London Tech Week 2023 – Day 2 key takeaways

Day two of London Tech Week was a whirlwind of sessions, we’ve listened to experts diving into the future of metaverse technologies alongside hearing more about how business leaders can be climate leaders. We’ve lined up our key takeaways!?

?Authentic Leadership

A common thread throughout these sessions was around leadership. ?

We wanted to highlight Saasha Celestial-One , Co-Founder & COO at Olio ? Share More, Waste Less 's comment on the need for leaders to show vulnerability, to create a safe environment where your employees feel like they can be themselves.?

If you can bring your whole self to work and you can do it in a safe and supported way, it creates an environment where people want to work there.?

The last Main Stage session of the day tackled the question around how business leaders can be climate leaders. Lubomila Jordanova is the Founder & CEO of Germany’s Plan A , who last year expanded to London. ?Her answer to this question? ?

Leadership needs to be rooted in action.?

International startups?

Over 50 countries were represented at this year’s event, and it was inspiring to see so many countries bringing over delegations of high-growth startups to network and connect with London’s business ecosystem.?

We dipped into the session hosted by Berlin Partner für Wirtschaft und Technologie GmbH , where 17 of Germany’s high-growth companies got to pitch their solutions to an investor audience.

?If there was prize for the largest international delegation, it would be handed to India. This delegation is a testament to India's vibrant tech ecosystem and its immense potential for?innovation?in the India-UK corridor.?

Building a Sustainable Economy

Today’s business leaders face huge challenges in delivering on ambitious net zero and broader ESG commitments. Convening experts during today’s Climate Tech Summit highlighted the importance of keeping this conversation going. Mikela Druckman , Co-Founder & CEO of London-based AI Greyparrot shared two things with the audience that entrepreneurs can do to support our journey to a circular economy:?

1. Measure data and report on it ?

2. Disrupt the business model or status quo?

Tessa Clarke , Co-Founder & CEO, Olio , echoed this by saying that we need to design for a circular economy, which includes regulation around accountability for businesses to publish their activity around food waste. ?

Metaverse

The Metaverse is a complex and fascinating innovation that has dominated the tech world in the last few years. Anyone fortunate enough to have attended the expert led panels on this new online world will know just how far it is truly expanding. ?

In this new age of digital connectivity, the Metaverse holds a strong promise for the future, particularly with the integration of Artificial Intelligence. ?

“The Metaverse and AI will come together and be complimentary of each other.”?

Asavari Moon , Founder, Future Female Marketers ? ?

Through the use of AI, the Metaverse can help create more realistic worlds, beyond the physical limitations, where users can form more legitimate emotional connections and interact with fellow users on a deeper level. ?

Of course, a great digital world requires a strong physical body to develop it. And where better to do this than London, a leading city in creative and technological innovation. ?

“London is second to none in the creative industries and creativity is key.”?

Sylvia Xueni Pan , Professor of Virtual Reality, Goldsmiths, University of London ? ?

Companies that operate within this sector, recognise that London not only has a mature ecosystem for scaling, but the talent and resources to push creative boundaries to the furthest point and truly create brilliant things within the space. Niantic, Inc. , the American software developer being Pokémon Go come to London to grow their company, because they recognised its potential.?

“I've had the wonderful experiences of using our different platforms within the UK, particularly in London, the ideas created here are great, it's such an exciting space.” ?

Sarah Burslem , Director of Business Development EMEA, Niantic? ?

The Metaverse has come a long way in the last few years, and a large contributor to its success is AI.

AI in Action

Let’s be honest, everyone is talking about AI at the moment. We’re here to tell you that there’s much more to it than ChatGPT and funny AI art, as entertaining as it may be. ?

Despite a few lingering question marks, one thing is certain,?AI?will be an invaluable tool for efficiency and time saving within organisations. In sectors like healthcare, this could mean an incredible improvement in patient care with more time meaning a greater capacity to help more people.?

“AI is going to be the next wave of tooling for humanity.”?

Alex Kendall , CEO & Co-Founder, Wayve ? ?

Of course, no one is brushing over the need for the proper understanding of AI and the caution required for the implementation of any technology on such a wide scale. The UK is now positioning itself not only as a leader in AI, but a leader in AI regulation and safeguarding to ensure that human wellbeing is always at the forefront of adoption. ?

That’s a wrap on day 2?

As the sun sets on another day at the QEII Centre, we’re already preparing for the last day tomorrow. Is there any session you’d like us to cover? Let us know!?

In the meantime, explore everything that London, as a world-leading destination for tech startups and scaleups, has to offer ?? https://www.grow.london/ ????