Here’s the Thinkers360 annual leaderboard for our top 50 global thought leaders and influencers on Startups for 2025. Congratulations to all our influencers on Startups who participated!

 

 

Top 50 Global Thought Leaders and Influencers on Startups 2025

2025 Annual Ranking

 

Find and work with the World’s Premier B2B Thought Leaders, Advisors, Analysts, Authors, Influencers & Speakers (100M+ followers combined). Join Enterprise Lite to work with all of these influencers on Startups!

Want to be on this list or know others who should be on this live and annual leaderboard? Help us grow the Thinkers360 community by participating and sharing your own content and experience today! 

Brands, Organizations & Startups: Sign up to find and work with advisors, analysts, authors, influencers and speakers in your niche and to amplify your own executives, thought leaders, and content among our opt-in B2B decision maker, analyst and influencer community with 100M+ followers on social media combined! We specialize in B2B thought leadership marketing, B2B strategic marketing, and B2B analyst and influencer relations putting your brand in front of active B2B buyers, analysts and influencers worldwide – Explore membership today!

Thought Leaders, Analysts & Influencers: To join the world’s largest opt-in B2B thought leader community and influencer marketplace, participate in our leaderboards, earn prestigious digital award badges and credentials, and build, amplify and monetize your professional brand – Sign-up today!

Readers & Writers: To contribute your own content and to browse amazing content – including articles/blogs, books, interviews, podcasts and videos, from our opt-in B2B thought leader, analyst and influencer community – Join Thinkers360 today!

More than just a list, Thinkers360 live and annual leaderboards are differentiated by our unique patented algorithm that takes a holistic measure of thought leadership and authentic influence looking far beyond social media so brands can find exactly the right experts for their niche. Join us today! To find out more about how we calculate the rankings, please visit our article: Understanding the Thinkers360 Leaderboards.

Top 50 Global Thought Leaders and Influencers on Startups 2025

Rank	Picture	Thought Leader Info	Thought Leader Score (Normalized)
1		Ton Dobbe Value Inspiration Contact Ton Dobbe	Score: 100
2		Helen Yu Tigon Advisory Corp. Contact Helen Yu	Score: 73.04
3		Mohamed Tohami Passion Point Contact Mohamed Tohami	Score: 57.16
4		Vladimer Botsvadze VladimerBotsvadze.com Contact Vladimer Botsvadze	Score: 53.62
5		Donnie Lygonis KTH Royal Institute of Technology Contact Donnie Lygonis	Score: 53.29
6		Jan Cavelle Jan Cavelle Contact Jan Cavelle	Score: 48.35
7		Avdhesh Kumbhar Global Business Hub Contact Avdhesh Kumbhar	Score: 48.22
8		Greg White Supply Chain Now Contact Greg White	Score: 47.75
9		Nigel Walsh Google Contact Nigel Walsh	Score: 47.22
10		Gijs van Wulfen FORTH Innovation Institute Contact Gijs van Wulfen	Score: 45.75
11		Rhett Power Accountability Inc. Contact Rhett Power	Score: 45.68
12		Dr. Joybert Javnyuy Cosdef Global Institute for Business and Technology Contact Dr. Joybert Javnyuy	Score: 43.41
13		DB Prabhu Respose Waste Management and Research Pvt Ltd Contact DB Prabhu	Score: 42.35
14		Prof.(Dr.) Sanjay Rout Innovation Solution Lab Contact Prof.(Dr.) Sanjay Rout	Score: 42.21
15		MELISSA DREW Simply-Transformed Contact MELISSA DREW	Score: 42.21
16		George Boretos FutureUP Contact George Boretos	Score: 41.74
17		Truls Berg Open Innovation Lab of Norway & Digital Insight AS Contact Truls Berg	Score: 40.81
18		Mika Tienhaara Rocsole Contact Mika Tienhaara	Score: 40.34
19		Maaike Doyer Epic Angels Contact Maaike Doyer	Score: 40.21
20		Vidusha Nathavitharana Luminary Learning Solutions Private Limited Contact Vidusha Nathavitharana	Score: 40.21
21		Navin Manaswi WoWExp Contact Navin Manaswi	Score: 39.81
22		David Carmell DATAROCKiT™ Contact David Carmell	Score: 39.81
23		William Michael Cunningham Creative Investment Research Contact William Michael Cunningham	Score: 39.54
24		Carol Tice TiceWrites LLC Contact Carol Tice	Score: 38.67
25		Dr. Ritesh Jain Infynit	Score: 38.67
26		Darragh Toolan Fortuna Edge Contact Darragh Toolan	Score: 38.01
27		Willem Gous – The Human Entrepreneur The Human Entrepreneur Contact Willem Gous – The Human Entrepreneur	Score: 38.01
28		Rodrigo de Alvarenga HAG Ventures Contact Rodrigo de Alvarenga	Score: 38.01
29		Kevin Kelly Kevin Kelly Unlimited Contact Kevin Kelly	Score: 38.01
30		Karl A L Smith Agile World ® Contact Karl A L Smith	Score: 37.94
31		Dean Miles Bridgepoint Coaching & Strategy Group Contact Dean Miles	Score: 37.94
32		Yuri Kruman HR, Talent & Systems Contact Yuri Kruman	Score: 37.87
33		yvonne Padmos YPservice Contact yvonne Padmos	Score: 37.54
34		EUR ING. Ts. Sukor Zainal CEng FIMarEST CMarEng EFTECH ENERGY SOLUTIONS Contact EUR ING. Ts. Sukor Zainal CEng FIMarEST CMarEng	Score: 36.81
35		Alla Adam Adam Impact Institute Contact Alla Adam	Score: 36.67
36		Antonio Grasso Digital Business Innovation Srl Contact Antonio Grasso	Score: 36.54
37		Greg Kihlstrom The Agile Brand Contact Greg Kihlstrom	Score: 36.34
38		Alberto Garuccio techstars Contact Alberto Garuccio	Score: 36.27
39		Kamales Lardi Lardi & Partner Consulting Contact Kamales Lardi	Score: 36.01
40		Deberah Bringelson Your Strategic Solutions, LLC Contact Deberah Bringelson	Score: 36.01
41		Bev Hepting Bev Hepting Contact Bev Hepting	Score: 35.41
42		Yoram Solomon Innovation Culture Institute LLC Contact Yoram Solomon	Score: 35.34
43		Bree Goldstein Bree Goldstein Contact Bree Goldstein	Score: 35.34
44		Kurt Van Stuyvesant The Van & Stuyvesant Companies Contact Kurt Van Stuyvesant	Score: 35.34
45		Tommy Swanhaus Tommy Swanhaus Co Contact Tommy Swanhaus	Score: 35.20
46		Gokul Alex KPMG India Contact Gokul Alex	Score: 35.00
47		Carsten Dr. Linz Contact Carsten Dr. Linz	Score: 34.87
48		Dr. Semih Kumluk PwC Contact Dr. Semih Kumluk	Score: 34.34
49		Jason Baudendistel	Score: 34.34
50		Giovanni Brees Marketing & Product Launches Contact Giovanni Brees	Score: 34.34

 

Our listing includes members of Thinkers360 and who have curated and shared their thought leadership content from around the web – including articles, blogs, books, keynotes, media interviews, panels, podcasts, social media, speaking events, videos, webinars and whitepapers – via our platform to build their Thinkers360 profile, portfolio and media kit.

Our differentiation from the various influencer leaderboards on social media, is that we take a holistic view of thought leaders and experts, beyond their social media activity, and look across all the hats they may wear – such as academic, analyst, author, consultant, entrepreneur, influencer and speaker – and all the types of thought leadership content they produce.*

To see the full list (including industry-leading in-depth profiles, portfolios and media kits) or to participate in any of our leaderboards (by sharing your own thought leadership content), SIGN-UP for Thinkers360 today!

We focus on cutting edge business, technology and sustainability topics including 5G, Agentic AI, Agile, AI, Analytics, AR/VR, Architecture, Autonomous Vehicles, Big Data, Blockchain, Business Continuity, Business Strategy, Careers, Change Management, Climate Change, Cloud, Coaching, Construction, COVID-19, Creativity, CRM, Corporate Social Responsibility, Cryptocurrency, Culture, Customer Experience, Customer Loyalty, Cybersecurity, Data Center, Design, Design Thinking, DevOps, Digital Disruption, Digital Transformation, Digital Twins, Diversity & Inclusion, Drones, Ecosystems, EdTech, Education, Emerging Technology, Engineering, Entrepreneurship, ERP, Finance, FinTech, Generative AI, GovTech, Health & Safety, Health & Wellness, Healthcare, HealthTech, HR, Innovation, InsurTech, International Relations, IoT, IT Leadership, IT Operations, IT Strategy, Leadership, Lean Startup, Legal & IP, Management, Manufacturing, Marketing, Mental Health, Mergers & Acquisitions, Metaverse, Mobility, National Security, NFT, Open Innovation, Open Source, Payroll, Personal Branding, Predictive Analytics, Privacy, Procurement, Product Management, Project Management, PropTech, Public Relations, Quantum Computing, Recruiting, Renewable Energy, Retail, Risk Management, Robotics, RPA, Sales, Security, Smart Cities, Social, SportsTech, Startups, Supply Chain, Sustainability, Telecom and Venture Capital.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

What specific criteria were used to select the top 50 thought leaders and influencers? 

The Thinkers360 thought leadership leaderboards are by participation and everyone is invited to join by signing up at Thinkers360.com. There is no difference in how we calculate the rankings between free and paid members.

The Thinkers360 leaderboards are based on member’s personally authored content and experience curated from around the web and added to their Thinkers360 profile, portfolio, and media kit.

Unlike social media leaderboards which can be gamed via the purchase of fake followers, spamming of hashtags, and sharing of third-party content, the Thinkers360 leaderboards are based on member’s real content and accomplishments. Something that’s a true measure of expertise and hard to fake.

For more information, please see our article “Understanding the Thinkers360 Leaderboards”.

 

How can I get on the Thinkers360 list in the future? 

Simply Sign Up for Thinkers360 and start building your profile, portfolio, and media kit. You can add personally authored content, awards and recognition and tag each content item with up to 3 relevant keywords that count towards the leaderboards.

 

How can I recommend others who should be on the list?

Know others who should be on our leaderboards? Help us grow the Thinkers360 community by inviting them to participate by sharing their own content today! We amplify your content for free!

 

What are some other resources available to learn more about Startups? 

Thinkers360 is an opt-in network of the world’s foremost B2B thought leaders — including academics, advisors, analysts, authors, consultants, executives, influencers, and speakers — with over 100M followers on social media combined.

To access resources on Startups from our members, simply Sign Up for Thinkers360 and visit our Content menu. There you can filter by any topic of interest from over 100 cutting-edge business, technology, and sustainability topics. You can also filter content by over 70 content types such as articles, blogs, books, keynotes, media interviews, panels, podcasts, social media, speaking events, videos, webinars, whitepapers, as well as awards, certifications, and many other professional positions, credentials, and achievements.

You can also view each thought leader’s content by going to their profile on Thinkers360, scrolling down to the “Publication” section, and then expanding to see all their content, awards, and recognition. This includes direct links to their content published around the web such as articles, blogs, books, podcasts and speaking.

To work with any of these thought leaders, analysts and influencers simply join any of our enterprise plans.

 

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Join us on Thinkers360 — Connecting Global Brands with the World’s Foremost Thought Leaders, Analysts and Influencers for Game-Changing Results!

Thinkers360 is the world’s first, largest and premier B2B thought leader and influencer marketplace — including academics, advisors, analysts, authors, consultants, executives, influencers and speakers — with over 100M followers on social media combined. We are differentiated by our unique patented algorithms that measure thought leadership and authentic influence looking far beyond social media alone.

Brands, Organizations & Startups: Sign up to find and work with advisors, analysts, authors, influencers and speakers in your niche and to amplify your own executives, thought leaders, and content among our opt-in B2B decision maker, analyst and influencer community with 100M+ followers on social media combined! We specialize in B2B thought leadership marketing, B2B strategic marketing, and B2B analyst and influencer relations putting your brand in front of active B2B buyers, analysts and influencers worldwide – Explore membership today!

Thought Leaders, Analysts & Influencers: To join the world’s largest opt-in B2B thought leader community and influencer marketplace, participate in our leaderboards, earn prestigious digital award badges and credentials, and build, amplify and monetize your professional brand – Sign-up today!

Readers & Writers: To contribute your own content and to browse amazing content – including articles/blogs, books, interviews, podcasts and videos, from our opt-in B2B thought leader, analyst and influencer community – Join Thinkers360 today!

Want to find and work with the world’s premier B2B advisors, analysts, authors, consultants, influencers and speakers (including access to our unique thought leader profiles and portfolios, in-depth reports and analytics, warm personal introductions, and our zero-transaction fee speaker bureau)?

Contact us to discuss any of your project needs at info@thinkers360.com

For advertising and sponsorship opportunities, please contact info@thinkers360.com.

Our Methodology

* The Thinkers360 patented algorithm helps to produce leaderboards that look across all thought leader roles and across the quantity and quality of their thought leadership content. It provides a valuable measure of thought leadership content, encourages genuine content creation, incorporates social media influence as one of the measures, and encourages richer profiles and portfolios through gamification.

Of course, no measurement system related to influence or thought leadership is perfect, but the thought leadership scoring system within Thinkers360 is a highly-differentiated approach to help you identify authentic thought leaders – looking far beyond social media – serving as the tip of the spear for your strategic marketing, thought leadership marketing, PR & corporate communications, and analyst and influencer relations objectives.

For more information, contact us today at info@thinkers360.com

 

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