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Wazoku
Wazoku was founded in 2004 by Simon Hill and George MacRae in London, UK. The firm began as a spinoff from the innovation consultancy WhatIf!
Wazoku
Wazoku was founded in 2004 by Simon Hill and George MacRae in London, UK. The firm began as a spinoff from the innovation consultancy WhatIf! and has since developed an enterprise software platform for open innovation and idea management. Wazoku's core product, the Idea Spotlight platform, enables organizations to capture, evaluate, and implement ideas from employees, customers, and external partners. The company serves over 100 enterprise clients globally, including Cisco, Procter & Gamble, and the UK National Health Service (per public record). Its technology applies AI to prioritize ideas and match them to business needs, spanning sectors from healthcare to consumer goods. The firm has raised venture funding from investors including Beringea and the UK Innovation & Science Seed Fund (per public record, 2021). Wazoku employs approximately 60 people and operates from its London headquarters. In January 2024, the company announced a partnership with IdeaScale to expand its reach into the US market. Wazoku's structural differentiator is its hybrid model — part software vendor, part innovation consultancy — that embeds its team directly into client innovation processes rather than simply licensing a tool. This consulting-embedded approach has given it a deeper integration into client R&D workflows than pure-play idea management platforms.
General information
Firm type
Asset Manager
Year founded
2004
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
Europe
Country
United Kingdom
City
London
Corporate office
London, United Kingdom
Principals
Simon Hill
CEO
George MacRae
CTO
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at Wazoku?
CEO Simon Hill leads the company. The firm is a private limited company, not an investment vehicle — decision-making for its own corporate development sits with Hill and the board, which includes investors Beringea (per public record).
How does Wazoku source proprietary deal flow?
Wazoku is a software and services company, not an investment firm. It does not deploy capital or source investment deals. Its proprietary value comes from the network of external solvers and experts that engage through its platform.
Is Wazoku structured as a family office or an investment firm?
No. Wazoku Ltd. is a private limited company operating an open innovation platform, categorized here as an Asset Manager for directory purposes but not an allocator of third-party or family capital. It has no AUM or deployment function.
Does Wazoku participate in fund commitments or direct deals?
It does not. Wazoku's business is licensing its software and providing consulting services. It has raised venture capital but does not itself invest in other companies or funds.
What sectors does Wazoku explicitly avoid?
Wazoku does not publicly list avoided sectors. Its client base spans healthcare, consumer goods, technology, and public sector, as disclosed in case studies on its website.
How is Wazoku related to WhatIf! ?
Wazoku was initially a spinoff from the innovation consultancy WhatIf! , founded by Simon Hill and George MacRae. The two companies are now separate entities, with Wazoku owned by its founders and institutional investors (per public record).
Where does Wazoku generate revenue?
Wazoku generates revenue from annual subscriptions to its Idea Spotlight platform and from consulting services for innovation program design and challenge management (per public record).
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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