. 

 

In addition to his coaching endeavors, Evgeny authored "Startup CEO Succession: A Founder's Guide to Leadership Transition," providing a comprehensive framework for founders considering a change in leadership. 

 

Evgeny's unique blend of technical expertise, entrepreneurial experience, and coaching acumen positions him as a valuable resource for startups undergoing pivotal transitions in leadership.

George is a British entrepreneur best known as the founder and former CEO of Gojimo, an education technology company specializing in exam preparation apps. He conceived the idea for Gojimo while studying for his A-levels, frustrated by the lack of quality mobile revision tools. At 17, he developed his first app, leading to the establishment of EducationApps Ltd., which later rebranded as Gojimo. 

 

George briefly attended Stanford University but left to focus on his growing business. Under his leadership, Gojimo secured over $1 million in seed funding from investors including Index Ventures and JamJar Investments. The app became a leading revision tool in the UK, offering thousands of multiple-choice questions across various subjects and exam boards. 

 

In March 2017, Gojimo was acquired by Telegraph Media Group.

 

Beyond Gojimo, George has been recognized as one of Forbes' "30 Under 30" in Consumer Technology and continues to influence the edtech sector through various ventures and investments.

Naimish is the Founder and CEO of Satchel, an education technology business based in London. Before that, he was a classroom teacher and an Assistant Headteacher. 

 

Satchel’s products and services have reached over 4,500 schools globally and today touch on all areas of education from daily teaching practices and school policy, through to family dinner time conversations and setting students up for success in their lives and careers.

 

Naimish has a deep understanding of building and scaling SaaS businesses within the education industry. His operating experience across the UK and USA can help founders understand market dynamics and go-to-market strategies to accelerate growth. 

Tom is a teacher turned entrepreneur and remains very close to the educational challenges facing parents and teachers today. Tom transitioned from the classroom to entrepreneurship through a successful tuition business before co-founding the much-loved DoodleLearning, which was acquired by Discovery Education in 2022. 

 

He is now embarking on his next venture alongside supporting a handful of carefully selected early-stage education businesses.

Max is a serial entrepreneur who has founded and listed four companies.

 

He has extensive expertise in strategy, operations, law and finance acquired from running companies from inception through to being market leaders in their field.

 

His current venture is an innovative legal services business, Add.Law, which provides experienced lawyers to support ambitious businesses. Add.Law has worked with a broad range of companies invested in by prestigious angel or venture capital investors such as Y Combinator, Sequoia Capital, Goodwater Capital, Local Globe and Passion Capital.

 

Max is also involved in a disruptive prop-tech venture called Housecure, which has a mission to make every aspect of home ownership a delightful experience. It has been awarded grants from Innovate UK and HM Land Registry Geovation.

 

His career began in legal private practice at the pre-eminent law firms Linklaters and Clifford Chance, where he worked on multi-billion pound transactions for private equity firms, financial institutions and FTSE 100 companies.

 

Max has an MBA with distinction from Oxford University and is a qualified Harvard-trained mediator.

John is a Founding Director and Chief Customer Officer (CCO) at Ezoic, an AI-driven publishing platform that serves 50,000 digital publishers and sees 800M visitors per month going through the platform. Ezoic’s AI, identity, and video solutions help publishers enhance user experience and maximise ad revenue in an evolving digital landscape.

 

Before establishing Ezoic’s UK operations in 2011, John co-founded several online businesses in Publishing, Educational Media, and Ad Tech, including Mediarun, an ad network acquired by Adknowledge Inc. in 2007.

 

Alongside his role at Ezoic, John is a digital publisher and investor, having owned and operated websites since 2011. He has a strong interest in education-focused digital businesses, particularly those leveraging technology for growth.

 

John began his career as a Navigating Officer in the Royal Navy before moving into entrepreneurship. After spending three years at Ezoic’s California headquarters, he moved back to the UK and is now based in London - growing Ezoic and acting as a partner to If Capital to support education technology founders and investors in the digital space.

Will is a technology leader with over 25 years experience spanning corporate finance and entrepreneurship, specialising in EdTech and digital innovation. 

 

Transitioning from corporate finance at Investec to entrepreneurship, he founded EdPlace in 2011, scaling the platform to support over 100,000 students and winning prestigious awards. His successful sale of EdPlace to the Supporting Education Group in 2022 was followed by continued digital transformation and AI innovation. He is serial entrepreneur with a deep understanding of both technological potential and market dynamics. 

James is the Chief of Staff at Princeville Capital based out of the Berlin office.

 

James is an established M&A investment banker with over 15 years of experience across the UK and Asia with Deutsche Bank where he was also a Managing Director and APAC Head of Transport, Aviation & Logistics. Prior to joining Princeville, James was Head of UK Financial Sponsors at Natixis where he covered a number of European and Global private equity and infrastructure funds focused on the Energy Transition and Renewables sectors.

Justin is a passionate investor and entrepreneur dedicated to transforming education through technology. With deep experience in founding, scaling, and investing in Edtech businesses, he works closely with ambitious founders to help them grow smarter, secure investment, and create lasting impact.

 

Some of his investments include the Whizz Education, Brain Health Network,  Educational App Store and Ask Silver all focused on using digital learning to enhance education. A firm believer in paying it forward, Justin is deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of Edtech founders, helping them navigate the challenges of scaling, securing investment, and building businesses that make a real difference.

 

At IF Capital, Justin has built a dynamic team of founders, operators, and investors with first-hand experience in scaling Edtech businesses, many of whom have successfully exited their own companies. Together, they provide hands-on guidance, strategic expertise, and investment to help Edtech startups navigate growth and expansion.

 

He also co-founded Edtech Exchange, a leading network for Edtech founders to collaborate, share insights, and drive industry innovation.