UKTN | The Podcast

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 th...

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...

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 behaviou...

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...

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 aut...

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)...

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...

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 l...

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...

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 empo...

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 on...

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 plu...

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...

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 compan...

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 addr...

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 f...

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...

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...

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 ska...

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...

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 a...

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 Te...

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 fi...

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 o...

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-f...