A forward-thinking ‘Business Physicist' has been recognised for his impressive success, after being shortlisted by the prestigious UK Business Awards [1] for ‘Entrepreneur of the Year'.
Boasting a strong academic background with a PhD in Computational Chemistry and a Master of Physics - including a master's in finance from the London Business School - Serge Santos is an accomplished investor, mentor, and entrepreneur who combines exceptional academic credentials with equally impressive business achievements.
Over his seven-year career in the hedge fund industry, he managed investments exceeding $1 billion across various asset classes. In 2013, he embarked on his entrepreneurial journey by founding Certus Capital, where he successfully raised over €700 million for a commercial real estate institution in Germany. After four years of success, he achieved a multi-million-pound exit by strategically winding up the business.
Having acquired his first business, Compressed Air Centre [2], in 2017, Serge has since accelerated growth by an impressive 17% year-on-year, enabling him to double revenue, while also launching innovative UK Fintech lending platform, Funding Alternative Group [3].
Since its inception at the end of 2021, Funding Alternative Group has deployed over £6 million in loans to UK SMEs and funded over £18 million in invoices, showcasing significant impact and growth in the financial sector.
The UK Business Awards were founded to champion enterprise and leadership excellence through recognition of exceptional business initiatives across 24 different categories.
As one of only five business leaders to be shortlisted for the prestigious ‘Entrepreneur of the Year' award, Serge is being recognised for his outstanding business acumen at a pivotal and exciting time. Both of his businesses are on a strong trajectory of sustainable, profitable growth, highlighting his exceptional leadership and strategic vision.
Serge Santos confirmed: "I genuinely thrive in the world of business, whether collaborating with individuals to develop new business ideas or transforming innovative concepts into successful ventures. Having acquired, launched and invested in multiple businesses, I am honoured that my passion for entrepreneurship has been recognised by such a prestigious award and I now look forward to the UK Business Awards ceremony in December."
Serge prides himself on proactively seeking new business development and investment opportunities while also offering entrepreneurs in the tech startup ecosystem a distinct perspective on risk management, strategic foresight, and long-term planning.