Shows
UKTN | The PodcastHow UK tech could benefit from Chinese capital – Mark Pearson, Fuel VenturesMark Pearson, founder and managing partner of Fuel Ventures, discusses how working as a chef under Gordon Ramsay led him to life as an entrepreneur, why Chinese capital presents a massive opportunity for British innovation and why after a few tough years, optimism has returned to the UK tech industry. Fuel Ventures is a London-based technology investment group focussing on early and growth-stage companies. Pearson said Fuel has always had a good relationship with China, grown stronger by the firm recently securing a £20m investment from Chinese partners. The Fuel managing director said that with Tru...
2025-01-1438 min
UKTN | The PodcastChallenger banking is just getting started – Bianca Zwart, BunqBianca Zwart, chief strategy officer at Bunq, discusses the massive issue of fraud, how Brexit has affected the company's UK operations and the exciting future of the banking sector. Bunq is a challenger bank founded in 2012. Zwart joined the firm in 2016 and worked across a handful of roles before leaving to become an entrepreneur. After founding a few companies, Zwart found herself returning to Bunq to work as its chief of staff and then its chief strategy officer. Headquartered in Amsterdam, Bunq for years operated in the UK before Brexit forced it to stop onboarding Br...
2024-12-1727 min
UKTN | The PodcastBig Tech ditched its roots as a force for good – Shelley Taylor, founder, trellyzShelley Taylor, founder of trellyz and RefAid, discusses how coming to the UK from Silicon Valley helped her understand the 'big picture problems', how Big Tech has moved away from its roots as a force for good, and the need for non-profits to think like businesses. Taylor works with governments and their non-profit partners to provide more efficient coordination for rapid responses. She also created RefAid, a group looking at innovative solutions to address the refugee crisis. Taylor discusses why investors have historically ignored goodwill projects and why global pressure is changing that.
2024-12-1027 min
UKTN | The PodcastFintech must focus on finance as well as tech – Dame Jayne-Anne Gadhia, former CEO, Virgin MoneyDame Jayne-Anne Gadhia, former CEO of Virgin Money, discusses transitioning from running a major financial institution to founding a startup, working with Sir Richard Branson and why in fintech, there's too much emphasis on tech over finance. Gadhia has held numerous prominent roles throughout her career, including CEO of Salesforce, retail managing director at the Royal Bank of Scotland and founder of Snoop. She discusses overseeing the acquisition of Northern Rock during the financial crisis of 2008 and why women in high-powered roles still earn less than their male counterparts.
2024-12-0330 min
UKTN | The PodcastWhy more unicorns shouldn't be Britain's end goal – Suranga Chandratillake, general partner, Balderton CapitalSuranga Chandratillake, general partner at Balderton Capital, discusses why narratives about the UK underperforming in funding compared with the giants in the US might not be fair, why more unicorns shouldn't necessarily be considered the main goal for British businesses and why Labour's budget isn't as damning for entrepreneurs as it may seem. Balderton Capital is a multi-stage venture capital firm that backs companies across every phase of growth. Chandratillake discusses why so far the government's approach to business has been encouraging, though it's still early days, why the London public markets are struggling as so...
2024-11-2632 min
UKTN | The PodcastHow social media is preparing for the Online Safety Act – Almudena Lara, policy director, OfcomAlmudena Lara, policy director at Ofcom discusses how social media firms are gearing up for the incoming enforcement of strict rules designed to keep children safe in digital spaces. Ofcom is the UK's media and communications regulatory body. The watchdog was recently granted new powers in regulating content on the internet via the Online Safety Act. Lara explains why there has been an extended gap between the act passing and the rules being enforced and how AI could become both an incredible tool for content moderation and a dangerous weapon in harmful content creation.
2024-11-1931 min
UKTN | The PodcastDon't wait for political support to make climate tech – Chris Morris, founder, Sustainable VenturesChris Morris, co-founder and COO of Sustainable Ventures discusses why entrepreneurs can't wait for government support to make advancements in climate tech, why the Labour government's actions on climate solutions have left him pleasantly surprised and why the best climate solutions need to meet consumer needs. Sustainable Ventures helps climate startups and entrepreneurs across the UK scale through investment, workspaces and venture support. Morris explains why the climate tech startups being funded by the group have to be able to provide solutions that the public can happily adopt without feeling like they are making too gr...
2024-11-1226 min
UKTN | The PodcastThe surprising challenge of delivering flowers – Aron Gelbard, CEO, Bloom and WildAron Gelbard, co-founder and CEO of Bloom and Wild, discusses why flower delivery has been a surprisingly difficult practice to perfect, how the Covid-19 pandemic massively boosted his firm’s popularity and how he went from management consultancy to founding a startup. Bloom and Wild is an online flower delivery platform that posts assemblable bouquets through peoples’ doors. Gelbard described how his family has had a history of entrepreneurship that inspired him to found his own company – but not before a prominent consulting career in the City – and how he has had to learn to avoid perf...
2024-11-0530 min
UKTN | The PodcastWhy you can never do enough to prevent fraud – Martina King, CEO, FeaturespaceMartina King, CEO of Featurespace, discusses why fraud has been an issue since the dawn of humanity, how the big banks are spending massive amounts on anti-fraud measures and only catching around half of all cases, and growing a company from a startup to a success story with interest from global giants. Featurespace is an anti-financial crime startup for enterprises that analyses human behaviour to detect dangerous transactions. King, who joined the Cambridge-based firm as chief executive in 2012, discusses why financial institutions can never do enough to prevent fraud and ponders recent regulatory measures governing ho...
2024-10-2928 min
UKTN | The PodcastBritain can't be ignored in the AI conversation – Sachin Dev Duggal, CEO, Builder.aiSachin Dev Duggal, founder, CEO and self-described chief wizard, of Builder.ai, discusses the ways people commonly misinterpret AI, the importance of allowing diverse groups input in regulation and lawmaking concerning the technology. Builder.ai is a Microsoft-backed startup that uses AI technology to provide a simplified method of app and software development. As the founder of one of Britain's most prominent AI companies, Duggal shares his own experience operating a tech company in the UK and explains why there is so much still to do to make the country viable as a leader in AI, b...
2024-10-2230 min
UKTN | The PodcastHow automation can transform Seaweed farming – Joyeeta Das, CEO, SamudraOceansJoyeeta Das, co-founder and CEO of SamudraOceans, discusses how seaweed has an incredible variety of uses, including food, fuel, fertiliser and bioplastics; how coastal towns are facing the biggest danger from climate change, but could also contain vital ocean expertise; and the challenge of finding patient investors that will back causes over maximising profits. SamudraOceans is developing automated technologies to transform the industry of seaweed farming. Das explains how the emerging sector is largely manual but with the right introduction of AI and robotics, could make all the difference in the global fight against man-made cl...
2024-10-1531 min
UKTN | The PodcastHow Apple and Google abuse the app market – Gene Burrus, global policy council, CAFGene Burrus, global policy council at the Coalition for App Fairness, discusses how Apple and Google use their dominant position in the app store market to unfairly treat app developers and the legal battle taking place over this. Burrus joined the Coalition for App Fairness – a group of app developers advocating for a competitive and fair marketplace – after his work at Spotify (a CAF member) introduced him to the complex struggle between app stores and apps. CAF contains members from early-stage startups to global powerhouses, including Fortnite developer Epic Games. Burrus explains the various legal challe...
2024-10-0831 min
UKTN | The PodcastFrom Dragon's Den to a food tech unicorn – Timo Boldt, CEO, GoustoTimo Boldt, founder and CEO of Gousto discusses growing his business from a Dragon's Den pitch to a market leader, how sustainability has always been at the heart of Gousto and the importance of new founders finding good mentors. Gousto is a startup that sends pre-packaged meal kits with ingredients in the exact proportions required for the recipe. The company uses algorithms to tailor recipes to consumers' tastes, health requirements and to reduce food waste. Boldt pitched the startup on Dragon's Den in 2013 while suffering from food poisoning, and after rejecting two offers on the sh...
2024-10-0129 min
UKTN | The PodcastWhy the UK remains a fintech giant – James Codling, managing partner, VolutionJames Codling, managing partner at Volution discusses how despite a slowdown in funding and concerns over profits, the UK is still seen globally as a massive hub for fintech, how the hype around British fintech successes is not always spread evenly and why building a bank is the most difficult category of fintech one can pursue. Volution is a London-based venture capital investor that focuses largely on fintech and software-as-a-service companies that have progressed past the seed and Series A stages. Codling explains that in the UK, there have been incredible efforts to support startups to...
2024-09-2427 min
UKTN | The PodcastHow the UK can prepare for the quantum revolution – Dr Nick New, CEO, OptalysysDr Nick New, CEO of Optalysys, discusses why the UK must already start preparing for the benefits and the risks of quantum computing technology. New describes how while quantum computers can provide tremendous support for dozens of industries, it can also represent a new frontier of danger in the world of cybercrime. Optalysis is a photonics-based encryption company that can protect data beyond the capabilities of electronic-based computing. New describes how the UK is well-positioned to become a global leader in photonics technology and how raising funding as a deep tech startup presents its own un...
2024-09-1728 min
UKTN | The PodcastProtecting the UK’s place in global tech – Russ Shaw, founder, Global Tech AdvocatesRuss Shaw, Founder of London Tech Advocates and Global Tech Advocates, discusses London and the UK’s place in the tech world and how it differs from Silicon Valley, the urgent need to support digital skills growth to protect the tech ecosystem and why the new government needs to be clear on its tech policy strategy. Shaw founded London Tech Advocates – a non-profit launched to champion and empower the burgeoning London tech industry in the early 2010s – and has since gone on to build a network of Global Tech Advocates, supporting tech hubs across the UK and i...
2024-09-1032 min
UKTN | The PodcastThe challenge of identity in the digital age – Robin Tombs, CEO, YotiRobin Tombs, co-founder and CEO of Yoti, discusses why the road to fully implementing digital ID into society is a long and challenging one, how social media companies can avoid onboarding underage users and the great challenge to identity posed by the rise of deepfake technology. Tombs co-founded Yoti – which develops age verification and digital ID technology – in 2014 after working in the online gambling space. Tombs saw the difficulty in verifying ages and identities and sought to develop capable of doing so. Yoti works with partners including Meta and Sony to detect user ages and suppli...
2024-09-0329 min
UKTN | The PodcastHow tackling the digital skills gap will supercharge Scottish tech – Karen Meechan, CEO, ScotlandISKaren Meechan, CEO of ScotlandIS, discusses how Scotland’s tech industry, made mostly of small and medium-sized enterprises, is indeed thriving but is struggling to grow as the supply of digital talent is not meeting demands. Meechan has worked with ScotlandIS – an industry body supporting the nation’s tech sector – for 20 years. Meechan explains how bodies like ScotlandIS are working towards plugging the digital skills gap but need more support from the government at a local and UK-wide level. ScotlandIS was formed in 1999 through a merger of various industry groups including the Scottish Software Federation. The organisation manages v...
2024-08-2730 min
UKTN | The PodcastBacking operator-led startups and unlocking Africa’s tech growth – Maria Rotilu, founder, OpenseedVCMaria Rotilu, founder and general Partner at OpenseedVC, discusses the thesis behind backing operator-led startups, and how Africa's large, youthful population - combined with decreasing barriers to innovation - is positioning the continent as a valuable investment opportunity. Rotilu is an operator-turned-investor and founder, specialising in backing operators-turned-founders who are building tech startups as early as day zero. Before transitioning to investing, she spent the better part of the first decade of her career scaling multinational technology companies like Uber and Branch.co, holding leadership roles such as country manager and general manager. Prior to Open...
2024-08-2030 min
UKTN | The PodcastWhy the UK must not make the EU's AI ‘mistakes’ – Victor Riparbelli, CEO, SynthesiaVictor Riparbelli, co-founder and CEO of Synthesia, discusses the various appeals of AI-generated video content, the importance of startups implementing strict AI safety controls, and how the UK doesn't have to follow what he sees as the EU's mistakes in AI regulation. Riparbelli founded Synthesia along with Lourdes Agapito, Matthias Neissner and Steffen Tjerrild in 2017. The London-based company uses AI to generate videos hosted by artificial avatars based on user scripts. Its technology is primarily used by more than 55,000 businesses - including half of the Fortune 100 - for corporate education and communications. Riparbelli explains how at t...
2024-08-1330 min
UKTN | The PodcastWhy fixing the tech gender gap must start in the classroom – Claire Thorne, co-CEO, Tech She CanDr Claire Thorne, co-CEO of Tech She Can, discusses her expectations from the next government to revamp the education curriculum for technology roles. She also addresses the various factors that impact why girls don't get into STEM, why a third of women are leaving the sector and the importance of investors being more conscious of who they're investing in. Thorne founded Tech She Can to help address the "nationwide" problem of too few women in technology roles. The aim of the charity is to see women play an equal role in creating and developing tech businesses, products, a...
2024-08-0629 min
UKTN | The PodcastThe possibilities and perils of legal sector AI adoption – Eleanor Lightbody, CEO, LuminanceEleanor Lightbody, CEO of Luminance, discusses the risks of businesses using ChatGPT, the importance of using the right AI model for the task at hand, and the need for flexible AI regulation that caters to different sectors. Founded by AI experts from the University of Cambridge in 2015, Luminance is an AI platform for lawyers. Built on a proprietary legal large language model, its AI reads and forms a conceptual understanding of legal documents in any language. From this, it enhances and expedites different tasks such as taking a first-pass review of any incoming contract to automatically flagging c...
2024-07-3027 min
UKTN | The PodcastWhy climate tech needs more than private investment – Diane Gilpin, CEO, Smart Green ShippingDiane Gilpin, founder and CEO of Smart Green Shipping, discusses the astronomical climate impact of the shipping industry, why Scotland is the perfect place for a woman entrepreneur in climate tech, and why government funding is vital alongside private investment into the green technology space. Gilpin founded Smart Green Shipping in 2014. The startup develops hardware and software designed to reduce the climate impact of the shipping industry. Gilpin has been in the shipping industry for well over a decade and discusses how far behind it is in the fight for gender equality. Gilpin notes, however, th...
2024-07-2330 min
UKTN | The PodcastBringing ancient wellbeing to the AI age – Reeva Misra, founder, WONEReeva Misra, founder and CEO of Walking on Earth, discusses how stress is often at the root of chronic health problems, the real science backing up ancient wellbeing practices, how attitudes to mental health benefits at businesses are changing for the better and how AI could improve personal happiness. Misra founded Walking on Earth (WONE), which uses AI to assess the stress levels of users and provide personalised interventions, in 2020 after almost three years at BenevolentAI. Misra was inspired to develop tech-powered stress relief after examining medical research that found combatting stress is a powerful pr...
2024-07-1630 min
UKTN | The PodcastInside the race for AI business adoption – The Gadget Show’s Jason BradburyJason Bradbury, best known for presenting The Gadget Show, explains how businesses are “finding their feet” when it comes to AI, why he’s bullish on the metaverse, and recalls some of the zaniest product testing he’s done. Bradbury was a presenter on Channel 5’s The Gadget Show from its launch in 2004 to 2016, where he tested tech and participated in grabbing stunts – including a jet-powered skateboard. In early 2024 The Gadget Show returned as a podcast presented by Bradbury and Suzi Perry. He is also a speaker at business conferences, where he discusses the transformative impact of technologies...
2024-07-0931 min
UKTN | The PodcastAdvancing quantum with lasers made in Scotland – Graeme Malcolm, CEO, M SquaredDr Graeme Malcolm, CEO and founder of M Squared, discusses the current state of the quantum computing market, Glasgow’s growing tech sector, and tips for US expansion. Founded in 2006 by Malcolm and Dr Gareth Maker, M Squared develops laser technologies for a variety of use cases, such as quantum, biophotonics and chemical sensing. Its tech has been deployed across multiple sectors, including in space to calibrate payloads for satellites part of Europe’s Copernicus programme. The company is headquartered in Glasgow and has a presence in the US. Malcolm, who studied laser physics and optoelectronics at Strat...
2024-07-0226 min
UKTN | The PodcastWhy London is a global tech problem solver – Michael Mainelli, Lord Mayor of the City of LondonMichael Mainelli, Lord Mayor of the City of London, discusses why the UK capital is a global problem solver, explains why he believes politicians have launched AI regulations “without doing their homework”, and why space junk is a growing problem. The Lord Mayor of the City of London is the head of the City of London Corporation, the governing body of the Square Mile. The Lord Mayor is elected annually and is an international ambassador for the UK’s financial and professional services sector. Mainelli, who is the 695th Lord Mayor of the City of London, was previou...
2024-06-2535 min
UKTN | The PodcastReflecting on Tech Nation’s legacy & supporting high-risk spinouts – Gerard Grech, MD, Founders at the University of CambridgeGerard Grech, managing director of Founders at the University of Cambridge, reflects on the legacy of Tech Nation, explains how universities can support impact startups, and assesses the attractiveness of UK markets. Grech was the founding CEO of Tech Nation, leading the startup support organisation for over a decade until it was acquired by Founders Forum Group last year. The deal came after Tech Nation lost a bid for government funding to Barclays Eagle Labs, forcing it to cease operations. In this episode, Grech looks back on what he sees as a “puzzling decision” and reflects on the i...
2024-06-1830 min
UKTN | The PodcastThe North has all the ingredients to rival the Golden Triangle in tech – Duncan Johnson, CEO, Northern GritstoneDuncan Johnson, CEO of Northern Gritstone, discusses why the north of England has all the potential required to rival the South East in commercialising science and innovation, the challenges of backing early-stage deep tech companies with very long investment journeys, and why ambition and resilience are so important in developing tech hubs. Johnson has been chief executive of the investment firm since 2021 and has guided its vision of growing the northern economic ecosystem by backing innovative new technologies. Northern Gritstone’s portfolio companies include Pragmatic Semiconductor, C-Capture and Re:course. Johnson is adamant that the ingr...
2024-06-1132 min
UKTN | The PodcastCultivating vertical farming’s full potential – Jamie Burrows, founder, Vertical FutureJamie Burrows, founder and CEO of Vertical Future, discusses the many ways vertical farming can be used to address agricultural and environmental challenges, why space presents an exciting opportunity for farming and why VC funding isn't for everyone. Burrows founded Vertical Future in 2016. The company develops the technology to build automated vertical farms wherein robots tend to the needs of stacked crops in enclosed spaces. It has deployed eight farms across the UK and has projects in development overseas. Vertical Future has raised over £30m across grants and family office investments. The company is also wor...
2024-06-0429 min
UKTN | The PodcastTaking surgical simulators from Merseyside to Tampa Bay – Elliot Street, CEO, Inovus MedicalElliot Street, CEO and co-founder of Inovus Medical, explains how surgical training simulators can help fix the shortage of qualified surgeons, explores how robotics will change the future of surgery, and shares advice on expanding to the US. Founded in 2012, Inovus Medical designs and manufactures a surgical training platform that combines soft tissue models with digital overlays. The headset-free augmented reality technology provides haptic feedback for trainee surgeons to simulate a real-world environment. The company is based in St Helens, a town in Merseyside, England. Street says the town’s proximity to Liverpool and Manchester means it can...
2024-05-2827 min
UKTN | The PodcastHow the AI boom mirrors the frenzied rise of the internet – Anne Glover, CEO, Amadeus Capital PartnersAnne Glover, co-founder and CEO of Amadeus Capital Partners, discusses the ways that the tech investment scene has changed since her firm launched in the late 1990s, how tech started as a niche sector but has since started to encompass everything, why AI hype is valid but there's more to it than just generative AI, and what the UK needs to do to shake its history of not scaling tech companies like the US can. Glover co-founded Amadeus Capital Partners in 1997 alongside Hermann Hauser. The firm generally backs deep tech firms, with major portfolio companies in...
2024-05-2129 min
UKTN | The PodcastHow modern science birthed the dawn of personalised health – Melissa Snover, founder, NourishedMelissa Snover, founder and CEO of Nourished, discusses how the advent of modern scientific data analysis has birthed the personalised health boom, why as an American expat she fell in love with Birmingham as a startup hub, and how women founders can fight the odds to close the funding gap. Snover is the founder of Nourished and Scripted, which provide personalised health products to prevent and treat conditions and make it easier for people to take important nutrients. Snover came to the UK from the States for university and decided as a young entrepreneur that Birmingham had e...
2024-05-1430 min
UKTN | The PodcastHow to ensure the UK lives up to its startup exit potential – Husayn Kassai, co-founder, OnfidoHusayn Kassai, founder of Onfido and Quench.ai, suggests what the UK can do to attract more IPOs and build more scaleups, reflects on providing a 320x return on investment for the University of Oxford, and explains why people should be wary of the “excessive romanticisation” of unicorn success stories. Kassai co-founded Onfido, a digital ID company, in 2012 straight out of studying at the University of Oxford. The startup, which uses AI to verify identities, has raised more than $200m and grown to over 500 people, generating more than £140m in revenue. Earlier this year, it was acquired by US...
2024-05-0731 min
UKTN | The PodcastWhat does the future of flexible working look like? – Molly Johnson-Jones, CEO, FlexaFlexa CEO and co-founder Molly Johnson-Jones discusses the future of flexible working, how companies can “turn hiring into marketing” and why she thinks some corporate CEOs are using flexible working as a scapegoat for innovation failures. Flexa is a careers platform that aggregates a company’s workplace benefits to give job candidates more information when applying for a role. Johnson-Jones co-founded the company in 2020 – alongside Maurice O’Brien, and Tim Leppard – after she was told to leave her job in investment banking. It came after Johnson-Jones, who has an auto-immune disease, had submitted a flexible work request. Flexa aims to...
2024-04-3030 min
UKTN | The PodcastHow tech can bring a human touch to dealing with death – Sam Grice, founder, Octopus LegacySam Grice, founder and CEO of Octopus Legacy, discusses how the administrative side of death can make the grieving process much harder, why we need to be able to talk about death to plan our lives properly and keeping the ethos of his business alive after it was acquired. Grice founded the company, originally called Guardian Angel, in 2016 after facing difficulties when dealing with the sudden death of his mother. The London-based company provides digital tools for people to prepare for end of life and to support those dealing with an unexpected loss through the pr...
2024-04-2328 min
UKTN | The PodcastIs the metaverse really dead? – Herman Narula, co-founder & CEO, ImprobableImprobable CEO and co-founder Herman Narula makes the case for the metaverse amid claims it is dead before it started, unpacks his company’s recent commercial deals and explains the impact AI is having on virtual world-building. Improbable develops the infrastructure for virtual worlds. Backed by the likes of SoftBank and Andreessen Horowitz, the London-based company designs, builds and operates metaverse experiences for brands. Recent projects include screening a Major League Baseball match in a virtual ballpark. Last year, Improbable sold its defence business and one of its gaming ventures. In this episode, Narula explains how these com...
2024-04-1627 min
UKTN | The PodcastMaking lab-grown fat the secret ingredient to plant-based protein – Max Jamilly, co-founder, Hoxton FarmsMax Jamilly, co-founder of Hoxton Farms, discusses why developing lab-based fat is the secret ingredient for the cultivated meat industry, why some people oppose lab-grown meat and how the regulatory progress for getting new alternative proteins in shops is going. Jamilly co-founded the London-based cultivated fat startup in 2020 alongside his lifelong friend Ed Steele. Jamilly breaks down the science of how meat can be grown in a lab, and how Hoxton Farm’s cultivated fat can extend lab-grown meat beyond sausages and nuggets to high-quality cuts such as steaks, pork belly and bacon. Jamilly also disc...
2024-04-0932 min
UKTN | The PodcastWhy AI regulation isn’t the enemy of innovation – Lord Tim Clement-JonesLord Tim Clement-Jones, Liberal Democrat peer, explains why a lack of consistency from the government hasn’t helped startups, weighs in on the debate around using copyrighted material to train AI systems, and unpacks why regulation isn’t the enemy of innovation. Lord Clement-Jones was chair of the Liberal Party from 1986-1988. He was made CBE for political services in 1988 and a life peer in 1998. He is the Liberal Democrat House of Lords spokesperson for science, innovation and technology. He is the former chair of the House of Lords Select Committee on Artificial Intelligence. He co-founded and has co...
2024-04-0230 min
UKTN | The PodcastWhy Welsh tech is primed for growth – Louise Harris, CEO, Tramshed TechLouise Harris, co-founder and CEO of Tramshed Tech, discusses the challenges and opportunities for the Welsh tech sector, unpacks the country’s sub-sector strengths from semiconductors to creative, and mulls what a changing political landscape might mean for businesses. Harris co-founded Tramshed with Mark John in 2015. It now has six co-working sites across Wales and provides startup support through programmes on topics such as investor readiness and exports. Tramshed is supported by strategic partners in the UK and Europe, including Google for Startups, Microsoft, Barclays Eagle Labs and SQY. Harris is also a member of the Welsh Gov...
2024-03-2631 min
UKTN | The PodcastWhy the UK can be an autonomous vehicles leader – Gavin Jackson, CEO, OxaOxa CEO Gavin Jackson explains why the UK is well-positioned to be a leader in autonomous vehicles, breaks down Oxa’s strategy for commercialisation, and unpacks who is liable in the event of an autonomous vehicle crashing. Oxa, formerly known as Oxbotica, is developing software for autonomous vehicles. Founded in 2014, it is focusing on passenger transportation and industrial autonomy. It has raised more than £150m in funding, including from Google parent company Alphabet. The Oxford-headquartered company recently announced a commercial partnership with a passenger shuttle service in Florida, US. Oxa has been sharing industry input into the UK’s...
2024-03-1932 min
UKTN | The PodcastRewiring Whitehall for UK tech success – Allan Nixon, head of science and tech, OnwardAllan Nixon, head of science of technology at Onward, shares his assessment of the Spring Budget, outlines steps he thinks Whitehall could take to improve tech sector growth, and compares the Labour and Conservative parties' approach to tech policy. Nixon joined Onward, a centre-right think tank, in April 2023. In this episode, he unpacks Spring Budget announcements – from pension fund reform to PISCES. He explains why DSIT and the Treasury need to revamp their spending processes to ensure investments keep pace with the tech sector, particularly in areas like compute infrastructure. Elsewhere, Nixon shares suggestions for Whitehall to cut...
2024-03-1230 min
UKTN | The PodcastThe UK must act now to keep fintech crown – Janine Hirt, CEO, Innovate FinanceJanine Hirt, CEO of Innovate Finance, unpacks what the UK must do to maintain its historical strength in financial technology, why clarity in regulation for crypto, BNPL and open banking is vital, and what needs to be done to tackle rising financial scams. Hirt has been with Innovate Finance, the UK fintech industry body, for the past nine years after joining as a community lead in 2015. Hirt then became the group’s ecosystem director, then COO before rising to the rank of chief executive in 2021. The independent group is responsible for championing the efforts of British fintech and...
2024-03-0525 min
UKTN | The PodcastTackling the North-South tech funding gap – Jess Jackson, investment manager, Praetura VenturesJess Jackson, investment manager at Praetura Ventures, discusses the challenges startups in the north face, the stark gender divide in the tech and investment industries and how the government should be supporting small businesses and underrepresented entrepreneurs. Jackson joined the Manchester-based venture capital firm in 2022 after years of managing investments in the city at GC Angels. Praetura Ventures prides itself on its commitment to backing companies in the north of England, which traditionally have less access to funding than their counterparts in the south. Jackson is also a founding member of Fund Her North, a co...
2024-02-2724 min
UKTN | The PodcastAdvocacy needs action to fix tech diversity gap – Suki Fuller, founder, MiribureSuki Fuller, founder of Miribure, discusses the power of advocacy to improve gender and ethnic diversity in tech, unpacks the importance of storytelling in data, and explains why we should dispel the myth that tech is a “highfalutin career path”. In this episode, Fuller shares her experience as a woman and person of colour working in tech and why it’s important to raise awareness “every single day with everything you do”. She explains how she “struggles” with the dichotomy of needing labels like ‘women in tech’ to highlight that change is needed, despite male entrepreneurs not being described in...
2024-02-2029 min
UKTN | The PodcastWhy AI is a double-edged sword in an election year – Angie Ma, co-founder, FacultyDr Angie Ma, co-founder of Faculty, explains how AI poses both a threat and an opportunity during an election year, explains why the company stopped doing political work post-Brexit referendum, and shares her top productivity tips for entrepreneurs. Ma founded Faculty with Dr Marc Warner and Andy Brookes in 2014. The London-based firm began as a fellowship to help academics become commercial data scientists. It now provides software and consulting services to businesses, with clients including HSBC, Tide and John Lewis. Faculty was controversially paid by Vote Leave to provide services during the 2016 Brexit referendum, but said it s...
2024-02-1326 min
UKTN | The PodcastThe role of apprenticeships in the age of AI – Euan Blair, CEO, MultiverseEuan Blair, CEO of Multiverse, discusses the role that apprenticeships can play in the future of work, the impact of AI on skills, and the challenges of breaking into the US market. Blair founded Multiverse in 2016. The edtech company’s focus is on matching diverse talent from a range of backgrounds with upskilling opportunities. It has trained over 10,000 apprentices in partnership with more than 1,000 global employers. While the company reached a unicorn valuation in 2022, it is yet to achieve profitability. In 2021, the London-headquartered launched in the US. Multiverse recently scaled back its US workforce after the business mis...
2024-02-0628 min
UKTN | The PodcastHow to nurture North East tech growth – David Dunn, CEO, Sunderland Software CitySunderland Software City CEO David Dunn explains how the North East can grow its tech sector, gives his assessment of the government’s tech department, and explains how increasing the number of regional startups can help the UK become a “tech powerhouse”. From Newcastle to Middlesbrough, the North East of England is bursting with clusters of tech innovation. But Dunn believes that with the right support, the North East “could be adding more value to UK PLC”. In this episode, Dunn explains how focusing on talent pipelines rather than job creation can stimulate tech sector growth. He also explai...
2024-01-3030 min
UKTN | The PodcastScaleup powerhouse goals, chasing unicorns & immigration concerns - Michelle Donelan, tech secretaryMichelle Donelan, the tech secretary, discusses the government’s plan to make the UK a “scaleup powerhouse” and provides more detail on some of the policy support measures. The secretary of state answers questions about her goal to make the UK home to half of all European tech unicorns by 2030 and whether immigration policy is harming UK tech growth. Elsewhere, Donelan responds to concerns that scrapping parts of HS2 is a blow to regional tech growth, and is asked whether Fujitsu is still a trusted partner in the wake of the Post Office scandal. Donelan is the UK’s fi...
2024-01-2329 min
UKTN | The PodcastLaunching a tech banking brand in 100 days – Simon Bumfrey, head of technology and life sciences, HSBC Innovation BankingSimon Bumfrey, head of technology and life sciences at HSBC Innovation Banking, shares how the lender rebranded from Silicon Valley Bank UK, what happened immediately after that "seismic” rescue weekend in March, and a look ahead to the big themes defining the tech ecosystem in 2024. HSBC Innovation Banking offers flexible banking solutions for startups, scaleups, growth businesses, investors and those working towards IPO. It officially launched at London Tech Week in June, coming just months after HSBC stepped in at the eleventh hour to rescue Silicon Valley Bank UK. Bumfrey goes behind the scenes of the 100-day reb...
2023-12-2122 min
UKTN | The PodcastCareer reflections from dot-com chaos to ‘bonkers’ Elon Musk – Rory Cellan-JonesRory Cellan-Jones, former BBC technology correspondent, revisits career highlights interviewing the biggest names in tech, from Elon Musk to Bill Gates. The writer and author recalls the frenzy of the dot-com bubble in the UK – and explains the similarities and differences between the plummeting valuations of startups today. Cellan-Jones left the BBC in 2021 after four decades at the broadcaster, spending the last 14 of those years as technology correspondent. During his career, he witnessed landmark tech moments, including the launch of the iPhone. Elsewhere on the show, Cellan-Jones explains why cryptocurrency is "infested with snake oil merchants", shares his t...
2023-12-1927 min
UKTN | The PodcastBusinesses must brace for a year of election frenzy and AI disruption – Martha Lane Fox , president, British Chambers of CommerceBaroness Martha Lane Fox reflects on a challenging year for tech businesses, explains why we should be more concerned about a “profound shift in information flows” than destruction by robots, and unpacks why we shouldn’t be too pessimistic about startup funding. Elsewhere on the show, she looks ahead to a year of political uncertainty and explains why the first trillionaire in the world will “probably” come from the green transition. Lane Fox is a British businesswoman, philanthropist and public servant. She co-founded Last Minute during the dotcom boom in 1998 with Brent Hoberman, taking it to a public list...
2023-12-1227 min
UKTN | The PodcastNet zero COP-outs and the case for climate tech optimism – Carbon13 CEO Nicky DeeDr Nicky Dee, founder and CEO of Carbon13, explains why climate tech innovation is cause for optimism despite a lack of progress from initiatives like COP, unpacks why carbon offsetting is still the “Wild West” and reveals which climate solutions provide the “best bang for buck”. Carbon13 is a venture builder for the climate emergency. The Cambridge-based firm selects, supports and invests in startups focused on building scalable climate ventures that will reduce and remove emissions on a global scale. It has made 65 investments since 2021. Dee has previously worked with UNEP, Nesta and the UK government...
2023-12-0525 min
UKTN | The PodcastDefining AI for good and overcoming tech superpower roadblocks – Anne-Marie Imafidon, CEO, StemettesDr Anne-Marie Imafidon, CEO and co-founder of the Stemettes, discusses the power of role models for women in tech, how AI for good shouldn’t just focus on boosting productivity, and why a fixation on ‘wokeism’ is a roadblock to the government's science and tech superpower goals. Imafidon is a British-Nigerian social entrepreneur and computer scientist. She founded Stemettes, a social enterprise promoting women in STEM, in 2013. Imafidon launched the Stemettes after becoming aware of the lack of diversity in degrees like science and maths. The University of Oxford alumna says that while there has been pro...
2023-11-2836 min
UKTN | The PodcastAutumn Statement wish list and why UK tech thrives whoever wins the election – Startup Coalition’s Dom HallasDom Hallas, executive director of the Startup Coalition, reveals his top policy wishes for UK tech in the upcoming Autumn Statement and shares his assessment of the tech legislation agenda for 2024, including the Automated Vehicles Bill. Elsewhere in this episode, Hallas explains why he thinks the UK’s AI Safety Summit was a success, why he’s optimistic about either a Labour or Conservative government and what regions need to do to build a strong tech ecosystem. Hallas leads the Startup Coalition, a lobby group that was formerly known as Coadec that acts as a condui...
2023-11-2130 min
UKTN | The PodcastHow my bootstrapped pet music startup struck a chord with a US buyer – Music For Pets founder Amman AhmedAmman Ahmed, founder of Music For Pets, discusses building a successful brand from nothing, how music can become an integral part of an animal's life, and the importance of being genuinely human in business. Ahmed explains how trusting yourself, your team and your product is essential and urges founders to consider their priorities when seeking lofty valuations. Ahmed launched Music For Pets as a side project with business partner Ricardo Henriquez in 2017. The pair researched how music can have a therapeutic effect on anxious and overly excited animals. After Music For Pets' online content grew ra...
2023-11-1421 min
UKTN | The PodcastHow the early-stage gender funding gap stifles UK tech growth – Merian Ventures’ Priya GuhaPriya Guha, venture partner at Merian Ventures, discusses the skills gap and the shortage of women in STEM roles, why tech companies shouldn’t overlook the arts, and how the early-stage gender funding gap is holding back UK growth. Elsewhere on the show, the investor and former diplomat discusses the UK’s “untapped capital pool” and reveals what she wants to see from the next British government. Guha has been at Merian Ventures since 2019, where she invests in women-led innovation. She was previously a career diplomat, most recently as British Consul General to San Francisco where she...
2023-11-0729 min
UKTN | The PodcastGetting AI safety right and the danger of leaving it to Big Tech – Graphcore CEO Nigel ToonNigel Toon, co-founder and CEO of Graphcore, discusses the goals of the AI Safety Summit, the danger of letting commercial interests and Big Tech shape regulations, and the shortcomings of government when it comes to reining in AI risks. Bristol-based Graphcore designs hardware and software for intelligent processing unit (IPU) systems. Its technology is used to power AI and machine learning applications. As Toon puts it, Graphcore is the “seller of the picks and shovels” powering the AI revolution. It became one of the UK’s most valuable private tech companies in 2020 after a $222m funding...
2023-10-3130 min
UKTN | The PodcastHow space tech is on the cusp of full commercialisation – Space DOTS founder Bianca CefaloBianca Cefalo, co-founder of Space DOTS, discusses how the space tech industry in the UK and beyond is rapidly growing and ready for commercialisation. The engineer and CEO explains what it's like to be a woman in an industry dominated by men and encourages women to ignore the doubters and follow their engineering dreams. Space DOTS is a British startup that offers in-space research and development and testing for the quality control of advanced materials. Cefalo co-founded the company in 2021 and it has since raised over £1m in investments and grants.
2023-10-2431 min
UKTN | The PodcastDiversity is UK tech’s competitive advantage over Silicon Valley – Passion Capital’s Eileen BurbidgeEileen Burbidge, partner at Passion Capital, discusses the lessons she learned working in Silicon Valley before and during the dot-com crash, explains how luck plays a big role in success, examines the differences between the UK and US tech sectors, and shares how reproductive health support is the new frontier for employee benefits. Burbidge, a British-American venture capitalist, moved to London from Silicon Valley in 2004. During her early career, Burbidge held roles at Apple, Sun Microsystems and Skype. She is a founding partner of Passion Capital, an early-stage venture capital firm that has invested in 96 st...
2023-10-1731 min
UKTN | The PodcastAI is transforming the legal sector, but it can be a law unto itself – Robin AI founder Richard RobinsonRichard Robinson, co-founder of Robin AI, discusses how artificial intelligence has the power to massively transform the legal sector – though not without considerable risks. The CEO explains why people will always be needed despite the rise of automation, how the government can regulate AI without sacrificing innovation, and shares funding advice for startups. Robin AI is a London-based startup using generative artificial intelligence to automate time-consuming administrative work in the legal sector, such as contract drafting. Robinson co-founded the company in 2019 and it has since raised $16m from the likes of Google and Monzo’s Tom Bl...
2023-10-1025 min
UKTN | The PodcastThe cost of tech's diversity failure and how to fix it - Colorintech founder Ashleigh AinsleyAshleigh Ainsley, co-founder of Colorintech, discusses what steps companies can take to build diverse teams, explains how Big Tech can do better on inclusion, and what he would like to see from the government's digital skills agenda to encourage more people from ethnic minority backgrounds into tech careers. Colorintech is a non-profit that focuses on increasing access, awareness and opportunities for underrepresented groups in the technology industry. Ainsley grew up in the diverse London borough of Lewisham and went to Oxford University as "the only Black Caribbean boy to go in that year". After securing an...
2023-10-0326 min
UKTN | The PodcastPlaying to UK microchip strengths and avoiding a subsidy race – Minister for Tech Paul ScullyPaul Scully, Minister for Tech and the Digital Economy, addresses criticism of the UK’s semiconductor strategy and explains why the government is avoiding a “subsidy race” with the likes of the US. The MP for Sutton and Cheam outlines the goals of the Digital Markets Bill, and explains how existing regulators will create a “baseline” while building up an understanding of AI risks. Elsewhere, he discusses the Online Safety Bill, investment zones and Tech Nation. Scully was appointed Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Tech and the Digital Economy) at the newly created Department for...
2023-08-0828 min
UKTN | The PodcastAccelerating Liverpool’s tech ecosystem – Baltic Ventures CEO Claire LewisClaire Lewis, CEO and co-founder of Baltic Ventures, discusses Liverpool’s rapidly growing tech scene, how there's now an understanding that tech investment must be spread across the whole UK, and some of the common mistakes that founders make. Baltic Ventures is a not-for-profit accelerator located in Liverpool. Based in the city’s Baltic Triangle, the accelerator is aiming to address the funding imbalance for early-stage startups outside of London, with a focus on the North West. Lewis, who began her career as a chartered accountant, previously founded a sustainable ecommerce company. After it was a...
2023-08-0127 min
UKTN | The PodcastRebuilding Tech Nation and the UK's generative AI opportunity – Founders Forum CEO Carolyn DawsonCarolyn Dawson, CEO of Founders Forum Group, discusses rebuilding Tech Nation after acquiring the shuttered entrepreneur network, explains why the UK is well-positioned to be a leader in generative AI, and the impact that pension fund reforms will have on the UK tech sector. Launched in 2005, Founders Forum Group is an entrepreneur community that hosts networking events and provides advice to startups. As chief executive, Dawson oversees all of Founders Forum’s events and businesses. In 2022, she was awarded an OBE for her services to London Tech Week, which she has led for seven years. Prio...
2023-07-2525 min
UKTN | The PodcastDecoding brain patterns to nurture mental health – Alena founder Mandana AhmadiDr Mandana Ahmadi, the founder and CEO of mental health app Alena, discusses how technology can be a tool to support mental health, her journey as an Iranian immigrant to a UK-based startup founder and how artificial intelligence has yet to replicate real human emotion. Ahmadi moved to the UK from Iran with a joint passion for technology and psychology. London-headquartered Alena is harnessing computational neuroscience to decode the mental patterns that drive social anxiety. It has raised $3.6m in funding since it was co-founded by Ahmadi in 2019. Before Alena, she co-founded and served as CT...
2023-07-1826 min
UKTN | The PodcastThe secret to good culture during rapid startup growth – Currencycloud co-founder Richard ArundelRichard Arundel, the co-founder of Currencycloud, talks about maintaining a good business culture whilst growing rapidly, how developments in cross-border payments have made a real impact in people’s lives, the current state of challenger banks and being acquired by Visa. Arundel helped build the payments infrastructure company Currencycloud in 2012 from a background of 15 years working in foreign exchange markets. Currencycloud is used by major fintechs including Revolut, Starling and Monese and was acquired by Visa in 2021 for £700m.
2023-07-1129 min
UKTN | The PodcastWhy quantum computing is the next industrial revolution – Quantinuum CPO, Ilyas KhanIlyas Khan, CPO and founder of Quantinuum, explains why quantum computers have the potential to radically change everything about how computing works, how the top prize in quantum has generated a geopolitical race, and what it’s like quietly building a deep tech multi-corn. Khan is the founder of Cambridge Quantum, which in 2021 merged with US-based Honeywell to create Quantinuum, a deep tech company developing scalable quantum computers.
2023-07-0426 min
UKTN | The PodcastWhere the UK’s semiconductor strategy falls short – Paragraf CEO Simon ThomasDr Simon Thomas, co-founder and CEO of Paragraf, explains why the UK’s semiconductor strategy doesn’t do enough to support the country’s microchip industry, how wonder material graphene could revolutionise electronics, and how semiconductors have become less of a focus for the Silicon Fen area. Cambridge-based Paragraf specialises in graphene-based electronics, a material with highly promising capabilities that could prove to be the perfect alternative to silicon in electronic devices due to its conductivity and power efficiency. It has raised more than $85m in funding. In this episode, Thomas – who has a backgroun...
2023-06-2728 min
UKTN | The PodcastThe role of synthetic data in the age of generative AI – Harry Keen, Hazy CEO and co-founderHarry Keen, CEO and co-founder of Hazy, explains how synthetic could address bias issues for AI training data, why we should prioritise the near-term issues with AI instead of doomsday predictions, and shares his experience spinning out from UCL. Founded in 2017, Hazy creates artificial data that replicates the quality of real-world data without including personal information. Companies can then use this synthetic data to train AI models without the associated privacy risks. The company has raised nearly $15m and has been backed by Microsoft. Keen was previously engineering design lead at Opendesk.
2023-06-2029 min
UKTN | The PodcastPreparing for the day quantum computers crack encryption – PQShield founder Ali El KaafaraniDr Ali El Kaafarani, founder and CEO of PQShield, explains how quantum computers will one day crack today’s encryption to expose our data, discusses the race to create cryptography that can fend off quantum attacks, and why “strengthening the startup position in the UK should be a top priority for the UK government to excel at quantum computing”. Oxford-headquartered PQShield is a cybersecurity spinout founded by researchers to develop post-quantum cryptography tools. The company, which has raised nearly $27m in funding, has contributed to developing the first cryptography standards designed to block cyberattacks powered by quantum machine...
2023-06-1330 min
UKTN | The PodcastCreating an AI version of yourself and the pitfalls of ChatGPT - Coachvox AI founder Jodie CookJodie Cook, founder of Coachvox AI, discusses how her company creates "artificially intelligent” versions of coaches and mentors to provide 24/7 support, how AI regulation could impact smaller businesses, and why friends and family should have a “safe word” in the age of deepfakes. London-headquartered Coachvox AI creates digital coaches of entrepreneurs, coaches and content creators, who train the AI model to communicate in their style and in “any field”. The model is fed data provided by clients, such as a back catalogue of blog posts, to ensure the AI coach is equipped with relevant knowledge. The AI coach is...
2023-06-0630 min
UKTN | The PodcastTop UK tech policy priorities for startups - Antony Walker, deputy CEO of techUKAntony Walker, deputy CEO of techUK, discusses some of the key policy areas affecting the UK’s tech companies, from AI to the online safety bill. He also reflects on how the economic shocks of Brexit and the pandemic have impacted UK tech, and the role the UK should play in influencing new technologies on the global stage. The trade association represents nearly 1,000 members and its goal is to “ensure the UK is the best place for technology companies to locate and thrive”. Its member includes smaller startups and SMEs, along with larger corporates such as Amazon Web Ser...
2023-05-3026 min
UKTN | The PodcastDispelling dark kitchen misconceptions - Karma Kitchen CEO Eccie NewtonEccie Newton, co-founder and CEO of Karma Kitchen, addresses some of the misconceptions surrounding dark kitchens, explains how the sites are “closer to a co-working space” and shares ways to minimise courier traffic in local areas. Newton co-founded Karma Kitchen with her sister Gini in 2018 after struggling to find kitchen space for their corporate catering delivery company. The London-based firm buys industrial real estate in “underutilised areas” and converts them into multi-use kitchen spaces for food businesses. In 2020, the startup raised £252m from investors and today it has four operational dark kitchens – also known as ghost kitchens - with six mo...
2023-05-2329 min
UKTN | The PodcastImmigram CEO breaks silence on ‘devastating’ Slush controversy - co-founder Anastasia MirolyubovaImmigram CEO Anastasia Mirolyubova opens up for the first time about Slush’s controversial decision to award - then revoke - a €1m startup prize to her talent relocation company, following the outcry over Mirolyubova and her co-founder's Russian roots. Mirolyubova co-founded Immigram in 2020 to assist IT and tech professionals with relocation across the world. The company is headquartered in London, where Mirolyubova has lived since 2016. In November 2022, Immigram scooped the top prize at the Slush 100 Pitching Competition. However, Slush faced fierce backlash for awarding the prize to a company founded by two Russian passport holders amid the co...
2023-04-1825 min
UKTN | The PodcastThe medtech spinout treating Parkinson’s disease with vibrations – Charco Neurotech co-founder Lucy JungLucy Jung, CEO and co-founder of Charco Neurotech, discusses spinning out a medical device startup from academia, the science behind treating Parkinson’s disease with vibrations, balancing regulation with innovation and how devices like Elon Musk’s Neuralink could “maximise our brain”. Jung, who has a background in design, co-founded Charco Neurotech in 2019, launching out of Imperial College London. It has secured more than $10m in investment for its non-invasive, pebble-shaped device that delivers vibrotactile stimulation to the chest to improve motor performance and alleviate gait freezing for people with Parkinson’s. It can be linked with an accompan...
2023-04-1130 min
UKTN | The PodcastThe hyperlocal sharing app taking on Facebook Marketplace & cutting food waste – Olio co-founder Tessa ClarkeTessa Clarke, CEO and co-founder of Olio, talks about the business model behind the food sharing app, the company’s plan to be the be the “Mailchimp of food redistribution”, organic international expansion and the plan to take on Facebook Marketplace by moving into second-hand items. Clarke launched Olio, which lets people list surplus food and second-hand goods, in 2015. It has since attracted over 6.9 million users who have given away over 95 million portions of food. Listings on the circular economy app grew fivefold during the pandemic and the company has expanded beyond the UK to 63 countries. Olio, which h...
2023-04-0432 min
UKTN | The PodcastTackling ‘relentless’ rubbish with computer vision – Greyparrot co-founder Mikela DruckmanMikela Druckman, CEO and co-founder of Greyparrot, explains how her company uses AI to identify and sort through “mountains” of waste, why legislation is key to reducing the volume of rubbish, and discusses the crackdown on greenwashing in the packaging supply chain. London-headquartered Greyparrot was co-founded by Druckman in 2019. The company uses computer vision technology to analyse and sort rubbish into the right categories at waste facilities. It has raised more than $17m in funding and counts waste management companies such as Suez and Biffa among its customers. Druckman is a Global Future Council membe...
2023-03-2828 min
UKTN | The Podcast‘You don’t expect your bank to fail’: Surviving SVB chaos & the future of edtech – Lingumi co-founder Toby MatherToby Mather, CEO of Lingumi, shares his first-hand account as a startup founder who scrambled to withdraw company funds from Silicon Valley Bank UK as the crisis unfolded. The edtech startup held most of its funds with SVB UK. Like thousands of other startups, Lingumi worried whether it would be able to pay staff and invoices. Mather recounts his rollercoaster experience of the weekend that rocked UK tech, and his amazement at the "Dunkirk-style effort" in government to save the country’s tech startups. Elsewhere on the show, Mather talks about the impact of ChatGPT in education and...
2023-03-2024 min
UKTN | The PodcastMapping climate risk with AI & how a ‘marriage’ between VCs and policy can support net zero – Cervest founder Iggy BassiIggy Bassi, founder and CEO of Cervest, talks about launching a startup to provide climate intelligence for the world’s assets, how smart industrial policy can work hand in hand with the private sector to reach net zero, the power and limits of data in combatting global warming, and why climate tech investors need to be in for the long haul. Bassi, a serial entrepreneur, founded London-based Cervest in 2016 after his sustainable farm in West Africa was flattened by strong winds, causing millions of dollars in damage. Cervest’s platform uses AI to bring together disparate climate data...
2023-03-1430 min
UKTN | The PodcastChatGPT in robots? Disrupting autonomous delivery & the ‘year of AI’ – Academy of Robotics founder William SachitiWilliam Sachiti, the CEO and founder of the Academy of Robotics, explains whether ChatGPT will be integrated into companion robots, why mass-market autonomous cars won’t be on the road any time soon and how his company is disrupting package delivery with AI. Sachiti is a serial entrepreneur and inventor who moved to the UK from Zimbabwe in the early 2000s. By his mid 30s he had set up and successfully exited three companies. He founded the Academy of Robotics in 2017, which has gone on to develop Europe’s first autonomous delivery vehicle for the road, Kar-go. The A...
2023-03-0728 min
UKTN | The PodcastBuilding a satellite ‘taxi service’, defending Ukraine & cleaning space junk – Skyrora founder Volodymyr LevykinVolodymyr Levykin, the CEO and founder of Skyrora, talks about building a satellite “taxi service”, how space tech has become an asset in defending Ukraine, the potential of space tourism and the challenges surrounding commercial space travel. Levykin, a Ukrainian-born tech entrepreneur, spent time working in IT in Silicon Valley before moving to Edinburgh to found rocket company Skyrora. Levykin used private funds to launch the company in 2017, which is building launch services for small satellites. Skyrora became the first company to complete a successful integrated rocket stage test in the UK since the 1970s, and has compl...
2023-02-2829 min
UKTN | The PodcastSemiconductor strategy, a green silicon alternative & women in STEM – Cambridge GaN Devices founder Giorgia LongobardiDr Giorgia Longobardi, the co-founder and CEO of Cambridge GaN Devices, shares her experience spinning out a startup from the University of Cambridge, being a woman in STEM, developing energy-efficient microchips and why the UK government urgently needs to develop a semiconductor strategy. Longobardi co-founded CGD, a fabless semiconductor company, in 2016. It is developing transistors that use gallium nitride (GaN) instead of silicon to power electronics, with the goal of making devices such as data centres more energy efficient. The Cambridge-headquartered company has raised more than $28m in funding.
2023-02-2128 min
UKTN | The PodcastTaking on the big banks, VC bias & being the ‘odd one out’ – Starling Bank founder Anne BodenAnne Boden, CEO and founder of digital bank Starling, talks about her journey taking on the big banks, being the “odd one out” in the world of finance, why VCs are overlooking female founders and why crypto is “lacking sufficient practical and moral purpose”. Boden founded Starling Bank in 2014 after decades of working for some of the world’s biggest banks. Starling, which is an online-only bank, provides both business and current accounts. The unicorn fintech company has been profitable since 2021 and has 500,000 small business accounts. In 2018, Boden was awarded an MBE for services to financial te...
2023-02-1426 min
UKTN | The PodcastChip-making robots, microchip geopolitics & AI misconceptions – Karakuri founder Barney WraggBarney Wragg, CEO and founder of robotic kitchen automation startup Karakuri, talks about his time at chip giant Arm, the danger of semiconductor trade barriers, finding product-market fit, and how AI is creating more – not less – jobs. Wragg founded Karakuri, a London-based robotics startup, in 2018. Its two main products are a robotic arm that serves personalised sushi dishes, and an automated fryer for chips. The London-based company has raised more than £13.5m in funding. Wragg spent time at Arm during the 1990s and has a background in physics and music, working at studios such as Universal and EM...
2023-02-0734 min
UKTN | The PodcastDangers of AI in cyber, learning from layoffs & fixing the skills shortage - Immersive Labs CEO & founder James HadleyImmersive Labs CEO and founder James Hadley discusses the dangers of generative AI like ChatGPT in cybersecurity, the lessons learned from laying off 10% of staff, and cracking the cyber skills shortage. Hadley founded Immersive Labs, a Bristol-based cybersecurity training platform, in 2017. The company’s platform creates cyberattack simulations to teach organisations practical IT security skills. The company has raised $189m in funding. Prior to founding Immersive Labs, Hadley worked as an analyst and security consultant for British intelligence agency GCHQ.
2023-01-3125 min
UKTN | The PodcastDouble unicorn, scaling America & everything in-between - Philip Belamant, CEO & Co-founder of ZilchZilch co-founder and CEO, Philip Belamant, gets candid on disrupting the fintech sector, catapulting Zilch to double unicorn status and being the fastest growing company out of Europe and the UK. He gets into their American takeover, with a preregistration of over 150,000 customers ahead of their stateside launch based out of Miami. Belamant delves on the astounding growth of their customer base, going from 20,000 to 2.2 million customers in just 18 months. He gets honest on the difficult decisions they faced when deciding between the rapid onboarding of new customers versus quality of service of existing - something they now use...
2022-05-2447 min
UKTN | The PodcastShifting consumer behaviour to scaling America - Brad Goodall, Co-founder & CEO of BankedBrad Goodall is no stranger to the fintech industry, having worked for scale ups and start-ups for years before starting his own founder journey. He talks at length on the concept of Banked and how this is more than a new technology to combat fraud but will be a major shift in consumer behaviour. Goodall shares how they got the backing of Bank of America and what this will mean for their expansion into the American market. He talks about the importance of catering to your audience and educating your customer as a form of marketing. Goodall opens up...
2022-05-1745 min
UKTN | The PodcastCredit where it's due - understanding your audience - Sho Sugihara, Co-founder & CEO of PaveSho Sugihara recounts his experiences that inspired and led him to start Pave. He talks on the importance of passion in addition to having a great product and audience. Sugihara emphasises the necessity of listening to your customers and how he went one step further by living their experiences. This commitment to understanding his audience allowed Sugihara to grow his business to over half a million monthly customers. He opens up on what it means to have a team as passionate as yourself and how their combined ideas helped in the use of Tiktok that led to explosive growth...
2022-05-1046 min
UKTN | The PodcastConverting interest into clients - launch to scaling - Gerald Chappell, CEO & Co-founder of Fintern, Dr. Michelle He, COO & Co-founder of FinternGerald Chappell and Dr. Michelle He launched Fintern at the start of the pandemic, they get into how they had to take down advertising a few months before launch as too many people were signing up. With the intention to disrupt the consumer lending market, Chappell and He explain why their concept puts the customer at the heart of the company by catering loans to individual spending and not just based off a generic credit score. They talk about timing the launch of Fintern and their experiences in securing a licence and what they did to scale and secure...
2022-05-0335 min
Pod RoastFloodlight - the Anti Slavery Collective podcast / UKTN The PodcastEach week John Ryan’s Pod Roast reviews popular mainstream podcasts produced by the big production companies.This episode:
Floodlight - the Anti Slavery Collective podcast
UKTN The Podcast
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2022-04-2909 min
UKTN | The PodcastIt takes a village - the importance of community in business - Mathew Prior, CEO of TrustedHouseSittersMathew Prior gets candid on the concept of TrustedHouseSitters and why they’re different in more than one way to Airbnb. Making sure they weren’t just another travel app, Prior talks about how they actively built a likeminded community passionate about pets, travel and being environmentally conscious. He gets into the bones of the business and how they ended up with an immensely large American user base. Prior highlights what it means to engage your community and how that, for them, massively contributed to the success of their business. Recently closing a $10m Series A round, Prior shares futu...
2022-04-2638 min
UKTN | The PodcastEurope’s fastest growing neobroker on scaling, strategy & support - Yorick Naeff, Co-founder & CEO of BUXYorick Naeff delves on taking over as CEO of BUX from co-founder, Nick Bortot, to how he’s implementing expansion and bringing Bortot’s vision to life. As a neobroker that operates across Europe, Naeff gets into how culture and regulation have shaped their strategies in other countries and found having people on the ground helped immensely with getting to know their audience. He talks about education and support being at the foundation of their company, especially with more people turning to trading as a second means of income, and how that has helped build community groups within their user...
2022-04-1946 min
UKTN | The PodcastScaling up the smart way - Asha Haji, Co-founder of FrameworkAs many start-ups grow at a rapid pace so do their teams - Asha Haji highlights the vast differences of a company of ten to a company of 30 and the missing parts that usually end up in a disconnect in relationships. She puts importance on implementing learning and development elements, and providing support and training for employees growing with the business. Giving insight into the advice and learnings from mentors of Framework, she explains how they help shape the curriculum and why it is important for users to have founders from different size companies as well as from all...
2022-04-1249 min
UKTN | The PodcastSerial entrepreneur and industry disruptor - Ricky Knox, founder of Tandem bank, GSM Systems, Small World Financial Services Group & AzimoRicky Knox gives a behind the scenes look into what it took to launch a challenger bank during a time where people laughed at the idea of trying to disrupt the banking sector and the giant banks that dominated it. He gets honest on the difficulties of raising money and the challenges faced in getting past the gatekeepers in acquiring a banking license. As a serial entrepreneur and investor, Knox takes from his wealth of experience and knowledge to give a brutally honest perspective on what founders should and shouldn’t be doing, from knowing when to sell to ac...
2022-04-0552 min
UKTN | The PodcastPivoting, funding and expansion - Matthew Hodgson, Co-founder & CEO of Element, Amandine Le Pape, Co-founder & COO of ElementMatthew Hodgson and Amandine Le Pape detail the thought process of creating a product that isn’t just another blueprint of messaging services like Slack and WhatsApp. With a clear goal and audience in mind, it took them by surprise the sudden pivot they made before even launching Element and how this has defined their niche in the messaging matrix market. Hodgson and Le Pape talk about the importance of funding when you don’t need money, as they found out the hard way when they became very near to calling bankruptcy on their business. On the flip side, Hodg...
2022-03-2952 min
UKTN | The PodcastThe ugly veg feeding 3 million subscribers - Emilie Vanpoperinghe, Co-founder & CEO of OddboxEmilie Vanpoperinghe speaks candidly on marketing and branding as well as the growth of Oddbox pre Covid and during Covid. From a point of not seeing the desired growth she wanted, to having a surge of subscriptions that resulted in Vanpoperinghe having to take down the company website for two months during the pandemic. Oddbox has become a staple name in a climate where sustainability is at the forefront and Vanpoperinghe talks about how their learnings in marketing, branding and growth led them to where they are. Vanpoperinghe has over 15 years' project and team m...
2022-03-2245 min
UKTN | The PodcastFunding & investment, what they don't tell you - Richard Mabey, Co-founder & CEO of JuroRichard Mabey gives an honest account of learning through the process of pitching for funding and how his bullish take on competition has led Juro to recently close a series B round of £23m. Detailing his own experience, Mabey talks at length on the importance of choosing the right VCs and explains how it was his own customers that introduced investors in the United States to Juro. Mabey is a former corporate lawyer with Freshfields and spent time with LegalZoom before founding Juro in 2016. He holds an MBA from INSEAD and is a fellow of the RS...
2022-03-1545 min
UKTN | The PodcastRaising over £30m through crowdfunding - Alex Latham, Co-founder & CMO of ChipAlex Latham talks about the amazing growth Chip has experienced, especially during lockdown and through 2021. From raising an extraordinary £30m from crowdfunding alone, to how engaging with their investors and complete transparency on strategy and risks has led them to having the second largest fintech shareholders community in the UK and one of the largest in Europe. Chip’s investment into marketing has allowed them to utilise their investment community as a second channel of awareness as well us seeing considerable growth in their users from their referral program. Before Chip, Latham held Head of M...
2022-03-0845 min
UKTN | The PodcastFrom administration to reboot - Radha Vyas, Co-founder & CEO of Flash PackRadha Vyas shares how she was able to grow her business in just three years to have a turnover of over £20m. She had four offers on the table with a £10m Series A round going into lockdown - Covid hit and the offers were pulled, she lost 95% of her business overnight. Five months later the company went into administration. Vyas remortgaged her house and bought back the assets to relaunch the business in 2021. She's recently closed a multimillion-pound funding round and is on target to hit £20m turnover once again in year one. Vyas has both trav...
2022-02-2842 min