London Tech Week, a hub of technological brilliance and innovation, offered an exceptional platform for the InnovX delegation from Romania to connect, learn, and propel their startups to new heights.
Amidst the dynamic atmosphere, the InnovX delegation experienced a unique confluence of opportunities, connecting not only with venture capitalists but also with a diverse ecosystem of startups, strategic partners and esteemed government representatives. With a rich pool of over 30,000 participants, this unprecedented gathering attracted a multitude of startups, all striving to showcase their disruptive ideas and secure potential collaborations. Moreover, the presence of prominent partners and government representatives added an additional layer of significance to the event, fostering an environment ripe for networking, knowledge sharing, and fostering crucial alliances. By engaging with this multifaceted audience of fellow entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and influential decision-makers, the InnovX delegation was able to leverage the collective wisdom and experience present at London Tech Week, further fueling their journey towards global success, as we seized the opportunity to navigate the bustling event, strategically connect with 300+ speakers, and explore synergistic partnerships with 70+ organizations over 5 full days and 6 zones.
We're honored to share that the InnovX delegation was sponsored by the British Embassy in Bucharest, the Department for Business and Trade, one of our esteemed partners. Their unwavering support has been instrumental in fostering innovation and collaboration. A heartfelt thank you goes out to Cristina Dragu 🇬🇧💰🚀, whose dedication and efforts have made this collaboration possible. With their support, the InnovX delegation received VIP tickets to London Tech Week, providing exclusive access to premium sessions, private networking events, and influential thought leaders. Additionally, Cristina facilitated the creation of personalized 1-on-1 meetings with industry experts, ensuring that every startup in our delegation had the opportunity to engage with seasoned professionals, gain invaluable insights, and forge potential collaborations. As part of the InnovX delegation, consisting of six exceptional startups, Alumni of the InnovX-BCR Program - KIM 4 Industry(2022), Vicentiu Corbu, Axigen Messaging(2022), Bogdan Moldovan, FieldOS(2019), Ionut Gavrilescu and Eduard Popa, Explocom GK- Gekka(2022), Géza Kovács and Gergely Kovács, KFactory® (2019), Vlad Cazan and Adrian Dima and Synaptiq.io(2022), Diana Andritchi and Lucian Bicsi - along with the forward-thinking venture capital firm Future Now Capital(2022), Dr. Cristian Ilie, Florian Munteanu, MBA, Orlando Andrei and Yugo Neumorni, EMBA, CISA, and two representatives of the InnovX team Diana DUMITRESCU, PhD. and Bianca Păcurar, we were provided with unparalleled support and guidance throughout the event. We are also thrilled to have crossed paths with fellow InnovX ecosystem members: Avi Cicirean, Drazen Orescanin, Andrada Borda, Suleiman Arabiat.
Now let's dive deeper into the agenda and the highlights of London Tech Week2023!
It kicked off with an exciting lineup on day one, starting with Carolyn Dawson, Chief Executive of Founders Forum, delivering a welcome address at 08:55 AM on the Main Stage. The day continued with a captivating fireside chat between the Prime Minister, Rt Ho Rishi Sunak, and Demis Hassabis, CEO of Google Deepmind, discussing the future of AI. The Main Stage hosted an engaging entrepreneurship discussion featuring leaders from SVB UK, HSBC (following the merger with Silicon Valley Bank), and acting tech secretary Chloe Smith. This session delved into the intricacies of the tech industry and its future prospects.
Clare Barclay, CEO of Microsoft UK, delivered a keynote speech on generative AI, providing valuable insights into preparing for the next wave of this exciting technology. The Main Stage keynotes culminated with a cybersecurity discussion, featuring Poppy Gustafsson from Darktrace and Jeff Shiner from 1Password.
Over at the Startup Main Stage, Sophia Tran from Spotlight! Ventures opened the proceedings at 11:30 AM with her opening remarks, followed by an address from Sarah Munby, DSIT Permanent Secretary. Noteworthy talks on this stage included a panel discussion on scaling with Blackseed Ventures, Blackrock, and Kinnevik, a thought-provoking session on the fate of web3, and a practical tips session for founders to effectively target the right VC investors.
Alongside the 5 stages divided by industries and interests, there were side events that we could attend, enabling us to gain insights from experienced professionals and expand our network within the vibrant London tech ecosystem. One of the premium benefits extended to us was the opportunity to participate in "Welcome to London: Meet London & Partners Tech Sector Experts," hosted by Grow London, unlocking access to sector experts across Enterprise Tech & Software, Fintech & Cyber, Creative industries, Sustainability and Lifesciences that shared insights and 1:1 meetings with international companies interested in setting up in London and accelerating the global growth of their business.
After this, we attended the "International Delegates Reception", having the opportunity to meet other international business leaders and influencers from across the UK’s tech ecosystem.
We finished off the day by attending the "10 year anniversary party", the official launch party at Between the Bridges. The ambiance was remarkable as we stepped into a beautifully arranged summer garden, providing the perfect backdrop for engaging conversations and further discussions. It allowed us to unwind, forge deeper connections, and strengthen the relationships built throughout the day. We were revealed in the festive atmosphere while exchanging ideas, experiences, and visions for the future.
On Tuesday, June 13, we attended the flagship and private "Accelerating your global success!" Masterclass event organized by the Global Entrepreneur Programme (GEP). We had the pleasure to attend the Keynote Speech by Lord Dominic Johnson.
The masterclass sessions were designed to equip entrepreneurs with the knowledge and skills necessary to thrive in the global market. Topics covered included "Funding hacks in the UK" which delved into raising capital, pitching best practices, engaging with investors, and exploring grant opportunities with the help of Eamon Tuhami (GEP dealmaker), Stephen Mooney (GEP Dealmaker), Jack Hampson (GEP Dealmaker), Paula España Meradi (GEP dealmaker) Jack Clipsham (Partner and Head of Corporate Finance at Kreston Reeves). Another session focused on "Developing successful go-to-market strategies," offering insights into business strategy, international sales, and business development with Tim Luft (GEP dealmaker) Jude Ower MBE (GEP dealmaker), Paul Taylor (Head. ESS Service Delivery Centre and Head. International Markets for UK exports). Additionally, there was a session dedicated to "Building networks with impact" exploring the power of impactful networking, relationship-building, and personal branding for tech founders by Alpesh Patel OBE (GEP Dealmaker), Elizabeth Varley (GEP Dealmaker), Russell Dalgleish (GEP dealmaker), and Joanna Dodd (Founder and Managing Director at Rochester PR).
The event also featured a general Q&A session, providing an open platform for entrepreneurs to seek guidance on expanding overseas, navigating business challenges, investor communications, and other pertinent topics and a networking lunch.
On the other side of the river, a closed-door event, Breakfast for the VC Delegation came with premium collaboration prospects. The welcoming and introductions was made by Johanna Savolainen, Country Director, DBT, British Embassy Helsinki, followed by Miriam Duke, Europe Director, London & Prtners and Chris Elphick, Senior VC Manager, British Private Equity & Venture Capital Association (BVCA). Moving on to the presentations by ROSEMARY MCCOLLIN, Sales Director, PE, and Gino Zabeo, Commercial Director at VISTRA (UK) LIMITED, Jonathan Crook, Deputy Head, VC Unit, DBT and Sri Ayangar, VC OpenOcean (Finnish Series A VC with operations in London).
Going back to the main location, Queen Elizabeth II Centre, day two of London Tech Week commenced with an invigorating start at 9:00 AM, as Katie Prescott, the esteemed technology business editor at The Times, took the stage to deliver an insightful opening talk. Following her engaging address, Janet Coyle CBE, the managing director of business growth at London & Partners, delivered a warm welcome address.
Throughout the day, attendees eagerly anticipated a range of captivating sessions. Notably, Lenovo CTO Arthur Hu captivated the audience with a keynote speech on the risks and opportunities of generative AI. Additionally, a panel discussion on the disparity between science and technology featured esteemed guests such as Gordon Sanghera the CEO of Oxford Nanopore Technologies and Daphne Koller the CEO of insitro. The audience also had the privilege of attending a talk on virtual communities and the profound impact of human interaction, presented by the co-founder of Flickr, Caterina Fake and amber atherton, Partner at Patron.xyz.
The day's agenda further included a selection of other keynote talks, such as an exploration of the vital role that companies play in women's health and the advocacy of purpose-driven innovation.
Meanwhile, the Startup Main Stage hosted a thought-provoking panel that delved into the personal journey of being a founder. Simultaneously, the Impact Stage provided a talk focusing on the significance of making meaningful investments into climate tech. Finally, the NextTech Stage dedicated its afternoon to unraveling the potential future of the metaverse.
We finished off the day by a relaxing, fun and dedicated to strengthening our connection dinner and drinks.
As the final day of London Tech Week unfolds, the excitement continues to thrive with an abundance of captivating experiences awaiting attendees. Wednesday, June 14, kicks off with opening remarks, setting the stage for an enlightening conversation between science minister George Freeman and Dr Stephanie Simmons, the founder of Photonic. Together, they explored strategies to unleash the full potential of the UK quantum industry. The spotlight shifts to a compelling discussion on future-proofing businesses with fintech. A distinguished panel consisting of Jaidev Janardana, CEO of Zopa Bank, and Daniel Shakhani from RDS Capital, will share insights and perspectives on this critical topic. Euan Blair, the co-founder of Multiverse takes center stage. In a panel discussion on the Main Stage, he highlights the paramount importance of digital skills in driving economic growth. Meanwhile, the Impact Stage dedicates its attention to tackling the talent crisis and enhancing diversity and inclusion. A series of back-to-back talks will delve into these pressing issues. Notably, a panel will convene to discuss the art of building a diverse tech team at scale, featuring executives from Aviva, Shell, Google, Tech Talent Charter, and Code First Girls. Afterwards, Baroness Martha Lane Fox CBE discusses female leadership with Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin. They cover her extraordinary tenure in power: her covid response, steering Finland into NATO and uniting the country behind her. https://youtu.be/Cdz6qWebNuc
Then, our attention shifted toward the "AI Summit" co-located with the Quantum Computing Summit, uniting the most forward-thinking technologists and business professionals to explore the real-world applications of AI. For two days, we explored themes such as "Real-World AI", "How Should Businesses Respond to the EU's First-ever AI Law?", "ChatGPT and Generative AI: The next big thing or a fad?" and "Bridging the Culture and Knowledge Gap Between Design Teams & Technical Skills".
We could not go on without mentioning the support that International Businesses looking to expand into the UK can get through the Department for Business and Trade with regard to different types of investments, advice about the business environment, access to the UK’s broad spectrum of financial and tax incentives, matchmaking, expansion programs, offices, sector specialists. We would like to thank the teams from Department for Business and Trade and to the British Embassy in Bucharest for all the efforts, professionalism and dedication, Cristina Dragu 🇬🇧💰🚀, Sandra MarÃn, Saara Majuri. A special and warm thank you to London & Partners for the sector knowledge transfer and tailored access to LTW activities, Miriam Ducke. A special highlight to all the amazing people helping InnovX companies build business in the UK: Martin Ring, James Blakemore, Christian Kumar 😊, Jonathan Crook.
Being part of the InnovX community is truly remarkable, based on our constant commitment to creating opportunities even after the acceleration program ends. One such opportunity is the chance to participate in international conferences like this one. It's incredibly rewarding to see our alumni thrive and connect with industry leaders on a global stage, the ecosystem continuing to foster growth, collaboration, and success, making it an exceptional community to be a part of!
