Stephen Allott
Visionary UK technology industry leader and UK value creation record holder
“Tarigo is my most important appointment”
Stephen Allott is the UK’s most distinguished technology leader and general manager
He holds the record for building the most valuable organically grown UK origin software company to date. He led the Micromuse NASDAQ IPO and was its President, CFO and main board director. One of three UK software scale up businesses he has led to US market leadership. Venture Partner Emeritus at Seedcamp, Stephen has literally written the book on start-up sales success. His open source software sales textbook, Seedcamp Sales Tales, has had 28,500 views. With 9 unicorns and 500 companies, Seedcamp is Europe’s largest seed fund.
As a McKinsey strategy consultant, he has advised the world’s largest computer companies and telecom operators on global strategic issues. He was a senior executive at Xerox and at Sun Microsystems (and was Sun’s first in-house counsel hired outside the USA).
In Academia he worked full time in the Cambridge University Computer Lab, where he is now honoured as a lifetime Hon. Member. He founded the Cambridge Computer Lab Ring and the Ring Annual Awards. Unique both inside and outside Cambridge. the Ring Hall of Fame companies were valued by Beauhurst in 2025 $193 billion. As Quondam City Fellow of Hughes Hall Cambridge University, Stephen delivered the ground breaking 2006 City Lecture: “From Science to Growth”.
In Government; Stephen was the first ever appointed Crown Representative for Small and Medium Enterprises whose share of central Government procurement spend grew from 6% to 27% during his term. Working in the Cabinet Office, in GDS and with No 10, he led the business development of the unique and world leading G-Cloud Digital Marketplace to £20 billion p.a in annual sales and an SME share of 40%.
Stephen was the youngest ever chairman of BACFI, has been an elected member of the Bar Council, was called to the Bar at Gray’s Inn, was pupil to the Lord Chief Justice of England & Wales and is a graduate of Trinity College, Cambridge University.
“The next evolution of the workforce requires us to learn faster, adapt quicker, and connect technology with people to unlock new opportunities. I want to bridge the tech skills gap in a rapidly advancing world of technology.”
Stephen Allott
Learn more about Stephen’s work
Computer Science and Technology at The University of Cambridge
Stephen is an Honorary Member of the University of Cambridge’s Department of Computer Science and Technology, one of the world’s leading centres for research and innovation.
You can find out more about Stephen’s involvement and the department’s activities by visiting his official page on the University of Cambridge’s Department of Computer Science and Technology website.
The Story of the Cambridge Computer Lab Ring
Stephen founded the Cambridge Computer Lab Ring in 2002, creating a network for graduates to stay connected, share knowledge, and benefit from their Cambridge degrees throughout their careers.
What began as an independent members’ association has grown into a thriving community, now part of the Department of Computer Science and Technology, supporting alumni with events, collaboration opportunities, and lifelong professional connections.
The Importance of the Cambridge Computer Lab Ring
In this thought-provoking presentation, Stephen charts the story of the Cambridge Computer Lab Ring, the alumni network he founded, and demonstrates its extraordinary impact; highlighting over 350 companies worth a combined $193 billion.
He makes the case that investing in tech start-ups, powered by Cambridge talent, is one of the most effective ways to drive UK economic growth.
