Alex Depledge's biography
International Women's Day
- CEO of Resi, the UK's largest residential architectural firm focusing on home renovations and extensions
- Founder of Hassle, which was sold for €32 million
- Appointed as the Chancellor of the Exchequer's first Entrepreneurship Adviser
Alex Depledge MBE is a serial tech entrepreneur, government adviser, and the current CEO of Resi.co.uk, the UK’s largest residential architectural platform.
In 2025, Alex was appointed as the UK government’s first-ever Entrepreneurship Adviser, reporting directly to Chancellor Rachel Reeves. In this role, she is shaping national policy to better support startups and scaleups, placing her at the centre of the UK’s future business landscape. High growth, innovative firms are a key driver behind the growth mission.
Before founding Resi, Alex launched Hassle.com, Europe’s largest domestic cleaning marketplace. She grew the business from inception to over £8 million in turnover in under two years, and went on to sell the company for £27 million. Her journey from founding to successful exit is one of the most compelling examples of UK tech entrepreneurship in the past decade.
Alex has long been an advocate for women in tech and a vocal presence in the industry. She sits on the board of Persimmon Homes, contributes regularly to TV and radio commentary on business and innovation, and is a recognised leader in the sector. Her accolades include the Barclays Entrepreneur Award for Start-Up of the Year, the Emerging Technology Scale-Up Award at the Enterprise Awards, and an MBE in 2016 for services to the sharing economy.
Today, Alex combines entrepreneurial insight with frontline policy experience. She is available to speak at select events on topics including entrepreneurship, innovation, scaling businesses, and building from scratch. With her unique blend of practical know-how and policy influence, Alex offers audiences a sharp, insider perspective on what it takes to grow a business in today’s UK economy.
Alex's showreel and videos
Topics, sessions and talks
From Startup To Success: Bold Lessons From Alex Depledge
In her talk, Alex Depledge, founder of Hassle.com and Resi, shares her remarkable entrepreneurial journey. Having sold Hassle.com for €32 million, she discusses her transition from novice to industry leader, tackling fundraising challenges and personal struggles along the way. Attendees will gain valuable insights into resilience, innovation, and effective rebranding strategies, providing a powerful blueprint for anyone aspiring to succeed in the business world.
The Resilient Woman: How To Turn Adversity Into Advantage In Business
In this session, Alex Depledge addresses the unique challenges women face, including funding disparities and the impostor phenomenon. Drawing from her own experiences, Alex will share how resilience has been her key to success. Attendees will learn practical strategies to cultivate their resilience, transform setbacks into opportunities, and ultimately thrive in both their personal and professional lives.
What Big Business Can Learn From Startups
In this talk, Alex Depledge explores how established companies can learn from agile startups that are successfully disrupting the market. Despite their resources, big businesses often struggle against these nimble competitors. Alex reveals the strategies that empower startups to thrive and offers insights on how larger firms can adapt to not only survive but excel in today’s fast-paced environment. Attendees will learn practical approaches to harness agility and innovation for their own success.
Reconnecting With What Truly Drives Business Success
In this talk, Alex Depledge addresses the complexities of modern business, highlighting the challenges of digital overload and ineffective initiatives. She emphasises that many companies struggle with superficial DEI efforts, inadequate customer service, and low employee engagement. Alex advocates for a return to the essentials: fair compensation, supportive leadership, and a sense of community. Attendees will learn how to create empowering workplaces that foster success for both businesses and their employees.
The Future Of Work: Solving The Real Problem
In her insightful talk, Alex Depledge addresses the misconceptions surrounding remote work versus office environments. She argues that the real issues lie in soaring childcare costs and unaffordable housing, which hinder employees' choices. Misunderstanding these challenges has resulted in detrimental workplace policies that affect the most vulnerable workers. Attendees will learn about the true obstacles in the future of work and discover effective solutions to foster beneficial workplaces for employees, businesses, and society.
Why we recommend booking Alex
Booking Alex Depledge to speak will provide your team or business with actionable strategies and the inspiration needed to excel in today’s competitive landscape.
Alex Depledge was an absolute revelation opening our event. Her no-nonsense keynote speech was funny, warm, and full of practical, hard-won insights and tips. It is rare to find speakers who can genuinely combine such rich substance with such an accessible delivery style. Very happy to recommend her for other events
Helen McGing
Citywire, Citywire
Alex Depledge is an engaging and inspirational speaker. Her authentic style, combined with her fascinating career, made her a huge success at our Entrepreneurs' Conference. I'd highly recommend Alex to others seeking a motivational yet relatable keynote speaker.
We could not have been happier. Alex was professional and engaged throughout preparations for the event, taking time to understand the tone and messaging of the event and tailor her presentation accordingly. Alex delivered an incredibly dynamic, informative and entertaining talk that was received enthusiastically by the entire audience of 200+.
