UKTN | The Podcast

David Keene, CEO of Aurrigo, discusses how autonomous driving will progress in the UK, how a chance encounter pivoted his company's entire market and the journey of turning grant funding into an initial public offering.  Aurrigo is an autonomous driving company that specialises in vehicles for the aviation industry, including self-driving baggage carriers. The Coventry-based company was founded in 1993, initially focused on autonomous passenger vehicles. A call from the head of innovation at International Airlines Group, convinced Keene that the future of Aurrigo's technology was in supporting aviation. The group listed publicly on London's AIM market in 2022. 

Jing Ouyang, co-founder and chief growth officer of Patchwork Health discusses the political pressure on health services to streamline operations, the difficulty in digitising NHS clinics and leaving a career as a medical doctor to launch a tech startup.  Patchwork Health is a digital platform for clinics to manage day-to-day operations, organise workflows and reduce agency spending. Ouyang spent years as a resident doctor where he saw first hand the manual processes and bureaucracy needlessly complicating matters. He co-founded Patchwork with another former NHS doctor to directly address the problems the founders had faced in their health careers. 

Jonathan Berry, Viscount Camrose and former Conservative AI minister, discusses how artificial intelligence policy has changed with the Labour government, why the work it must do is difficult but necessary and why clarity on AI regulation is vital for businesses.    Berry is a hereditary peer in the House of Lords and served as the minister responsible for AI and intellectual property under former prime minister Rishi Sunak. During his time at the tech department, Berry was key in organising the UK's AI Safety Summit in Bletchley Park in 2023. 

Manjul Rathee, co-founder and CEO of BfB Labs, discusses the importance of providing broad access to mental health services to as many young people, the value of maintaining commitments to diversity, equity and inclusion and how the success of Adolescence has highlighted the anxieties families have around how children access the internet.  BfB Labs provides immersive digital gamified therapy targeting young people in partnership with the NHS. The group provides its services at no cost to the families using them as part of its commitment to democratise young people's access to mental health support. 

Chris Anderson, head of TED, discusses why the collapse of the ideals of the tech industry over the last 15 years, embodied by the behaviour Elon Musk, represents a crushing disappointment.  Anderson took over TED – which hosts viral talks at its conferences – from its founder Richard Saul Wurman in 2000. He turned the business into a non-profit and has spent years curating its eclectic list of speakers. Anderson discusses why developments in AI technology are terrifying and the future of TED as he plans to step back.

Louise Webster, founder of Beyond the School Run, discusses the challenges of balancing parenthood with launching a business, why parents need to be given resources and support to ensure they can thrive as entrepreneurs and how Covid radically reshaped the world of work for the better.  Beyond the School Run is a network for parent entrepreneurs offering networking, training and guidance on the difficult journey of managing a business and a family. Webster discusses why being a parent can actually make someone a better founder and offers words of wisdom for mums and dads with creative ideas who don't know where to start.

Tej Kohli, billionaire investor and philanthropist, discusses why he's most excited by the future of esports, biotech and artificial general intelligence, how the UK lacks the collaborative culture between academia and business seen in the US and why Elon Musk should stick to tech and avoid unelected government work.  Kohli is the founder of the investment firm Kohli Ventures and the charity the Tej Kohli Foundation, which aims to effect social and economic change in poor and underserved communities. Kohli warns that while the UK is full of talent and intent, there is not enough conversation about the most cutting-edge ambitious tech ventures. 

Martin Woodward, vice president of developer relations at Github, discusses how the benefits of open source culture still exist in a hyper-capitalist society, but tech has moved away from the idealism of early open source, what the future of software development might look like and way coders don't necessarily have to be afraid that AI will take their jobs.  Github is a platform for software developers to collaborate, create and share projects. The service has over 150 million users globally and has been at the heart of countless software innovations. In 2018, the platform was acquired by Microsoft for $7.5bn. Woodward is both an executive at the company and a member of the British open source advocacy group OpenUK. 

Susan Taylor Martin, CEO of the British Standards Institution, discusses the need to offer businesses meaningful standards of how to use AI ahead of any binding legislation and the unenviable challenge of coordinating AI regulation across international borders and changing administrations.  The British Standards Institution (BSI) is a more than a century-old body, backed by a Royal Charter, that produces technical standards for various industries. The BSI has been hard at work producing standards for the use of AI in companies and hopes to provide a swift voluntary form of AI regulation while governments plan legislation. 

Michelle He, co-founder and COO of London-based fintech Abound, discusses how companies like hers are modernising the lending industry, why the UK is the best place in the world for an Open Banking startup and why the future has room for fintechs and traditional finance.   Abound provides credit products to underserved communities, those without strong credit scores and who have been rejected by the traditional banking and loan system. He founded the digital lender in 2020 with Gerald Chappell. He explains how difficult growing a business is for startups compared to traditional finance and why, she doesn't view herself as a ‘minority' despite being a woman in fintech. 

Vidya Peters, CEO of DataSnipper, discusses how artificial intelligence is changing the age-old profession of auditing, why it's good to be sceptical of grand government announcements, but there is genuine excitement around Labour's AI plans and why European founders should look beyond their borders when fundraising.   DataSnipper provides audit and finance teams with an intelligent automation platform to reduce the burden of overly manual auditing. Peters believes that alongside auditing, AI has massive potential to relieve the intense pressure on Britain's public services, in particular for the NHS and education system. 

Dame Dawn Childs, CEO of Pure Data Centres Group, discusses the significance of the government's decision to designate data centres as critical national infrastructure, the potential for the green energy transition to be supported, not hindered, by the power demands of AI and why Britain needs more engineers.  Pure Data Centres Group designs, builds and operates white-label data centres, with clients including cloud storage giant Amazon Web Services (AWS). Childs joined the company in 2021 and has been its chief executive since May 2023. Before running one of Britain's top data centre companies, Childs had a distinguished career which included engineering and executive roles at the National Grid, Gatwick Airport and the Royal Airforce. 

DEI is under attack. US President Donald Trump has begun a crusade to strip diversity policies from government institutions, while senior tech leaders like Meta's Mark Zuckerberg have called for workplaces to become ‘more masculine' despite the fact that the social media giant's workforce is already male-dominated. Is now really the time to tear up the DEI rulebook, or are there good reasons to embrace the positive attitude to diversity that many large corporations have taken over the past decade? Viv Paxinos is CEO of AllBright, where she leads a global collective of 500,000 ambitious women committed to creating a more equitable world for all. She believes in maintaining a people-first culture through nurturing and mentoring talent to create a best-in-class working environment.

Brian Mullins, CEO of AI firm Mind Foundry, looks at the ethics of using AI, from how the technology should be used with precision in high-risk scenarios, as well as the economic implications of the US dominance of the industry. Oxford-based Mind Foundry was setup to create AI responsibly from trusted scientific principles, aligning AI with human values and applying it where it is needed most in areas such as defence and insurance. 

Dr Chris Ballance, founder and CEO of Oxford Ionics, discusses how the UK has the chance to build a competitive edge in the development of quantum computing, and shares how his love of experimentation dates back to his early escapades as a pupil at school. Founded in 2019, Oxford Ionics raised £30m in a Series A funding round in 2023. In September, the company set a new record in quantum state preparation and measurement, bring it one step closer to delivering quantum computers for commercial use. 

Mark 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 Trump likely to further strain US-China relations, there is an opportunity for the UK to grow with increased support from the East. 

Bianca 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 British users, though it is seeking a return. 

Shelley 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. 

Dame 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.

Suranga 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 many have claimed and why autonomous vehicle policy is the perfect example of the UK's regulatory strengths. 

Almudena 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. 

Chris 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 great of a sacrifice.

Aron 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 perfectionism in the scrappy world of startup founding. 

Martina 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 how finance firms should respond to cases. 

Sachin 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, but that the pieces are all there to achieve this.

Joyeeta 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 climate change. Das also describes why the ocean is one of the hardest environments to engineer for, including space. 

Gene 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 challenges made against Apple and Google and the progress from global competition regulators in breaking up the app store monopoly, described by Burrus as being akin to Microsoft's domination of the software market in the 90s before anti-trust lawsuits came into place. 

Timo 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 show, he grew the company to a valuation of almost $2bn. 

James 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 get to the Series A level, but there has been a myth that once they get there, they can manage alone. Codling calls for a holistic approach from the public and private sectors when looking to support businesses. 

Dr 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 unique challenges.

Russ 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 internationally. Shaw also discusses his role in the UK's semiconductor strategy and why Labour needs to clarify its position on it.

Robin 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 supplies users with a digital card that it hopes will hold the same weight as physical IDs. 

Karen 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 various sector clusters in the country, with its member enterprises employing over 60,000 people. 

Maria 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 OpenseedVC, Rotilu was a fund manager at Octopus Ventures' First Cheque Fund. Before that, she served as the managing director of the Oxford Seed Fund. OpenseedVC is typically the first investor, providing up to $150k and supporting tech startups in B2B software, AI, fintech, the future of work, or the future of health by leveraging an operator network to support them from start to launch. 

Victor 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 the time his company was founded, an AI boom much like the one occurring today was in full force, albeit with lesser technology. The Synthesia CEO credits the success of his company where so many contemporaries petered out to an early focus on turning complex research into marketable products. Synthesia has secured more than $155m since its launch and last year reached a unicorn valuation.

Dr 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, and services that will ultimately shape the world and make sure that tech works for everyone. Thorne, who has a PhD in physics, is also a venture partner at Deep Science Ventures, a VC firm funding startups focused on pharmaceuticals, climate, agriculture and computation sectors.

Eleanor 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 contractual anomalies. Lightbody joined the firm in 2021 after a six-year period at cyber-AI company, Darktrace. Luminance secured $40m in Series B funding in April 2024, with its backers including Californian investor March Capital, National Grid Partners and Slaughter and May. Luminance says its technology is used by 600 organisations across 70 countries.

Diane 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, that her experience of business and engineering in Scotland was surprisingly progressive and welcoming. Gilpin has worked in tech for more than three decades, beginning her career on the launch team for Cellnet mobile phones before spending time in F3 and Formula One.  

Reeva 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 preventative measure when dealing with physical and mental health. Prior to founding WONE, Misra spent nearly three years at BenevolentAI, most recently as VP of strategy.

Jason 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 such as AI, and a published author. Elsewhere on the podcast, Bradbury discusses his film project about gamers using retro tech to fight back against AI in Skegness, and explains why he's bullish on the metaverse.  

Dr 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 Strathclyde University followed by PhD research into compact solid-state lasers, has secured over 400 patents. He was awarded an OBE in 2015 for services to science and innovation. He was also Innovation Entrepreneur of the Year at the 2017 Great British Entrepreneur of the Year Awards and Entrepreneur of the Year at the 2018 Amazon Growing Business Awards.  

Michael 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 previously elected Sheriff of the City of London in 2019. The American-born British scientist, economist and accountant is also chairman of the consultancy firm Z/Yen. In this episode, Mainelli shares his view on reforms aimed at encouraging pension fund cash into listed companies and how the City is really doing since Brexit.

Gerard 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 impact Tech Nation had on the UK's startup ecosystem.  In October 2023, Grech was appointed MD of Founders at the University of Cambridge, an initiative to connect academics, entrepreneurs, alumni and peer role models to help spinouts scale. Grech discusses the role that universities have to play in supporting “high-risk” ventures born out of academia. In addition to his role at the University of Cambridge, Grech is a member of the UK government's Digital Economy Council and the World Economic Forum's Digital Board. 

Duncan 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 ingredients required, such as the exceptional talent from the region's universities, to make the north a tech powerhouse are all there and while it will take time, it's an achievable goal worth fighting for.

Jamie 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 working on a project to grow medicinal and material ingredients in orbit, with plans down the line to explore vertical farming on the Moon and Mars. 

Elliot 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 access talent from across the North West, while coming with lower overheads.  In December 2023, Invous Medical opened its US headquarters in Tampa Bay, Florida. In this episode, Street shares tips for UK tech companies looking to expand across the Atlantic, from remote sales tactics to navigating cultural quirks. The expansion followed the company being crowned KPMG's UK Tech Innovator, a competition to uncover fast-growth tech startups from across the country. Street reflects on how the competition opened doors for Inovus and shares some of the learnings, such as pitch deck advice.

Anne 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 including Graphcore, Improbable and Oxford Nanopore Technologies. Glover discusses how the firm these days is particularly keen on areas including quantum computing, health tech and cybersecurity. 

Melissa 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 everything she would need to start a thriving business. Nourished has been backed by more than £15m in funding and sells its tailor-made gummies via online subscription. 

Husayn 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-based payments company Entrust. During this episode, Kassai shares what he learnt while building the business and explains why he thinks policy decisions are putting the brightest talent off from working in the UK. Since stepping down as CEO of Onfido, Kassai has launched Quench.ai, a startup developing an AI coach to help workers learn new skills. Kassai explains what's next for the startup after raising £3.9m in pre-seed funding last year.

Flexa 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 inform job candidates about a company's remote working and benefits policies. Approved companies, which include the likes of Atom Bank and Improbable, can then advertise open roles on the platform and applicants can filter by criteria. More than 2.5 million people now use the platform. In 2022, the startup raised £2m in a seed funding round led by Ada Ventures. Elsewhere in this episode, the Flexa CEO looks at the different approaches startups and corporates are taking for flexible working. 

Sam 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 process. Guardian Angel was acquired by Octopus Group in 2022, prompting the rebrand to Octopus Legacy. Grice discusses dealing with an acquisition from a major corporation and his approach to keeping the startup human centric.