The Difference Engine | B2B Category Design | Private Equity | Venture Capital

Recorded at Boardwave Live, this episode of The Difference Engine features former British Army Major General Rupert Jones. With three decades of service, from commanding 5,000 troops in Afghanistan to leading the liberation of Mosul and Raqqah, he brings unparalleled knowledge of strategic leadership. Now advising startups, Rupert guides us through the rapidly relevant world of Defence Tech. We’ll...

This week, the Difference Engine is stepping out of the office and heading to one of the most exciting tech events of the year - Boardwave Live 2025. The Boardwave network brings together a powerful community of founders, CEOs, chairs, independent NEDs, and investors from across Europe, representing companies at every stage of growth. At their flagship live event in the heart of London, we had the...

Klarna has been through the wringer. Once Europe’s most valuable fintech, it’s endured a sharp valuation drop, a tough round of layoffs, and endless questions about the sustainability of ‘buy now, pay later.’ However, with profitability back on the books, Klarna is pushing ahead with its long-awaited IPO.  So, does sheer staying power translate into success on the public markets, and does it...

As the sun sinks over the faltering London Stock Exchange, a new frontier is emerging. Not in Silicon Valley or Wall Street, but deep in the heart of Texas. There, a sharp-shooting newcomer is stepping through the salon doors with a bold dual-listing strategy. Could the Wild West be quietly transforming into the best place to do business? Also on today’s episode, the misunderstanding of the impact...

“What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet” . This might’ve been true for a couple of love birds in the 15th century, but in the battle for supremacy in today’s AI war, a name (and who controls it) means everything.  So who will win the right to claim the name of this new AI category? Also on today’s episode, we’ll ask where all the Quango bosses are g...

Welcome to the fifth in a series of interviews with European tech leaders brought to you in association with Boardwave. The Boardwave network is a powerful community of Founders, CEOs, Chairs, Independent NEDs & their Investors from across Europe, representing companies at every stage of development. This week, we are joined by tech entrepreneur Sean Williams. A Philosophy graduate from Cambri...

A seasoned technology executive with an extraordinary career spanning more than four decades, Bill Conner is the real deal.  From leading companies through high-stakes turnarounds to creating category-defining tech products, Bill has done it all. He’s been a four-time CEO, a trusted partner to Private Equity and Venture Capital, and a go-to expert for driving both top and bottom line growth i...

What do we know about Grok? We know it’s Elon Musk’s latest so-called free speech machine and that it has drawn heavy criticism for spreading hate, earning the disturbing nickname ‘Mecha Hitler.’ With headlines dominated by non-stop controversy, it's no surprise that the broader public knows little about Grok’s technological potential. So are we missing something? Has all the outrage obscured a si...

The UK government has pledged £550 million towards quantum technologies. At first glance, that might sound like a hefty sum—enough to buy Chelsea a striker or two. But when you stack it against Amazon’s £40 billion investment in the UK, it raises a serious question: Is the UK taking quantum seriously? Also on today’s episode: we take a look at how Swedish startup Lovable stacks up in the crowded A...

‘A gut feeling.' It's a fairly common answer from many VCs when asked why they backed a particular startup over another. When all the numbers have been crunched and the data deliberated, the final decision often bypasses the brain and falls on the gut. However, is the human gut about to be out of a job? Nik Storonsky, co-founder of Revolut, is betting on it. Will his new venture, QuantumLight, ush...

Every crisis hides an opportunity. That might be cold comfort for M&S execs staring down a £300 million profit hit after a shelf shattering cyberattack. However, here at The Difference Engine , we prefer to see the positive. With cybersecurity now front and centre, and traditional defences clearly falling short, the question is: how can you seize the moment? Also in today’s episode, how Builde...

Welcome to the fourth in a series of interviews with European tech leaders brought to you in association with Boardwave. The Boardwave network is a powerful community of Founders, CEOs, Chairs, Independent NEDs & their Investors from across Europe, representing companies at every stage of development. This week, we are joined by tech entrepreneur Amber Vodegel. Born in the Netherlands and now...

Y Combinator is widely regarded as the world’s leading startup accelerator, having helped launch companies now worth a combined $800 billion! So when they speak, it’s worth paying close attention. Today, we’re diving into some timeless wisdom from Y Combinator co-founder Paul Graham. Could a couple of key insights change your chance of success? Also in today’s episode, we'll take a look at the lau...

Welcome to the third in a series of interviews with European tech leaders brought to you in association with Boardwave. The Boardwave network is a powerful community of Founders, CEOs, Chairs, Independent NEDs & their Investors from across Europe, representing companies at every stage of development. This week, This week we are joined by Boardwave patron and mentor Rich Waterworth. Rich has sp...

When global trade becomes chaotic, tech steps up to create order. In today’s episode, we explore the idea of ‘Tariff Tech’. Born from disruption, driven by necessity, and poised to reshape supply chains, resilience, and trust in an uncertain world. Is there a golden opportunity hidden within Trump’s tariff turmoil? Also in today’s episode, we’ll ask how AI can downsize your team while dialling up...

Welcome to the second in a series of interviews with European tech leaders brought to you in association with Boardwave. The Boardwave network is a powerful community of Founders, CEOs, Chairs, Independent NEDs & their Investors from across Europe, representing companies at every stage of development. This week, we are joined by Boardwave member and patron, Steve Garnett. A man of many accompl...

Why would someone buy a stock? It’s a good question - one whose answer has changed in recent times. Stock markets are struggling to keep up with the chaos of a new world order. So in a market where a single Trump tweet can trigger massive, unpredictable swings where do tech investors turn and what impact will this have on the tech sector? Could it spell a Category opportunity? Also in today’s epis...

Welcome to the first in a series of interviews with European tech leaders brought to you in association with Boardwave. The Boardwave network is a powerful community of Founders, CEOs, Chairs, Independent NEDs & their Investors from across Europe, representing companies at every stage of development. This week, we are joined by Boardwave member Stephane Kurgan. A man of many accomplishments in...

It’s becoming increasingly clear that, despite our admiration for Nvidia, its future may not be as assured as it seemed just a few months ago. A striking graph from New Normal Consulting compares Cisco’s meteoric rise and sharp decline from 1990 to 2002 with Nvidia’s trajectory from 2014 to the present. The correlation is almost 100%. Spooky. Do stock market bubbles always follow the same pattern?...

This week, we’re joined by one of Britain’s most innovative entrepreneurs, Husayn Kassai. Born in Iran, Husayn moved to Manchester at the age of 10, where his occupied with playing video games and selling Iranian music CDs online. Husayn later attended Oxford University, where he secured £12,000 in funding to launch his AI start-up, Onfido. What started as a bold idea became a groundbreaking compa...

NVIDIA's groundbreaking Personal AI Supercomputer has shaken the PC industry, leaving giants like Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, and Lenovo scrambling to find their footing. At the recent Consumer Electronics Show in Los Angeles, these manufacturers seized the opportunity to prove they belong in the emerging AI PC market.  So, let's see what they’ve got to offer. Also in today’s episode, we’ll be aski...

In tech, it often feels like innovation is reserved for the big players - those with the money and means to lead the way. But this can change in an instant. Just look at cloud computing, 3D printing, and the internet. These technologies democratised the ability for people to explore and push the cutting edge. Now, it seems the wall around AI is poised to be shattered with NVIDIA’s personal AI supe...

What happens if you fail to adapt to the age of AI? Intel's decline offers us a compelling insight into this question. They failed to keep up with the pack in 2024 and on the first of December CEO Pat Gelsinger was forced into an early resignation. So, what does 2025 hold for Intel? Is there a pathway back to industry leadership, or will this former giant be chipped away into obscurity? Also in to...

The world of tech never stands still. 2024 has been another year of breakthroughs, challenges, and trends. In this episode, we reflect on the most significant tech stories of the year, from AI's rapid evolution to blockchain's unprecedented expansion. Looking ahead, we share our predictions for 2025, highlighting the areas of tech that will redefine industries and reshape society. What to look for...

Today, we’re talking to Ben Marrel, co-founder of Breega, a fast-growing European VC firm that is on a mission to lead categories with its mission driven investments. Based in London, with offices in Paris and Barcelona, Breega has supported high-potential companies like Curve, Cuvva, Exotech, and Moneybox - recently valued at £550 million.  In this conversation, we’ll explore Ben’s insights...