The story
behind JECO.
Founded by two game devs who set out to redefine how software gets built.
We’re building automated tools to reduce the energy use of software worldwide.
Rewriting the rules of software efficiency.
We got tired of watching our best dev hours vanish into the black hole of optimisation grunt work. Hours lost to patching bloated code and chasing down performance issues. We call it death by a thousand bugs: a relentless drain on time, budget and creativity which holds back the work that matters most.
We knew it was time to flip the script. Why waste brilliant minds on repetitive fixes when they could be focusing on critical features and more content? And what if we could reduce digital waste in the process too?
So we set out to find a better way.
We’re building automated tools to reduce the energy use of software worldwide.
Our mission is to redefine how software gets built by creating tools that automatically remove waste, improve performance, reduce compute costs and even cut carbon emissions.
A new standard for every product that runs on code.
Meet our team.
Emily Bailey
Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer
Queen of Optimisation - [said random stranger].
Simon Barratt
Co-founder and Chief Product Officer
The brain which started it all.
Nickie Whitfield
Chief Operations Officer
The one you call when the apocalypse happens.
Colin Riley
Chief Technology Officer
Infamous for his code and passion for Mug of Beans
Vanessa Mullin
Fractional Chief Revenue Officer
Some say, she's bold and broad.
Abbie Armstrong
Operations Manager
The green heart of the team.
Steve McGreal
Senior Programmer
Part programmer, part actor. All round lovely human.
Matthew Fennell
Programmer
There's a high chance he's smarter than you and every one of us.
Laurie Hedge
Programmer
Delivering code whilst teaching us all about the Norman yoke.
Meet our team.
Emily Bailey
Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer
Queen of Optimisation - [said random stranger].
Simon Barratt
Co-founder and Chief Product Officer
The brain which started it all.
Nickie Whitfield
Chief Operations Officer
The one you call when the apocalypse happens.
Colin Riley
Chief Technology Officer
Infamous for his code and passion for Mug of Beans
Vanessa Mullin
Fractional Chief Revenue Officer
Some say, she's bold and broad.
Abbie Armstrong
Operations Manager
The green heart of the team.
Steve McGreal
Senior Programmer
Part programmer, part actor. All round lovely human.
Matthew Fennell
Programmer
There's a high chance he's smarter than you and every one of us.
Laurie Hedge
Programmer
Delivering code whilst teaching us all about the Norman yoke.
Join our team.
Tired of endless bug hunts? Build tools that make coding smarter, faster, more sustainable and a whole lot less painful.
Our Journey
Jul 2023
Post COVID, Em and Simon meet in person. Over coffee, Simon shares an idea he’s been carrying for years: Green Leaf. It clicks, and they decide to build it together (though Em makes him change the name).
Nov 2023
JECO is founded.
The next six months are spent talking to developers, testing the idea and making sure the solution resonates beyond just their own hunch.
Aug 2024
Early momentum arrives. Innovate UK backs JECO, giving both validation and fuel for the mission ahead.
Sept 2024
The support grows. With backing from Creative UK, JECO begins to assemble its first team.
May 2025
A milestone moment. JECO closes its $1.3M pre-seed round, combining grant funding and investment led by the British Business Bank and the Games Angels. With fresh resources and belief behind us, we’re set to supercharge development and scale our vision.
Oct 2025
Others thought the same too.
One of 40 companies backed by Women TechEU
Nominee of “Start-Up of the Year 2025” at Leeds Digital Festival
Named one of Prolific North's “Tech Start-Ups: One to Watch 2025”
Nov 2025
Nominee of Barclay’s “Start-Up of the Year”
April 2026
UK StartUp of the Year Award Nominee (yet to be decided!)
2026+
Who knows. Watch this space.
Jul 2023
Post COVID, Em and Simon meet in person. Over coffee, Simon shares an idea he’s been carrying for years: Green Leaf. It clicks, and they decide to build it together (though Em makes him change the name).
Nov 2023
JECO is founded.
The next six months are spent talking to developers, testing the idea and making sure the solution resonates beyond just their own hunch.
Aug 2024
Early momentum arrives. Innovate UK backs JECO, giving both validation and fuel for the mission ahead.
Sept 2024
The support grows. With backing from Creative UK, JECO begins to assemble its first team.
May 2025
A milestone moment. JECO closes its $1.3M pre-seed round, combining grant funding and investment led by the British Business Bank and the Games Angels. With fresh resources and belief behind us, we’re set to supercharge development and scale our vision.
Oct 2025
Others thought the same too.
One of 40 companies backed by Women TechEU
Nominee of “Start-Up of the Year 2025” at Leeds Digital Festival
Named one of Prolific North's “Tech Start-Ups: One to Watch 2025”
Nov 2025
Nominee of Barclay’s “Start-Up of the Year”
April 2026
UK StartUp of the Year Award Nominee (yet to be decided!)
2026+
Who knows. Watch this space.