It is that time of year when we showcase the names and faces of the future who are set to shape and define the technology sector in 2026 and beyond.
Hatu Sheikh
The serial entrepreneur driving the fintech and Web3 economy
Hatu Sheikh is one of Web3’s most visionary founders and investors and a leading voice on the cryptocurrency landscape.
Hatu is a serial entrepreneur and investor with nearly a decade of experience across crypto infrastructure, capital formation, and real estate development in the MENA region. He holds a degree in Mathematics, Economics, and Business from Stony Brook University, where he was named Most Outstanding Student in Finance in 2017 ahead of 1,350 peers. His academic research into crowdfunding optimization laid the groundwork for a career focused on improving how retail investors access early-stage opportunities.
In 2023, Hatu launched CoinTerminal, an open-access crypto launchpad that eliminated the token gating and staking requirements that had become standard across the industry. The platform has since grown to 650,000 users, supported over 100 startups, and facilitated more than $80 million in token distribution.
In 2026, Hatu is expanding into physical infrastructure with Dubai Fintech District, a 250,000 sq ft commercial park designed for fintech and Web3 companies. The development features open workspaces, shared courtyards, and a layout built around the way early-stage teams actually operate. “Startups need that physical presence to generate what I call brain melt,” Hatu said. “Ideas need to flow in a seamless way.”
Another future project to look out for this year is the launch of a crypto travel business, CoinBooking.
His work has been featured in Entrepreneur, CoinTelegraph, and International Business Times. He is an active voice on X and LinkedIn on Web3 infrastructure, crypto adoption, and company building across emerging markets.
Amari Lewis-Simpson
Fintech’s rising star investing in global projects
Amari Lewis-Simpson is a rising star – an entrepreneur and investor with a proven track record in capital raising, technology and global business development.
Amari founded ticketing startup Weventra in 2019 aged just 21 to eradicate ticket fraud and a lack of transparency on the secondary market. The company went on to launch NFT-based backstage passes for rap superstar 50 Cent’s final lap tour at Wembley, partnering with Roc Nation to offer exclusive digital collectibles to their artists’ fans.
In 2024, Amari launched Lewis-Simpson Partners (LSP) Capital Group to provide a platform for investors to access a diverse range of opportunities of capital raising across Amari’s expertise sectors of real estate and technology. Already, Amari has successfully secured more than £20M in investments across renewable energy, blockchain and real estate with allocated assets of £250m.
Amari is also the consummate deal maker, demonstrated when he worked with The UAE Ambassador to Barbados and Chairman of Binance to help the Barbados government source Metaverse land.
Fast becoming one of the most sought-after global speakers in the circuit, Amari has addressed more than 200,000 people at summits including in The House of Lords, Google, NFT.NYC, and with Binance. He also served as a keynote speaker at the Dubai Global Investment Summit this year, receiving the Young Entrepreneurship Award Under 30. Malta’s Global Real Estate Conference, Qatar Money Expo, Africa Tech Week in Cape Town, and the Global Family Office Investment Summit in Cannes are also previous talks Amari has given to rousing receptions recently.
With a growing and engaged social media audience of more than 600,000, Amari’s influence is spanning across not just sectors and continents but inspiring the next generation.
Monique Eastwood
The exclusive Hollywood fitness trainer now bringing her method to thousands on her digital app
Monique Eastwood is a renowned personal trainer whose clients include some of Hollywood’s biggest names.
Monique, 59, is the creator of the Eastwood Movement Method (EMM), a unique programme that focuses on short, high-energy routines to build strength and endurance and enhance movement, grace, and body control.
A former dancer, her growing reputation as the go-to fitness trainer for film stars such as Emily Blunt, Anne Hathaway, Stanley Tucci and Rachel Weisz has attracted thousands of subscribers from across the world to her app, Eastwoodfit.
Unlike many “polished” fitness apps, Monique’s consciously “raw and authentic” – monthly subscribers get unlimited access to hundreds of pre-recorded, unedited workouts and can receive feedback and tailored guidance via an interactive community page.
Monique also delivers live routines, usually streamed on Friday mornings, that she performs alongside her community.
The UK-based fitness guru believes short routines that target the entire body are most effective, with 30-to-40-minute workouts that require minimal equipment (dumbbells and a mat) and are designed to improve flexibility, body alignment and boost mental wellness.
Being able to use the app “on the go” and weave a quick routine into busy schedules is a must for film stars such as Blunt, Hathaway and Tucci with whom Monique worked closely to get them in shape for the forthcoming 2026 blockbuster film, The Devil Wears Prada 2.
Other fans include Felicity Blunt, the literary agent, Greta Gerwig, the actress and film director and Weisz, 56, who is using EMM to get strong, fit and action-ready for a return to The Mummy franchise, with filming for the fourth instalment due to begin in August.
Monique has been featured in a plethora of well-regarded press including Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, The Times, The Telegraph, Evening Standard, Metro, Women’s Health and Daily Mail. She has been awarded the best in category in the Tatler Magazine Gym Awards in 2023 and has been the cover-star on Women’s Fitness Magazine.
Anthony Karibian
The telecom titan powering AI into the digital services industry
Anthony Karibian is a British entrepreneur and business executive and the founder and CEO of bOnline, a United Kingdom-based telecommunications company providing AI-powered VoIP phone systems and broadband services for small businesses.
After studying at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania and securing an MBA, Anthony went on to serve as Co-founder and CEO of XLN Telecom and Co-founder of Euroffice.
He then founded bOnline to offer digital communication tools tailored for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The company provides broadband and AI-powered VoIP digital phone systems designed to simplify setup and reduce operational costs for small business owners. In 2024, the company introduced a new VoIP platform and, in 2025, released powerful AI features and integrations for SMEs.
Under his leadership, bOnline reported growth of over 200% in service uptake, leading to its inclusion in Deloitte’s 2019 Technology Fast 500 EMEA ranking. In 2020, the company won the “Growing Business of the Year – Smaller Company” award at the Growing Business Awards and received a Silver award at the UK Customer Experience Awards. From 2021 to 2025, bOnline won Comms Council UK’s “Best VoIP Provider for Small Businesses” award in five consecutive years.
bOnline has also conducted research highlighting challenges faced by small UK businesses in accessing fibre broadband, noting frustration with the pace of Openreach’s national rollout.
Anthony has championed improving digital access and communication technologies to help make small businesses more competitive. In interviews and business features, he has emphasised affordability and simplicity as key factors in enabling small companies to compete effectively.
Under his leadership, bOnline has put this into practice by bringing practical, accessible AI to small businesses at low cost with no complex setup, and designed to be intuitive and immediately valuable from day one.
Emily Nault
The branding and design director taking digital to the next level of visual identity
Emily Nault is a Creative Director at We Are Real People specialising in brand, digital and website design for fashion, beauty and luxury clients. With over a decade of experience in advertising agencies, design studios, and in-house teams, she brings a rare perspective to creating visual identities and digital experiences that are clear, compelling, and effective.
Originally from New York and now based in London, Emily offers an international point of view shaped by her cross-market experience across the US, Asia, and the UK after senior roles in Singapore, Ho Chi Minh City and New York. She is a collaborative leader known for combining strong visual craft with a practical, delivery-focused approach to building brands that resonate.
Emily has overseen the branding and website design for bluechip clients such as Chanel, Holland & Holland, Rose Uniacke, Belstaff, Annoushka, Collier Webb, George Spencer Designs, Cazenove & Loyd, Face Gym, Knomo, Skinnymint, BodyBoss, Sand & Sky, Coco & Eve, SK-II, Johnson & Johnson, Visa, Hewlett-Packard, Tiger Beer, Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Coca-Cola.
Emily has proven herself as an enthusiastic team leader and mentor who thrives on collaboration and enjoys the challenges of leading a team within a dynamic and fast paced studio environment.
Dr. Nicolas Kokkalis
A pioneer in distributed systems and human-centered blockchain design
Dr. Nicolas Kokkalis is one of two Founders of Pi Network, deemed one of the most exciting Web3 projects of the 2020s by boasting a community of more than 60 million engaged people.
Kokkalis is a Stanford PhD and was the instructor of Stanford’s first decentralized applications class, CS359B, in 2018. His work has focused on combining distributed systems and human computer interaction to bring cryptocurrency to everyday people.
He started with a BS and MS in Computer Science, which led him to do a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering at Stanford University and then continue as a Postdoctoral Scholar in the Computer Science department. Through and after his PhD work, Kokkalis created an early framework for making smart contracts on fault tolerant distributed systems, and multiple human-focused products including online social applications with over 20 million users and a crowd-powered email assistant. As a long-term believer in the technical, financial, and social potential of cryptocurrencies, he has dedicated his work to moving them beyond their current limitations and bringing the power of blockchain to more people.
This is reflected in Pi Network, where he improves the blockchain experience and empowers people to build the future of online life through a user-centric design philosophy.
In 2025, the Pi Foundation team established Pi Network Ventures, a development initiative investing in and accelerating quality startups that drive real-world adoption, utility, and integration of the Pi cryptocurrency.
Josh Shepheard
The AI transformer and implementer
Josh Shepheard, Head of AI at Devoteam, brings over 15 years of deep technical expertise to the forefront of enterprise AI transformation.
Building on a highly successful career specialising in DevOps, Software & Platform Engineering, and large-scale AWS migrations, Josh leverages his extensive infrastructure knowledge to architect highly effective, enterprise-grade AI implementations.
His recent work focuses on revolutionising knowledge management for major organisations. By developing solutions that make complex research data intuitively searchable using AI, Josh has dramatically accelerated workflows for enterprise research teams; cutting critical research time from four hours down to minutes.
Beyond client delivery, Josh is spearheading Devoteam UK’s Data & AI technology practice. He leads the charge in equipping teams to work effectively in AI by establishing best practices, implementing crucial safety guardrails, and championing high-quality engineering to maintain rigorous enterprise standards for AI-generated content.
Josh joined Devoteam in May 2023 and prior to that spent nearly seven years at the world’s biggest bookmaker, William Hill. As one of the most recognised British gambling companies operating both a large retail estate and a global online platform, Josh rose through the ranks from systems engineer to key roles as system and cloud architect where he latterly chaired and presented Technical Design Boards for governance of Solutions throughout the Enterprise.
It is his most recent game changing work at Devoteam which has signalled him as one to watch in the exciting world of AI implementations.
Adi Ben Ari
The Web3 inventor & designer
Adi is the founder and CEO of Applied Blockchain in London, which has spent the last decade leading work in complex, emerging technology across blockchain, AI, and advanced cryptography for businesses.
With more than 20 years in the industry, Adi is widely recognised as an independent thought leader, a noted speaker at major conferences, and an advisor for a number of startups. The UK Government, where he was invited to present at Parliament, the House of Lords has recognised his work, and at University College London.
Adi has co-invented and designed a number of patents related to confidential computing, cryptography, blockchain and mobile payments. His most recent projects include the launch of Silent Data: a product suite providing a data privacy layer for blockchains, which he described as “a pivotal shift in how public infrastructure can be used by institutional markets.”
Adi founded Applied Blockchain in 2015 with a team of technology experts based in London and Porto, Portugal, developing state-of-the-art solutions for customers including Shell (also an investor in the company), KLM, the United Nations, Vodafone, Lloyd’s Register, and DHL Group’s CRYOPDP.
While blockchain has been the company’s foundation over the last decade, AI is now an equally central focus, through its dedicated practice, Applied Edge.
Coincidentally, this is the second time Adi has been a ‘techstar’ as 10 years ago he graduated from the Barclays Techstars 2016 technology accelerator programme in London.
Des Agyekumhene
Influencing the key players across the the digital culture revolution
Des Agyekumhene is a pioneering entrepreneur, researcher, and creative technologist at the intersection of digital culture and live experience.
As Founder of Certifi.World, he is building the fan engagement layer that transforms how value, ownership, and recognition flow across the entertainment industry.
Currently a PhD researcher at the University of Edinburgh School of Law, Des is driven by a deep conviction around justice and fairness, examining whether legal frameworks can keep pace with platform economics and emerging technologies. His work places him at the forefront of where law, technology, and culture converge, and Certifi.World is where that thinking meets execution.
His landmark activation with Sleep Token at Download Festival, in partnership with Sony RCA, proved the concept at scale, with thousands of fans unlocking AR collectibles and exclusive rewards through a geo-located, gamified experience. The campaign extended across a 17-city US arena tour, reaching over 320,000 fans, achieving conversion rates of up to 75 percent, and delivering rightsholders with powerful, actionable audience data. This work has earned nominations for Tech Start-Up of the Year at the BTA Awards and a Music Week Award for Music Consumer Innovation.
As both a founder and thought leader, Des continues to shape the conversation around digital ownership, the creator economy, and the future of the entertainment industry in a rapidly evolving technological landscape. Recognised as one of Google’s Future Leaders, Des is building the systems that will define how the next generation of creators capture and own their cultural impact.
Luke Kovic
The consultancy voice of digital assets in Web3
Luke Kovic is the Founder of Black Mountain Advisory and a seasoned independent consultant with a decade of expertise in Web3 and Digital Assets.
Luke’s extensive industry experience includes 10 years with Applied Blockchain and co-founding Popcoinz, an innovative fan engagement platform designed specifically for musicians.
His next goal is to democratize Web3 knowledge by creating accessible educational materials and presentation series for school curriculums to onboard newcomers to the space.
Luke is deeply passionate about training and education, evidenced by his collaborative podcasts with Hogan Lovells. He is currently focused on bridging the gap between industry-specific content and the mainstream through a podcast series aimed at young people wishing to engage and learn more about the next generation of digital assets.
Luke’s professional training portfolio includes high-profile clients such as The Investment Association, Aviva, and BMS Insurance Brokers.
Black Mountain Advisory was set up in 2025 and is fast becoming the go to advisory for Web3 projects wishing to accelerate in the digital assets Web3 industries.
Disclaimer: GeekWire newsroom and editorial staff were not involved in the creation of this content..
