Best Russ Shaw Podcasts (2024)

1
Protecting the UK’s place in global tech – Russ Shaw, founder, Global Tech Advocates 32:18

3d ago32:18

32:18

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 Advocat…

1
How the UK can prepare for the quantum revolution – Dr Nick New, CEO, Optalysys 28:21

2h ago28:21

28:21

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 …

1
The challenge of identity in the digital age – Robin Tombs, CEO, Yoti 29:39

11d ago29:39

29:39

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 …

1
How tackling the digital skills gap will supercharge Scottish tech – Karen Meechan, CEO, ScotlandIS 30:27

18d ago30:27

30:27

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 h…

1
Backing operator-led startups and unlocking Africa’s tech growth – Maria Rotilu, founder, OpenseedVC 30:42

25d ago30:42

30:42

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 back…

1
Why the UK must not make the EU's AI ‘mistakes’ – Victor Riparbelli, CEO, Synthesia 30:05

1M ago30:05

30:05

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 S…

1
Why fixing the tech gender gap must start in the classroom – Claire Thorne, co-CEO, Tech She Can 29:32

1M ago29:32

29:32

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 inves…

1
The possibilities and perils of legal sector AI adoption – Eleanor Lightbody, CEO, Luminance 27:21

2M ago27:21

27:21

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 proprieta…

1
Why climate tech needs more than private investment – Diane Gilpin, CEO, Smart Green Shipping 30:24

2M ago30:24

30:24

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 star…

1
Bringing ancient wellbeing to the AI age – Reeva Misra, founder, WONE 30:51

2M ago30:51

30:51

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 u…

1
Inside the race for AI business adoption – The Gadget Show’s Jason Bradbury 31:10

2M ago31:10

31:10

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 …

1
Advancing quantum with lasers made in Scotland – Graeme Malcolm, CEO, M Squared 26:38

2M ago26:38

26:38

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 bee…

1
Why London is a global tech problem solver – Michael Mainelli, Lord Mayor of the City of London 35:51

3M ago35:51

35:51

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…

1
Reflecting on Tech Nation’s legacy & supporting high-risk spinouts – Gerard Grech, MD, Founders at the University of Cambridge 30:41

3M ago30:41

30:41

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 Founde…

1
The North has all the ingredients to rival the Golden Triangle in tech – Duncan Johnson, CEO, Northern Gritstone 32:38

3M ago32:38

32:38

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. Johnso…

1
Cultivating vertical farming’s full potential – Jamie Burrows, founder, Vertical Future 29:33

4M ago29:33

29:33

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 ve…

1
Taking surgical simulators from Merseyside to Tampa Bay – Elliot Street, CEO, Inovus Medical 27:49

4M ago27:49

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…

1
How the AI boom mirrors the frenzied rise of the internet – Anne Glover, CEO, Amadeus Capital Partners 29:15

4M ago29:15

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…

1
How modern science birthed the dawn of personalised health – Melissa Snover, founder, Nourished 30:31

4M ago30:31

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…

1
How to ensure the UK lives up to its startup exit potential – Husayn Kassai, co-founder, Onfido 31:02

5M ago31:02

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…

1
What does the future of flexible working look like? – Molly Johnson-Jones, CEO, Flexa 30:15

5M ago30:15

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…

1
How tech can bring a human touch to dealing with death – Sam Grice, founder, Octopus Legacy 28:28

5M ago28:28

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…

1
Is the metaverse really dead? – Herman Narula, co-founder & CEO, Improbable 27:44

5M ago27:44

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…

1
Making lab-grown fat the secret ingredient to plant-based protein – Max Jamilly, co-founder, Hoxton Farms 32:05

6M ago32:05

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…

1
Why AI regulation isn’t the enemy of innovation – Lord Tim Clement-Jones 30:27

6M ago30:27

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…

1
Why Welsh tech is primed for growth – Louise Harris, CEO, Tramshed Tech 31:32

6M ago31:32

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…

1
Why the UK can be an autonomous vehicles leader – Gavin Jackson, CEO, Oxa 32:27

6M ago32:27

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 …

1
Rewiring Whitehall for UK tech success – Allan Nixon, head of science and tech, Onward 30:08

6M ago30:08

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…

1
The UK must act now to keep fintech crown – Janine Hirt, CEO, Innovate Finance 25:55

7M ago25:55

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…

1
Tackling the North-South tech funding gap – Jess Jackson, investment manager, Praetura Ventures 24:23

7M ago24:23

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…

1
Advocacy needs action to fix tech diversity gap – Suki Fuller, founder, Miribure 29:34

7M ago29:34

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…

1
Why AI is a double-edged sword in an election year – Angie Ma, co-founder, Faculty 26:29

7M ago26:29

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…

1
The role of apprenticeships in the age of AI – Euan Blair, CEO, Multiverse 28:26

8M ago28:26

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…

1
How to nurture North East tech growth – David Dunn, CEO, Sunderland Software City 30:31

8M ago30:31

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…

1
Scaleup powerhouse goals, chasing unicorns & immigration concerns - Michelle Donelan, tech secretary 29:54

8M ago29:54

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…

1
Launching a tech banking brand in 100 days – Simon Bumfrey, head of technology and life sciences, HSBC Innovation Banking 22:02

9M ago22:02

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…

1
Career reflections from dot-com chaos to ‘bonkers’ Elon Musk – Rory Cellan-Jones 27:47

9M ago27:47

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…

1
Businesses must brace for a year of election frenzy and AI disruption – Martha Lane Fox , president, British Chambers of Commerce 27:38

9M ago27:38

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 …

1
Net zero COP-outs and the case for climate tech optimism – Carbon13 CEO Nicky Dee 25:57

10M ago25:57

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…

1
Defining AI for good and overcoming tech superpower roadblocks – Anne-Marie Imafidon, CEO, Stemettes 36:25

10M ago36:25

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…

1
Autumn Statement wish list and why UK tech thrives whoever wins the election – Startup Coalition’s Dom Hallas 30:14

10M ago30:14

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…

1
How my bootstrapped pet music startup struck a chord with a US buyer – Music For Pets founder Amman Ahmed 21:42

10M ago21:42

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…

1
How the early-stage gender funding gap stifles UK tech growth – Merian Ventures’ Priya Guha 29:38

11M ago29:38

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…

1
Getting AI safety right and the danger of leaving it to Big Tech – Graphcore CEO Nigel Toon 30:00

11M ago30:00

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…

1
How space tech is on the cusp of full commercialisation – Space DOTS founder Bianca Cefalo 31:21

11M ago31:21

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…

1
Diversity is UK tech’s competitive advantage over Silicon Valley – Passion Capital’s Eileen Burbidge 31:21

11M ago31:21

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…

1
AI is transforming the legal sector, but it can be a law unto itself – Robin AI founder Richard Robinson 25:36

12M ago25:36

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 …

1
The cost of tech's diversity failure and how to fix it - Colorintech founder Ashleigh Ainsley 26:27

12M ago26:27

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…

1
Playing to UK microchip strengths and avoiding a subsidy race – Minister for Tech Paul Scully 28:07

1y ago28:07

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…

1
Accelerating Liverpool’s tech ecosystem – Baltic Ventures CEO Claire Lewis 27:29

1y ago27:29

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…

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