In this episode, we catch up with Gerard Grech, Managing Director of Founders at the University of Cambridge, a new strategic initiative focused on accelerating the formation and scaling of deep technology-based companies. Gerard is also the founder, advisor, and former Chief Executive of Tech Nation, prior to its acquisition by Founders Forum Group.
Under Gerard’s leadership, Tech Nation helped create Europe’s leading digital ecosystem, launching programs that supported over 1,300 UK companies, including Monzo and Skyscanner. A third of the UK’s tech unicorns emerged from these programs, driving a 5x increase in UK cities with tech unicorns and strengthening the UK’s position as Europe’s digital leader. In 2022, Tech Nation became the UK public sector’s 9th fastest-growing tech-focused entity, delivering a 20x return on state investment.
Gerard shares insights on the differences between European and US startup ecosystems, the importance of community and culture in scaling, the role of universities in driving innovation, the game-changing potential of AI in tech and education, and much more!
Video version of episode 93:
Audio version of episode 93:
Key Takeaways
- A third of UK unicorns emerged from Tech Nation’s programs.
- One of the biggest mistakes startups make is scaling too quickly without solid foundations.
- The US has a much more risk-tolerant investment culture than Europe.
- AI will transform not only tech companies but also educational institutions that are cultivating tomorrow’s innovators.
- The combination of AI with new computational power, such as quantum computing, will have an enormous impact.
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