Richard Bendelow
Richard Bendelow is the Founder and Chairperson of Techquity and the CEO of Aero Commerce, with over 25 years’ experience in ecommerce and digital technology. He co-founded Visualsoft in the late 1990s, helping grow the agency over nearly two decades before a successful exit in 2014. Following that, went on to create Aero Commerce after identifying a clear gap in the market for a high-performance, open-code ecommerce platform that allows agencies and retailers to build truly bespoke solutions.
At Techquity, Richard now focuses on high-level strategy and mentoring the senior leadership team, supporting the business as it continues to deliver performance-led ecommerce solutions for ambitious retailers.
Techquity originally started as a consultancy, with us acting as a tech partner for early-stage businesses. The idea was simple. Techquity would help startups design and build their technology in return for equity, aligning everyone around long-term growth rather than short-term delivery. That model worked well and helped a number of businesses scale quickly.
Over time, ecommerce began to dominate those conversations. Having previously co-founded Visualsoft and spent years building and scaling ecommerce platforms and agencies, it became clear there was a growing gap in the market. Retailers and agencies were increasingly constrained by inflexible, bloated platforms that made truly bespoke ecommerce difficult to deliver.
That shift led Techquity to introduce ecommerce, alongside the development of Aero Commerce. The goal was to combine deep technical expertise with a modern, open-code platform, enabling retailers to build high-performance, scalable ecommerce solutions that are shaped around their business rather than the limitations of the technology.
Without question, it’s the people. I really enjoy sharing experience, mentoring the senior management team, and helping them grow into confident leaders in their own right.
Techquity has an exceptionally talented team, and being able to support them at a strategic level, rather than being involved in day-to-day delivery, is incredibly rewarding. Watching people develop, make better decisions, and build something they’re proud of is what keeps it enjoyable.
I’m a property investor and have a long-standing love of retro gaming and Blu-ray steelbook collecting. I’m also a regular gym-goer, a lifelong Middlesbrough FC supporter, and most importantly a husband, father, and granddad.
Whenever possible, my favourite thing to do is travel around the UK and beyond in our camper van with my wife and dog. It’s the perfect way to switch off, explore new places, and reset.
Clients should choose Techquity because they get more than just technical delivery, they get a team that genuinely cares about their business.
The team combines deep technical expertise with commercial understanding and a genuine desire to help retailers succeed. Everything we do is built around long-term performance, efficiency, and scalability, not short-term wins or quick fixes. Clients work with people who are invested in their success and who aren’t afraid to challenge ideas if it leads to a better outcome.
Aero gives Techquity the freedom to build exactly what a retailer needs without compromise. Having full access to the source code means solutions are faster, leaner, and more future-proof, which directly benefits clients.
