Meet the Vistalworks team
Vicky Brock, CEO and Founder
Vicky is a serial technology entrepreneur. She co-founded Vistalworks after her quest to find a particularly desirable pair of out-of-stock trainers resulted in her card details being stolen by online scammers.
“With my eyes opened to the prevalence of fakes, scams and illicit goods online, and to have fallen for something that at the time just wasn’t on my radar, I felt determined to use my skills to make it possible for anyone to check the legitimacy of a product or seller before a purchase, and so reduce risk and inconvenience in future.”
Previously Vicky founded Clear Returns, a retail technology firm named Top Tech Startup In Europe by the European Commission. She was named Inspiring Woman of the Year at the 2019 SWiT Women in Technology Awards, Scotland’s Most Inspiring Business Person at the Entrepreneurial Scotland Awards 2017, and Innovator of the Year at the 2014 FDM Everywoman in Technology Awards.
Stephen Budd, Founder
Stephen Budd, Chief Product Officer, has had his fingers burned with poor quality fakes that fall apart after just a few wears. He was sure there must be a way to use data analytics and machine learning to take some of the guesswork away from his online purchase decisions, and help him to steer clear of shoddy fakes.
“The problem of illicit goods is something that can affect us all and in ways that range from the banal to the terrifying. While I have been scammed, my 'a-ha' moment came when I realised someone I had been doing business with had been personally and deeply affected by a terrorist attack which had been funded by the sale of illicit tobacco. I consider myself to be privileged to help found a company that will help target the harm inflicted by this so-called 'victimless’ crime."
Stephen is has created and delivered innovative data-driven products ranging from retail analytics to medtech and cybersecurity. At both Clear Returns and Zonefox he worked to develop and deliver rules-based scoring systems that detected undesirable anomalous behaviour.
Alan Murray, Founder
Alan Murray is highly experienced in the data technology business and a Board Director and Mentor to several social enterprises in Scotland.
“Working with vulnerable communities, I have seen the harm that is done through lack of access to legitimate opportunities and products that many of us take for granted. Enabling communities to reduce the impact of illicit trade, much of it linked to organised crime, seemed like a way to use my technology and data skills for real social good.”
During his career with Wood Mackenzie and EY, Alan has built multiple multi-million-pound businesses by harnessing the power of diverse data sets and translating those into actionable information for end users. He has worked with diverse corporate and government stakeholders across complex and costly projects.