Amadeus Capital Partners has been a trailblazer for three decades, investing in people who create transformational technologies and sustainable businesses. We’ve backed nearly 200 startups and scaleups across Europe and, more recently, in Latin America. In Amadeus and Friends, you’ll hear from some of the world’s greatest innovators in quantum computing, AI, biotech and more, sharing their commercial journeys, the highs and the lows, and how they’ve approached commercialisation with the supp ...
…
continue reading
Each week, Jane Wakefield sits down with some of the key movers and shakers from the UK tech ecosystem for the UKTN Podcast. Learn growth strategies from both seasoned and up-and-coming founders, hear market sentiments from investors, and understand the tech policy affecting businesses across the country. The UKTN Podcast provides insight into the most influential people in the UK’s innovation economy, exploring their personal and professional journeys and hearing their views on the hottest ...
…
continue reading
1
How the AI boom mirrors the frenzied rise of the internet – Anne Glover, CEO, Amadeus Capital Partners
29:15
29:15
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
29:15
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 sh…
…
continue reading
1
Taking surgical simulators from Merseyside to Tampa Bay – Elliot Street, CEO, Inovus Medical
27:49
27:49
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
27:49
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 ti…
…
continue reading
1
How modern science birthed the dawn of personalised health – Melissa Snover, founder, Nourished
30:31
30:31
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
30:31
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 pro…
…
continue reading
1
How to ensure the UK lives up to its startup exit potential – Husayn Kassai, co-founder, Onfido
31:02
31:02
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
31:02
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…
…
continue reading
1
What does the future of flexible working look like? – Molly Johnson-Jones, CEO, Flexa
30:15
30:15
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
30:15
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 informa…
…
continue reading
1
How tech can bring a human touch to dealing with death – Sam Grice, founder, Octopus Legacy
28:28
28:28
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
28:28
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 fa…
…
continue reading
1
Is the metaverse really dead? – Herman Narula, co-founder & CEO, Improbable
27:44
27:44
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
27:44
Improbable 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 L…
…
continue reading
1
Visionary Women in VC – what the past tells us about the future!
36:59
36:59
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
36:59
Amadeus Capital Partners CEO Anne Glover sits down with Catherine La Torre, Independent NED and former CEO of British Patient Capital, to delve into the dynamics of the UK venture capital industry. Catherine shares invaluable insights gleaned from her illustrious career journey, highlighting the remarkable achievements of British Patient Capital in…
…
continue reading
1
Making lab-grown fat the secret ingredient to plant-based protein – Max Jamilly, co-founder, Hoxton Farms
32:05
32:05
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
32:05
Max 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 life…
…
continue reading
1
Why AI regulation isn’t the enemy of innovation – Lord Tim Clement-Jones
30:27
30:27
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
30:27
Lord 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 p…
…
continue reading
1
Why Welsh tech is primed for growth – Louise Harris, CEO, Tramshed Tech
31:32
31:32
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
31:32
Louise 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 si…
…
continue reading
1
Photonic’s Quantum Leap: an interview with Stef Simmons and Hermann Hauser
41:44
41:44
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
41:44
Manjari Chandran-Ramesh, Partner on our Early Stage investing team embarks on an insightful journey into the cutting-edge realm of quantum computing with industry pioneers Professor Stephanie Simmons from Photonic Inc and Hermann Hauser, co-founder of Amadeus and Board Director of Photonic. The conversation delves into the challenges and opportunit…
…
continue reading
1
Why the UK can be an autonomous vehicles leader – Gavin Jackson, CEO, Oxa
32:27
32:27
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
32:27
Oxa 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 …
…
continue reading
1
Rewiring Whitehall for UK tech success – Allan Nixon, head of science and tech, Onward
30:08
30:08
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
30:08
Allan 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 Bu…
…
continue reading
1
The UK must act now to keep fintech crown – Janine Hirt, CEO, Innovate Finance
25:55
25:55
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
25:55
Janine 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 af…
…
continue reading
1
Tackling the North-South tech funding gap – Jess Jackson, investment manager, Praetura Ventures
24:23
24:23
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
24:23
Jess 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 man…
…
continue reading
1
Advocacy needs action to fix tech diversity gap – Suki Fuller, founder, Miribure
29:34
29:34
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
29:34
Suki 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 i…
…
continue reading
1
Why AI is a double-edged sword in an election year – Angie Ma, co-founder, Faculty
26:29
26:29
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
26:29
Dr 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 fe…
…
continue reading
1
Innovating tomorrow: Deep tech insights from the Amadeus Early Stage team
42:00
42:00
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
42:00
Discover the world of deep tech investing with the Amadeus Team in our latest podcast episode. In this episode, we introduce you to our Early Stage investing team and explore their diverse backgrounds and interests within the deep tech sector. The conversation investigates why deep tech stands out as an investment opportunity. From revolutionary ad…
…
continue reading
1
The role of apprenticeships in the age of AI – Euan Blair, CEO, Multiverse
28:26
28:26
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
28:26
Euan 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 ove…
…
continue reading
1
How to nurture North East tech growth – David Dunn, CEO, Sunderland Software City
30:31
30:31
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
30:31
Sunderland 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 i…
…
continue reading
1
Navigating the 2024 Tech Investment Landscape with Anne Glover and Nick Kingsbury
39:46
39:46
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
39:46
Explore what 2024 is going to look like for tech investors and deep tech startups across the world in the first Amadeus & Friends episode of the year, featuring our CEO Anne Glover and Nick Kingsbury, Partner in our Early Stage Fund. The conversation touches on how fundraising naturally reflects the economic cycle, putting the currently less-than-e…
…
continue reading
1
Scaleup powerhouse goals, chasing unicorns & immigration concerns - Michelle Donelan, tech secretary
29:54
29:54
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
29:54
Michelle 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 growt…
…
continue reading
1
Launching a tech banking brand in 100 days – Simon Bumfrey, head of technology and life sciences, HSBC Innovation Banking
22:02
22:02
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
22:02
Simon 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 sta…
…
continue reading
1
Career reflections from dot-com chaos to ‘bonkers’ Elon Musk – Rory Cellan-Jones
27:47
27:47
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
27:47
Rory 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 B…
…
continue reading
1
Businesses must brace for a year of election frenzy and AI disruption – Martha Lane Fox , president, British Chambers of Commerce
27:38
27:38
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
27:38
Baroness 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 …
…
continue reading
1
Net zero COP-outs and the case for climate tech optimism – Carbon13 CEO Nicky Dee
25:57
25:57
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
25:57
Dr 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 Cambridg…
…
continue reading
1
Defining AI for good and overcoming tech superpower roadblocks – Anne-Marie Imafidon, CEO, Stemettes
36:25
36:25
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
36:25
Dr 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 scient…
…
continue reading
1
Autumn Statement wish list and why UK tech thrives whoever wins the election – Startup Coalition’s Dom Hallas
30:14
30:14
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
30:14
Dom 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 optim…
…
continue reading
1
VCs in Defence and National Security; the world is changing
43:14
43:14
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
43:14
Hear from Adrian Jones who runs the UK Defence Investor Network and Nick Kingsbury a partner at Amadeus Capital on why this important sector is now a focus for venture capitalists.By Amadeus Capital Partners
…
continue reading
1
How my bootstrapped pet music startup struck a chord with a US buyer – Music For Pets founder Amman Ahmed
21:42
21:42
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
21:42
Amman 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 lof…
…
continue reading
1
How the early-stage gender funding gap stifles UK tech growth – Merian Ventures’ Priya Guha
29:38
29:38
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
29:38
Priya 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 sh…
…
continue reading
1
New Horizons with Nu Quantum: Scaling Up with Quantum Networking
27:29
27:29
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
27:29
Explore quantum networking with Carmen Palacios-Berraquero, CEO and Co-founder of Nu Quantum, in our latest podcast episode. In this episode, Carmen and Manjari highlight the importance of interconnecting quantum computers and address the industry's scaling challenges. Nu Quantum offers an innovative approach to scaling through networking and modul…
…
continue reading
1
Getting AI safety right and the danger of leaving it to Big Tech – Graphcore CEO Nigel Toon
30:00
30:00
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
30:00
Nigel 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 technol…
…
continue reading
1
Chips and Beyond: The Evolution of Semiconductors with Amelia Armour and Hermann Hauser
21:56
21:56
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
21:56
We’re excited to share our latest podcast episode that sees a captivating discussion with Amelia Armour and Hermann Hauser on revolution and evolution in the semiconductor industry. In this episode, Hermann offers a retrospective on the most pivotal moments, from the birth of the transistor at Bell Labs, Intel’s ground-breaking 4004, the world’s fi…
…
continue reading
1
How space tech is on the cusp of full commercialisation – Space DOTS founder Bianca Cefalo
31:21
31:21
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
31:21
Bianca 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 st…
…
continue reading
1
Diversity is UK tech’s competitive advantage over Silicon Valley – Passion Capital’s Eileen Burbidge
31:21
31:21
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
31:21
Eileen 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 Br…
…
continue reading
1
AI is transforming the legal sector, but it can be a law unto itself – Robin AI founder Richard Robinson
25:36
25:36
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
25:36
Richard 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 …
…
continue reading
1
The cost of tech's diversity failure and how to fix it - Colorintech founder Ashleigh Ainsley
26:27
26:27
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
26:27
Ashleigh 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…
…
continue reading
1
Beyond the blueprint: How Augmented Reality is set to revolutionise the construction industry with David Mitchell
31:19
31:19
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
31:19
In the next episode of the series, Nick welcomes David Mitchell CEO and Co-founder at XYZ Reality onto the podcast to discuss his company’s mission to revolutionise the construction industry by building from holograms. While 2D drawings continue to be a standard practice on construction sites, they aren't the most intuitive language for human inter…
…
continue reading
1
Playing to UK microchip strengths and avoiding a subsidy race – Minister for Tech Paul Scully
28:07
28:07
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
28:07
Paul 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…
…
continue reading
1
Navigating a career in Tech VC: Insights from Amadeus Interns
19:44
19:44
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
19:44
In the second episode of the series, we welcome a lively discussion between Amadeus Associate Ana Bernardo Gancedo and guests Melissa Riachi and Pragati Mishra, all about their summer internship experiences. This episode presents listeners with an insider's look into the world of venture capital, featuring unique and fresh perspectives. It's an opp…
…
continue reading
1
Accelerating Liverpool’s tech ecosystem – Baltic Ventures CEO Claire Lewis
27:29
27:29
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
27:29
Claire 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…
…
continue reading
1
Rebuilding Tech Nation and the UK's generative AI opportunity – Founders Forum CEO Carolyn Dawson
25:13
25:13
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
25:13
Carolyn 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 h…
…
continue reading
1
Decoding brain patterns to nurture mental health – Alena founder Mandana Ahmadi
26:16
26:16
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
26:16
Dr 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 psycho…
…
continue reading
1
The Future of Quantum Computing with Kelly Richdale and Nick Kingsbury
27:57
27:57
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
27:57
Exciting news! Series Two of the Amadeus and Friends podcast is here! Join host Nick Kingsbury and guest Kelly Richdale, Senior Advisor at SandboxAQ, as they explore quantum cryptography and the future of data security. In this episode, Kelly shares her fascinating career journey to date, from her involvement in Meta's groundbreaking blockchain-bas…
…
continue reading
1
The secret to good culture during rapid startup growth – Currencycloud co-founder Richard Arundel
29:48
29:48
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
29:48
Richard 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 201…
…
continue reading
1
Why quantum computing is the next industrial revolution – Quantinuum CPO, Ilyas Khan
26:07
26:07
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
26:07
Ilyas 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-base…
…
continue reading
1
Where the UK’s semiconductor strategy falls short – Paragraf CEO Simon Thomas
28:30
28:30
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
28:30
Dr 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…
…
continue reading
1
The role of synthetic data in the age of generative AI – Harry Keen, Hazy CEO and co-founder
29:52
29:52
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
29:52
Harry 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 in…
…
continue reading