James Coombes

James Coombes is a seasoned entrepreneur and financial professional with extensive experience in founding and leading innovative ventures. As Co-Founder of Raft since October 2017, James has cultivated a strong position in the startup ecosystem. Prior roles include participation in Entrepreneur First as EF9 and serving as an Anthemis Fellow at Anthemis Group. A significant tenure at BNP Paribas from August 2005 to July 2015 encompassed leadership roles in various teams, including Head of the Commodity Hedge Fund Team and Co-Head of the Metals Hedge Fund Desk. Additionally, James co-founded Lerival, an online furniture and design retailer, where responsibilities included strategy and partnerships. Educational credentials include a Master of Public Administration from Harvard University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Biochemistry from Imperial College London.