David Maher Roberts

Scotland's ecosystem for nurturing tech start-ups continues to transform into a powerful support network, greater than the sum of its parts. The latest example is the new partnership between Scottish EDGE and TechScaler. By combining two of our most effective assets within Scotland’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, we significantly increase the value that they bring to our start-ups. Alumni start-ups from Scottish EDGE can now access an ongoing development path within Techscaler, while Techscaler’s network of startup founding teams is strengthened further by dynamic businesses curated by EDGE.  https://lnkd.in/eZcM9RYR

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Good assessment of the upcoming service with notable things: 1. Clearly an MVP (although some question about the M bit and the V bit) 2. Freely is inward thinking, not platform thinking - content or even channels from 3rd parties are not part of the solution from day one. 3. It has promise but needs to add competitive features such as integrated apps from 3rd parties, universal search, universal content discovery, less of the inhouse content...

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Looking for a blog recommendation? If you haven’t visited the Daysium blog yet, now’s a great time to check it out. We’ve recently explored key topics like the UK’s split year treatment and non-dom changes to support your compliance journey. I particularly recommend reading our Senior Advisor, Paul Aplin OBE's latest post. He delves into the fascinating role of digital footprints in tax compliance—definitely worth a read. Here’s the link to Paul’s article: https://lnkd.in/e8Ns_8ZT I’d love to hear about your favourite blogs too, so feel free to share!

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I wrote for The Guardian about why the AI giants should be made to pay for the content they're stealing to build their ginormous businesses. AI should be built on ethical foundations that fairly compensate the content producers who contribute so much to this evolving technology. #AI #ContentRights #EthicalAI #FairCompensation #TechIndustry https://lnkd.in/eqSyZAGi

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Is this the beginning of the end for web search? Answering questions by sourcing information from quality publishers, who are then cited and given a share of advert $....really hope it can become a sustainable model for good journalism and research. Will keep following...

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Misinformation in an #election period comes with a heightened source of caution. With the added influx of #GenAI technology, the ability to disrupt the information ecosystem is inevitable. Really pleased to contribute to Press Gazette on my experience in how to spot #misinformation from #disinformation and #malinformation and how it commonly presents https://lnkd.in/egKkbGQt

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The case for GB Cloud The AI revolution will need massive computing capacity to enable it. In this paper Demos ‘ Elizabeth Seger with UKDayOne calls for the next government to invest in sovereign compute - GB Cloud - to develop cost effect and resilient compute. GB Cloud should be a public interest company offering discounted access to the NHS, public services and researchers and start-ups and could have parliamentary oversight and public consultation to ensure it is a trusted resource for the nation. The next will have to pick some targets to stimulate growth. This is a good bet. https://lnkd.in/eg28dipv

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What is the Fediverse and how do we survive the media apocalypse? 🧟💻 It was brilliant to meet up with Matthew Smith last week to discuss collaborations with AtkinsRéalis and some of the big issues facing the research and consulting industries… We spoke about the Fediverse - a fairly new conception of being in digital community. The idea is for web users to connect and collaborate using federated servers, and for open source software to be at the heart of the user experience. 🤝 It’s a decentralised model, oppositional to the ‘walled garden’ of the large corporates who currently dictate how space on the web is used by most of us. As journalists, researchers and other groups raise concerns about the implications of AI in these walled gardens, and the reduction in choice and transparency, some commentators argue that the Fediverse could be an answer out of this conundrum. In some ways this is reminiscent of the early heading days of the World Wide Web, where access was made free to enable a utopian vision of the future. 🌅 What the future of the Fediverse might be remains to be seen, but myself and Matt are fascinated by the implications for research communities and participant recruitment. 💭 For those interested in finding out more about this, I’d recommend listening to the Search Engine Podcast “how do we survive the media apocalypse (part 2)’. PJ Vogt 👏 If any of my network is already working in the Fediverse, how’s it going? #theFediverse #collaboration #research #theFuture

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The UK public doesn't know much about connected places/smart cities, and from what it does know it doesn't trust the technology involved, according to the results of a survey commissioned by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. It could be taken as a bad sign, given that plenty of local authorities are flagging up smart city initiatives. But I would say the lack of awareness is the key point, and that as more people become aware of what the technology does, and that generally it doesn't use personal data, they will become more relaxed with the outlook. https://lnkd.in/euWjABuX #localgovernment #smartcities #connectedplaces

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Make sure to follow the videos that Forme Partners is posting in its leadership series. These videos contain mini bags of GTM wisdom. In the one below, Jolawn Victor recommends "to massively fall in love" with the problems her customers face and thereby really understand the problem in order to then solve it and grow through it. I really like the approach... Thanks, Jolawn! #gtm #growth #innovation

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Just realised I've hit 50 original articles on my Pro-Human blog all about the value of human creativity and culture in an increasingly inhuman world 🍾 Join me and let's #bemorehuman https://lnkd.in/ggvAYTcs

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Did you know increasing the percentage of women-led businesses by just 10% would #addbillions to the economy! The #WESManifesto, launched by Women's Enterprise Scotland, outlines 5 priority areas to accelerate growth and unlock the opportunity that women’s enterprise represents. Visit https://lnkd.in/eNmtGUiN to find out more. These asks are consistent with international asks of the #G20 by W20 UK which I co-chair with Barbara Cleary. It is obvious that investing more in female entrepreneurs will help #economicgrowth so the time is now!

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A very important report by Reform Scotland today, on both the importance and vulnerability of Computing Science Education at school level. Any tech economy is a function of the supply of talent into it. Reform Scotland's research: 66 schools have no CS provision, that's over 32,500 pupils. 25 schools with >1000 pupils have only one CS teacher. CS teacher numbers down 25% since 2008 against a stable school role, and falling recruitment. It should no longer be a point of debate as to whether this amounts to a crisis for Scotland's tech sector of the near future. This decline is fully reversible, if our education authorities and local authorities act together now, with renewed urgency and a sense of ownership of the problem. I discussed these issues with Parliament's Education Committee this morning, link in the comments section. https://lnkd.in/esSAeUrg

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Still one of my favourite measurement tools and to make life easier for #socialprescribers #linkworkers and #commissioners it is embedded in my favourite #socialprescribing platform Access Elemental Social Prescribing

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Shout out to Hannah Rutter, Head of Digital Identity at Department for Science, Innovation and Technology for spreading awareness of the early success of the UK Govt Digital Identity & Attributes Trust Framework (DIATF) & the potential benefits to come once the Digital Information Smart Data (DISD) Bill becomes law. Over 50 IDSPs from different countries have been certified under DIATF & hundreds of thousands of #righttowork & DBS criminal record checks are already being completed every month. When offered the choice, about 30% of UK citizens already use a DIATF certified & trusted reusable digital ID - Yoti, Post Office #EasyID or Lloyds Bank Smart ID. Hannah explains that the new law will: 1) give legal standing to the trust framework as a set of rules for a ‘good’ digital verification services across the economy, with supplementary rules where needed. 2) allow for services on the register to be issued with a trust mark, making it easy to identify the trustworthy services DSIT say they will also play a key role in enabling the market & will continue the work with regulators & other government departments to identify & remove barriers to the use of digital identity services. Once DISD is enacted, it will be critical that relevant UK regulators quickly recognise DIATF & that compliance officers understand it is best practice ID verification. Over the last 2.5 years neither the Financial Conduct Authority or Gambling Commission have given any official guidance to compliance officers recognising the quality of DIATF certified ID British supermarkets & FAE vendors such as Yoti have already been waiting a crazy 2.5 years since the Q2 2022 digital proof of age trials ended. 98,000 Yoti FAE & digital ID age checks were completed successfully across 5 supermarket groups with not a single under 18 reported as incorrectly being approved to buy alcohol. DSIT must give the Home Office confidence regarding digital proof of age so the HO can change the #alcohol ‘MLC’ law / regulations to allow shoppers & businesses to rely on DIATF certified proof of age & effective FAE when buying alcohol in licensed premises. Since creation in Feb 2023, woefully DSIT have remained silent about the UK’s lead in facial #ageestimation for providing effective age checks for both adults. This is despite 1) the UK regulator Ofcom making it clear in late 2023 that FAE can be highly effective for adults & 2) big online brands using Yoti FAE successfully for several years! Peter Kyle, Keir Starmer & Jonathan Reynolds MP have all said UK #regulation needs to better recognise #innovation that can improve regulatory outcomes, reduce costs & spur investment & #economicgrowth. But these big benefits will only be gained at very low cost if the new govt acts on its words. Action to unlock the benefits of #DigitalID & facial age estimation will be early litmus tests. https://lnkd.in/eMYHiHxH

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Don't miss the next in a series of Music Technology UK workshops moderated by Simon Scott - this one focused on Defining Your Brand: Explaining What You Do. This interactive online workshop will delve into the challenges of defining your brand, featuring insights from seasoned music tech founders on their approaches over the years. Host: Simon Scott, Founder & CXO of Push Entertainment Panelists: Rachel Lyske, CEO, DAACI Rob Ryan, Co-Founder, Design and Experience, Diverge Emilie Birks MCIM, VP of Marketing, Beatport This workshop is ideal for startup founders, marketing professionals, and anyone in the music tech industry looking to sharpen their branding and communication tactics. Check out the link in the comments section! #musictech #musictechnology #startups #techstartups #marketing #branding

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So our exciting journey at Dods Political Intelligence continues. We're launching our new integrated platform and building AI tools to get more relevant information and insights to our customers. But our strength has always been human intelligence. Now you can get access to our exceptional team of sector experts across the UK and the EU to provide you with actionable insights, including state of play reports, stakeholder mapping, policy analysis and campaign advisory. Impartial, authoritative and impactful. Based on almost 200 years experience in following policy making. Who can beat that? #politics #policymaking #publicaffairs #excellence

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Predicting and Flying in Front of ‘Black Swan’ Events Thinking the Unthinkable and Unknowable to Reduce Risk and Create Opportunity Using Wargaming and Alternative Futures   I concluded this week one of my most riveting interviews with Michael Irish Founder and Chief Wargaming Architect of SedoGravitas Partners.   Michael posits that techniques used for decades by militaries and governments can be used by the private sector INCLUDING family offices to anticipate, prepare for, and even profit from black swan events. We will pay particular attention to:    - Shifts in the global balance of political/military/economic power from Western paradigms to hybrid authoritarianism, kleptocracy and the rise of non-state actors - The rapid, anarchic escalation in AI and what its implications may be. - Cyber warfare and quantum computing and the safety of the planet’s secrets   AND, how they may all converge into what history may see as the ultimate black swan event! This was a special 2-hour plus interview allowing your family/family office to ‘see around corners’ and understand alternative futures. Family continuity is very much at stake! CLICK BELOW TO WATCH THIS EXCEPTIONAL INTERVIEW WITH MICHAEL IRISH! https://lnkd.in/gmq2XteM In addition, after watching this extraordinary video myself and SedoGravitas Partners are pleased to provide you with a complimentary copy of SedoGravitas Partners Intelligence Forecast from October 12th, 2023. This is generally only available to SedoGravitas Partners clients and partners.  DM ME I AM HAPPY TO SHARE THIS SPECIAL FORECAST! I truly enjoyed this interview and in providing value to my subscribers, however nothing matches the resources/access/connections to intel from SedoGravitas and my other partnering firms and resources, coupled with my proprietary family office best practices content on sovereign risk, risk mitigation, investing, family office practice management and legacy (family continuity), digital 24/7 accessible masterclasses, all our exclusive content in COORDINATION with over 18 in-person intimate bespoke gatherings in NYC, Palm Beach and Greenwich AND (once yearly Jackson Hole and LA). You can join today as a founding/charter member and receive extraordinary benefits and be part of an extremely active in-person schedule this summer by joining today! CLICK BELOW TO LEARN MORE ANSD SIGN UP TODAY! https://lnkd.in/epaSK2W6 #familyoffice #familyofficetv #angelorobles #AI #blackswan #michaelirish #cyber

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