Tom Speechley
Profile Verified by The Marque
Last Updated: 22 Sep 2026
Co-Founder
London, GB
Profile Verified by The Marque
Last Updated: 22 Sep 2026
THE MARQUE
In Their Own Right
Biography
Tom Speechley is a founder, investor, lawyer and author.
He spent the first 14 years of his career as a corporate lawyer in London and New York, advising private equity funds, hedge funds, companies and banks. He then spent more than a decade as a fund manager and investor across emerging markets and private capital strategies. Since then he has focused on founding, backing and mentoring early-stage ventures.
Tom has a particular interest in consumer-centric health, especially life sciences and longevity, and co-founded SX2 Ventures to invest in the sector. His interest in technology goes back to the late 1980s, when he coded a series of ten educational software programs that were among the first used in the UK's national curriculum. More recently he has developed a machine-learning lifestyle health companion that helps people build healthier daily habits, along with several LLM-based tools for early-stage founders. He co-founded Valantai to bring these tools to market.
Tom has written and spoken widely on finance, investing and healthcare, and has guest lectured at leading universities in the United States. He has been a featured speaker at the World Economic Forum in Davos, the United Nations, the International Economic Forum of the Americas and the Annual Meeting of the Inter-American Development Bank. He is the author of three books: two on acquisition finance, published by Bloomsbury Professional and in continuous print since 2008, and The Wedge, a founder's guide to startup fundraising.
He has served on corporate and not-for-profit boards, including the Emerging Markets Private Equity Association and Junior Achievement Worldwide. He has been a senior advisor to Endeavor and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.
Tom began university studying chemical physics before switching to law, and graduated with First Class Honours from the University of Sheffield.
The Record
Background
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Present
Co-Founder & CEO
SX2 Ventures
SX2’s focus is on projects that provide solutions in the evolving areas of cannabinoid and psychedelic medicine, and personalized health for longevity, eldercare, mental illness and end-of-life care.
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2017 — Present
Co-Founder and Executive Board Member
JMCC Group
JMCC Group is a vertically integrated biopharmaceutical company producing cannabinoid medicines and psilocybin as an API for mental health therapeutics. It has biomass production facilities in Jamaica and processing facilities in Europe.
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2024 — Present
Co-Founder
Valantai
Valantai is an operating and advisory firm that works with companies across business strategy, capital, technology, commercialisation and growth. It provides hands-on support from company formation and investor readiness through to scaling, international expansion and exit.
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2012 — 2013
Chief Executive Officer
Aureos Capital Ltd
Aureos Capital Ltd was a private equity firm that focused on investing in small to mid-sized businesses in emerging markets, particularly in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. It was acquired by the Abraaj Group.
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2006 — 2013
Partner & Investment Director
The Abraaj Group
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2013 — 2015
CEO | Abraaj North America
The Abraaj Group
The Abraaj Group was a private equity firm based in Dubai that gained prominence by investing in emerging markets.
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2004 — 2006
Partner
Macfarlanes
Macfarlanes is a prominent independent law firm based in London, recognized for its expertise in corporate, private client, and litigation services. The firm combines top-tier international capabilities with a personalized approach to client service.
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2001 — 2004
Partner
Norton Rose Fulbright
Norton Rose Fulbright is a global law firm known for its strong industry focus and extensive international presence, offering comprehensive legal services in over 50 cities around the world.
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1999 — 2001
Attorney
Jones Day
Jones Day is a global law firm recognized for its integrated partnership model and strong presence in corporate, litigation, and regulatory matters in major business centers around the world.
Formative Years
Education
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University of Sheffield
First Class Honors Degree in Law
1987 — 1990
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University of Sheffield
Chemical Physics - BSc.
1986 — 1987
Areas Of Focus