What Does Nesta Do?

Total employees484
HeadquartersLondon
Founded1998

Nesta is the UK's innovation agency dedicated to tackling societal challenges through innovation. They work on three core missions: ensuring a fairer start for every child, helping people live healthier lives, and building a more sustainable future. Nesta employs a range of methods including research, data science, designing and testing new ideas, investing in ventures, and partnering with organizations to scale effective solutions. Their work aims to make a tangible, positive impact on people's lives across the UK and share insights globally.

Where Is Nesta's Headquarters?

HQ Function

Serves as the central hub for Nesta's research, programme design and delivery, policy engagement, investment activities, and national operations.

Notable Features:

Located in a modern building (Carmelite Riverside) with views over the River Thames, featuring collaborative workspaces designed to foster innovation.

Work Culture:

Nesta fosters an innovative, collaborative, and evidence-driven work culture. Employees are mission-focused, encouraged to experiment, and work across disciplines to solve complex social problems.

HQ Significance:

The London headquarters is pivotal for Nesta's role in convening experts, policymakers, and practitioners, and for driving its national agenda for social innovation.

Values Reflected in HQ: The office design emphasizes openness, collaboration, and creativity, reflecting Nesta's values of innovation, rigor, and making a positive societal impact.

Location:

While primarily focused on the UK, Nesta actively engages with international partners, shares its research findings and innovation models globally, and participates in international networks. This allows them to learn from and contribute to global best practices in social innovation, and their work often has relevance and application in other countries facing similar societal challenges. They do not typically operate physical offices outside the UK but exert influence through thought leadership, partnerships, and consultancy.

Street Address:

58 Victoria Embankment

City:

London

State/Province:

England

Country:

United Kingdom

Where Else Does Nesta Operate Around the World?

Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom

Address: The Bayes Centre, 47 Potterrow, Edinburgh, EH8 9BT

To drive innovation for social good within Scotland, tailoring approaches to the Scottish policy landscape and societal needs, particularly in areas aligned with Nesta's core missions.

Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom

Address: Tramshed Tech, Unit D, Pendyris Street, Cardiff, CF11 6BH

To cultivate a vibrant innovation ecosystem in Wales and deliver impactful social change programs tailored to Welsh needs, working in partnership with Welsh Government and local stakeholders.

Buying Intent Signals for Nesta

Highperformr Signals uncover buying intent and give you clear insights to target the right accounts at the right time — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams close more deals, faster.

Notable news
Hiring actively
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
*Example signal, not calculated in real time

Who's Leading Nesta? Meet the Executive Team

As of April 2025, Nesta' leadership includes:

Ravi Gurumurthy - Chief Executive
Ksenia Zheltoukhova - Executive Director of People and Operations
Elspeth Kirkman - Executive Director of Discovery
Louise Marston - Executive Director of Healthier Lives Mission
Madeleine Gabriel - Executive Director of Sustainable Future Mission
Tom Symons - Executive Director of Fairer Start Mission

Who's Investing in Nesta?

Nesta has been backed by several prominent investors over the years, including:

Endowment (originated from the UK National Lottery)
Government departments (UK and devolved nations, for specific programmes)
Philanthropic foundations and trusts (for specific programmes)
Other public and private sector organisations (programme partnerships and commissioned research)

What Leadership Changes Has Nesta Seen Recently?

Hire0
Exits0

Nesta's core executive leadership team (CEO and Executive Directors) has demonstrated stability over the past 12 months. No major publicly announced new hires into, or departures from, this main executive team have been identified as of late May 2024. Director-level appointments or internal promotions below this top tier may occur as part of routine organizational development.

What Technology (Tech Stack) Is Used byNesta?

Discover the tools Nesta uses. Highperformr reveals the technologies powering your target accounts — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams prioritize smarter and close faster.

Nesta Email Formats and Examples

Nesta typically uses a standard email format based on employee names. The most common structure is combining the first name and last name, separated by a dot.

[first].[last]@nesta.org.uk

Format

jane.doe@nesta.org.uk

Example

90%

Success rate

What's the Latest News About Nesta?

FE NewsMay 2, 2024

Nesta launches £1.8m programme to bring AI into classrooms

Nesta has launched a £1.8 million programme to support the development and testing of artificial intelligence (AI) tools for use in UK schools. The initiative aims to reduce teacher workload and improve student outcomes through responsible AI adoption....more

Nesta.org.ukApril 24, 2024

Nesta and C40 Cities release report on a 'Doughnut for the UK Economy'

In partnership with C40 Cities and the University of Leeds, Nesta launched a new report adapting the 'doughnut economics' model for the UK. The framework aims to guide the creation of an economy that meets people's essential needs while respecting planetary boundaries....more

Nesta.org.ukMarch 6, 2024

Nesta responds to the Spring Budget 2024

Nesta's Chief Executive, Ravi Gurumurthy, provided commentary on the UK Spring Budget 2024. The response highlighted areas relevant to innovation, public service productivity, and Nesta's core missions concerning early years, health, and sustainability....more

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