David Shrier

Industry experts call for tailored AI rules in post-election UK

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We had the pleasure of speaking to the inimitable Gordon Sanghera, co-founder and CEO of Oxford Nanopore Technologies, valued at around $6.8bn in 2021. Gordon somewhat accidentally ended up as an entrepreneur, breaking the conventional VC wisdom around 'born founders'. The technology is wild - democratising access to genomic sequencing giving us a new understanding of living organisms. In the episode of Riding Unicorns, we cover: 00:00 Defining Entrepreneurship 00:55 Understanding Oxford Nanopore's Technology 06:10 Gordon's Journey to Founding Oxford Nanopore 12:09 Commercialization Challenges and Strategies 16:27 Building a Strong Founding Team 20:55 Navigating the Ups and Downs of Deep Tech 25:54 Innovative Applications of Nanopore Technology 28:57 Company Culture and Operational Insights 35:05 Attracting Talent in a Competitive Market 37:22 The IPO Experience and Future Outlook https://lnkd.in/eQZVSGeK

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🚀 Join Us at AI Forge Incubator: Meet Solo Founders Seeking Co-Founders! 📅 When: Wednesday, 29th May 📍 Where: The Old Street Gallery, 62 Paul Street, London, EC2A 4DQ 🕒 Time: 5pm-9pm Are you a visionary CTO, CPO, or commercial expert ready to make your mark in the AI start-up space? Here's your golden opportunity! ✨ What's Happening? Our solo founders are in week 5 of a 12-week intensive incubator program. They are actively seeking co-founders to join them as CTOs, CPOs, or in commercial roles. These companies will be pitching to 450+ investors during the week commencing 8th July, with a high probability of securing funding. 🌟 Why You Should Attend: Dive into the world of promising AI start-ups. Contribute your skills immediately by joining an existing business. Be part of the prestigious AI Forge incubator program. Potentially integrate your own business ideas into an evolving proposition. Network with talented individuals and successful entrepreneurs. Gain invaluable insights and advice from seasoned founders and mentors. 🔎 Types of Businesses Seeking Co-Founders: Our 9 solo founders are leading ventures in: EdTech SalesTech LegalTech FemTech MedTech MarTech 🎉 Event Highlights: 💬 Speed Dating Sessions: Quick, focused interactions to maximize connections. 🔍 Pre-Matchmaking: Initial meetings set up to streamline the matchmaking process. 🤝 Networking Opportunities: Explore collaboration possibilities with like-minded entrepreneurs. Don't miss out on this unique chance to partner with innovative AI start-ups and accelerate your career in the tech industry. Register at Seeking AI Co-Founders · Luma - https://lu.ma/f22d1ih9 #AIStartups #CoFounders #TechInnovation #Entrepreneurship #Networking #AIForge

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AI Tech in Focus   Brain Scans and AI Used to Detect Dementia Nine Years Before Conventional Diagnosis Researchers at Queen Mary University in London used machine learning to assess cognitive communication between 10 areas of the brain that have been shown to be vulnerable to dementia. The study involving 1,100 people found that using AI analysis of the MRI brain scans of these neural networks accurately predicted about 80% of cases of dementia nine years before a formal diagnosis was actually made. Further, the AI technology was able to predict within two years exactly how long it would take before the onset. The test takes 10 minutes. Dementia is caused by certain proteins in the brain, but patients can live for years with those proteins and show no signs of dementia. Current methods used to detect dementia involve memory tests and measurements of brain shrinkage. It’s hoped that the early detection using the AI trained scans will help identify people who are going to develop dementia and benefit from early treatments. VC Investors are always adjusting their "Play Book" with a variety of options for investing. Mikal Ventures is one of those alternatives, offering curated solutions to real world problems. Reach out if you have questions on how we can be of assistance and bookmark https://mikalventures.com/ for additional insights and information.

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AI Tech in Focus   Brain Scans and AI Used to Detect Dementia Nine Years Before Conventional Diagnosis Researchers at Queen Mary University in London used machine learning to assess cognitive communication between 10 areas of the brain that have been shown to be vulnerable to dementia. The study involving 1,100 people found that using AI analysis of the MRI brain scans of these neural networks accurately predicted about 80% of cases of dementia nine years before a formal diagnosis was actually made. Further, the AI technology was able to predict within two years exactly how long it would take before the onset. The test takes 10 minutes. Dementia is caused by certain proteins in the brain, but patients can live for years with those proteins and show no signs of dementia. Current methods used to detect dementia involve memory tests and measurements of brain shrinkage. It’s hoped that the early detection using the AI trained scans will help identify people who are going to develop dementia and benefit from early treatments. VC Investors are always adjusting their "Play Book" with a variety of options for investing. Mikal Ventures is one of those alternatives, offering curated solutions to real world problems. Reach out if you have questions on how we can be of assistance and bookmark https://mikalventures.com/ for additional insights and information.

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A few reflections on last week's Budget, from me, and a bunch of our fabulous FieldHouse Associates' clients. https://lnkd.in/exrefrpt #tech #innovation #investment #venturecapital #startups #scaleups #regulation #government #PR #publicaffairs #consultancy

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🔬💡 New research from the British Business Bank reveals a promising trend: life sciences #venturecapital funds are outperforming the market in realized returns. 🚀📈 It’s no coincidence that at ETA Technologies, we’re proud to work with many investment firms focused on life sciences #startups. Why? We leverage the power of psychometric testing combined with #AI to identify the highest-potential teams — because in the life sciences world, investing in people is key. 👥🔑 🧬 Discovering a brilliant scientist with a groundbreaking invention is one thing. But finding a team that blends #innovation and entrepreneurial grit to transform that idea into a successful business? That’s where true unicorns are born. 🦄🌟 source: https://lnkd.in/ektyKZHJ What qualities do you think make a life sciences team truly investment-worthy? Let’s discuss! 👇

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Really impressed by Emergence Capital's latest thesis on the disruptive potential of AI-enabled services. The insight that AI can outmaneuver traditional heavyweights like the Big 4 firms in service sectors presents an awesome opportunity for startups. AI is not just automating tasks; it's reshaping industries and opening new frontiers. The thesis also provides a nice framework for entrepreneurs thinking about building one of these company. We at XRC love startups that disrupt consulting services, so if you're building one in commerce enablement be sure to let us know. #Entrepreneurship #AI #Innovation #StartupAdvice #TechTrends

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Good to see an #IPO in the DX space with Tempus AI. With 11M shares at $37 per share at #top 🚀 end of the expected range, raising $410M at a valuation of $6B Founded in 2015, Tempus is creating an intelligent diagnostics platform for precision medicine ⚕. #Positive #news Looking forward what's come. #AI #healthcare #data #digitalization #DX https://lnkd.in/dJiKrrPC

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#interestingdata The VC power law is fundamental, sneakily non-intuitive 🤔 and hugely powerful 💪 As a fully bought-in “power law fan”, I find associated datasets fascinating. A great new one 👌 from VenCap International plc shows that growth funds are also power law instruments 😅 Intuition could have gravitated in the normal’ish direction 🤫 See source in comments. #venturecapital #powerlaw

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If you are in venture you should watch this video. It's clearer than ever that the people raising venture capital funds have the least expertise in deploying capital for businesses. At least at the earliest stages. I will have a detailed analysis of this later but first, I suggest you watch this video. I think you will agree there are few if any experts in venture investing, mostly because it lacks the criteria for expertise to be developed.

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Every year, countless medical breakthroughs are delayed because researchers spend up to $40,000 and multiple months per project manually extracting and then structuring data from electronic health records (EHRs).That's why we're thrilled to welcome SPEDA to the Antler portfolio! 🙌 Their automated platform is already revolutionising medical research by; ✔️ Cutting data extraction time and costs by 90% ✔️ Integrating with EHR systems despite missing APIs ✔️ Transforming unstructured medical notes into usable data using AI ✔️ Ensuring security-first handling of sensitive medical data The exceptional founding team combines 👏 Ali Al-Alak (CEO) - Medical Doctor and developer who built the MVP Tom Quast (CTO) - Seasoned CTO experienced in developing secure, scalable software and leading teams Nikola Burger (CCO) - Commercial strategist with MedTech scale-up experience SPEDA launched in May post the Antler Residence in Denmark - and are already experiencing rapid growth with their first paying customers, additional €30,000 already committed from prestigious organisations, a very large sales pipeline and strong validation from leading research institutions - so keep an eye out on them and their growth 🚀 Let's revolutionise medical research together 🌶🌶

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🚨Boom! 8090 Industries portfolio company Armada led by Dan Wright and Jon Runyan lands another $40M led by Microsoft marking $100M raised to date after announcing its Series A and coming out of stealth in 2023 just 7 months ago and shares new customer partnerships with Haliburton and Skydio. 🌪 “Extreme situations like hurricanes reinforce the need for “edge” computing, the practice of processing data locally rather than sending it back to the cloud. “Lots of oil and gas companies are really very concerned about these types of disasters. You can’t have any latency. You have to be able to respond in real time.” Dan Wright, cofounder and CEO of Armada, While disaster response is the obvious application, Armada’s edge technology also has a big role to play in all sorts of remote environments where uninterrupted data access is critical. Think real-time safety monitoring at high-risk worksites, real-time emissions tracking for oil rigs, and automated operations for mines. In regards to the newly inked partnership with Microsoft: It’s a natural fit, says Pradeep Nair Armada’s founding CTO and a 10-year veteran of Microsoft’s Azure business. “If you look at all of these customers we’re hitting—oil, gas, and mining—these guys are legacy, traditional customers and Microsoft is their biggest vendor,” he says. The partnership with Microsoft “opens up the whole pipeline, without us needing to go through the whole procurement process.” Cc Kerem Ozmen Garuth A. Wes Mendenhall Filip Vurdelja Haluk Sabanci Dincer Grant Brown Ishan Meswani Andrew Irwin Shilpa Patel

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When founding ETA Technologies, choosing Cambridge as our headquarters was a decision driven by a blend of strategic and historical advantages. Here are the top five reasons why it stands out: 1, Cambridge is renowned as the intellectual property hub of the UK, fostering an environment rich in cutting-edge research. 2, Leading Europe in the creation of spin-out companies, Cambridge offers a fertile ground for entrepreneurial ventures. 3, With a remarkable track record of producing #unicorns, Cambridge is a magnificent breeding ground for high-growth #startups. 4, Cambridge's #startups generate an impressive $17 return for every $1 invested, showcasing the unparalleled efficiency and profitability of the local innovation ecosystem. 5, The Cambridge tech ecosystem boasts a valuation exceeding £150 billion, surpassing the combined worth of Italy and Spain's tech sectors. 5+1, ETA Technologies leverages psychometric testing powered by #AI to help investors identify teams with the greatest potential. Psychometric testing also has its roots in Cambridge... Cambridge isn't just our location; it's a cornerstone of our identity and a catalyst for our mission to revolutionize investment insights. https://lnkd.in/dB4m2tfS

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What to Include in a Data Room for Investors? — Advice From VC Fund GP https://buff.ly/4eEUahI Investors look for comprehensive data rooms to make informed decisions. A well-organized data room should include financial statements, legal documents, market analysis, and growth projections. Providing detailed information on past performance and future strategies is crucial. Additionally, incorporating visual aids like charts and graphs can enhance understanding. According to a study by PwC, data rooms with thorough documentation increase investor confidence by 40%. Ensuring the data room is secure and easily accessible is also essential. #InvestorRelations #DueDiligence

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Taavet Hinrikus and I made the Financial Times Due Diligence email. https://lnkd.in/ez2AuGQx One 'unintended consequence' is that if there is a 45% tax on carry and CGT (raising £40m per year, remember) it for all intents and purposes closes the door on new VCs in the UK. Especially started by teams from non-traditional backgrounds. To meet the GP commit, you need to be already part of the 'wealthy' as you cannot rely on the value you create - nearly half of it will disappear - to fund it. We have both had extremely successful startups which are few and far between. The smaller number of new VCs will therefore more likely increasingly be for people who have inherited the capital or can draw it from their already rich family. Probably not want they have in mind with this policy.

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I’m happy to share one of Prolific's new endeavors: the Prolific Participant Wellbeing Report. This pioneering study explores and evaluates the mental wellbeing of online research participants, leveraging the Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (SWEMWBS) to uncover insights. The findings? A reassuring confirmation that participant wellbeing on Prolific is solid, underscoring our unwavering dedication to ethical practices in research. This is a first-of-its-kind publication for our industry. It casts a spotlight on the critical importance of ensuring participant wellbeing - a timely addition to the ongoing debates about the impact of online research and AI training methodologies. Read more about our findings here: https://bit.ly/3UmnFNF EDIT: Full report is also available here: https://lnkd.in/eBVNE68J

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The Magnificent 7 "invest nearly $400 billion annually into frontier tech (comparable to the GDP of Norway), of which $20–30 billion is in VC rounds (comparable to UK’s total VC investment)." 🤠💰 Good stuff here from Dealroom.co on the tech giants. Their market caps are big, and there's a good chance they'll all just keep getting bigger. That greatly impacts R&D, CVC, M&A, HR, etc. in deeptech globally. https://lnkd.in/ehExX8sa #vc #venturecapital #tech #technology #innovation #deeptech #ai #artificialintelligence #nvidia #facebook #apple #microsoft #tesla #amazon #google #startups #entrepreneurs #entrepreneurship #money #business

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What do you think we'll look back on ten years from now as the most crucial factor in the rise (or downfall) of AI? I believe it's Trust. Without trust, we can't build the foundation for solutions that seamlessly integrate into our daily lives. Yet, there's a significant—and understandable—mistrust among the public and governments about AI and its impact. Addressing this gap and bridging the chasm of mistrust is the topic of our first blog at Darwin AI: https://lnkd.in/dJr2DHfp

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