Latest news with #EntrepreneurUnitedKingdom
Entrepreneur
16-05-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Face-Time Revolution
A grassroots global movement that began with a keg and a hunch lands in London - and it might just reshape the way Britain does innovation. Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. You're reading Entrepreneur United Kingdom, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. In a world hooked on Zoom links and algorithmic serendipity, the most quietly rebellious thing you can do as an innovator is turn up - in person, on a Thursday, and just… talk. In an age of remote work, hyper-digitised networking, and LinkedIn messages chased by calendar links, the most radical act in innovation might just be showing up in person. Not for a pitch. Not for a panel. But for a conversation. Weekly. Without fail. "It's kind of weird, right?" says Tim Rowe, Chair of the Venture Café Global Institute, whose non-traditional, anti-corporate spin on innovation culture has quietly threaded together cities across the globe - from Tokyo to St. Louis - with one simple idea: meet every week, face to face. "All religions that have a gathering of some sort do it weekly. Have you ever heard of a religion that says we meet monthly? It just doesn't do that." Because weekly, in person, is how culture is built. Venture Café London, opening this week, marks the movement's first UK outpost - launched in partnership with the Advanced Research + Invention Agency (ARIA), the government's bold "moonshot" initiative to fund early-stage breakthrough science. London is just the start. Two more UK regional hubs are planned for autumn 2025. And if history is any guide, it could change everything. Rowe chuckles. "This is not rocket science. It's relatively simple stuff. In a world that's all about digital, it's kind of radical to say - come have a drink and talk to someone you don't know. But some magic happens." Beginnings: MIT, cheap space, and a culture of "why not?" Venture Café didn't start as a global movement. It started, as many good things do, with an empty building and a group of curious friends. "Twenty-five years ago, some friends and I that studied at MIT, we decided it would be interesting to get together and create a place for startups," Rowe says. "We all know about shared workspaces and co-working in 2025, but that didn't exist back then." They found a cheap space - rented to them by the university - and filled it with startups. "It started with 10, then 20. Today in Cambridge, Massachusetts, more than 450 people come - every Thursday." But they hit a problem. Inside the building? Incredible community. Outside? Nothing. "If you can't afford to be in the building or you're somewhere else in the city, then we just don't know you." So they opened the doors. "We said, all right, we'll get a keg and just open the space up and say anyone can come." People found investors. Co-founders. Life partners. The St. Louis Surprise The idea caught on. Someone from St. Louis visited and asked if they'd try it there. "I'd never been to St. Louis," Rowe says. "It's a smaller city…But we said, why not?" The result? More people came each week than in Cambridge. "About 500 people a week were coming together." "The light bulb went on," Rowe says. "Pretty much all religions that have a gathering of some sort do it weekly. There's something about weekly that seems to be hardwired into us. It works." Coming to the UK - and why ARIA said "yes" Venture Café didn't choose the UK randomly. It was invited — by ARIA. "ARIA is a really terrific, exciting concept," Rowe says. "It's modeled in some ways on the US ARPA... but it's gone beyond it." ARIA funds high-risk, high-reward science - the sort of things traditional investors won't touch, but which could change the world. The goal? Turn transformative research into real-world impact. And that requires a strong innovation culture. "As part of that, they want to make sure the platform in the UK is strong," Rowe explains. "They looked around the world for things that were being done elsewhere that weren't being done in the UK…and they called us." Rowe didn't hesitate. "We said we'd love to participate." Venture Cafe is not a pitch night. It's not a meetup. It's all of those things - and something else entirely. "The good news is that it's not that hard," Rowe says. "Everyone's been to a pub. Everyone chatted with people there." But at Venture Café, those people are founders. Scientists. Investors. Students. Inventors. Entrepreneurs. Dreamers. There are rules - no selling life insurance, for one! It's curated without being closed. Structured without being stiff. Respectful, inclusive, and deeply curious. And the results? "Every time I go to a Venture Café I'll meet three or four or five people where I'm like, I'm so glad I met that person," Rowe says. The Ghana story One of Rowe's favourite stories comes from a young man from Ghana. "He came up to me at a Venture Café and said, 'I've been visiting the Boston area, and I went and saw the shared wet laboratories that you have here in Cambridge. I think Ghana could really benefit from having a wet laboratory where scientists could develop new companies.'" Rowe sat with him for an hour, explained how it worked, and how to fund it. The man went home, came back six months later. "He said, 'I think we might actually be able to do this.'" Last week, Rowe got an email: the Ghanaian government is going to fund it. "These things happen," Rowe says. "They do." What it means for the UK The UK already has brilliant researchers. What it needs, Rowe says, is cultural normalisation of risk, conversation, and connections. "There's a great group called Startup Genome that has mapped ecosystems around the world," he says. "They measure when a graduate student comes out of university, how likely are they to know a venture capitalist who could fund them into a startup?" The answer? Connections matter. Hugely. "So let's say you're at the University of Cambridge and you have an idea, but you don't know anybody," Rowe says. "Then you're probably just going to sit on your idea." But if starting a company feels normal - if you're surrounded by people doing just that - itll make all the difference. "We think of it as a culture change or a culture intervention of sorts." Japan, Berlin… London People warned Rowe that Venture Café might not work outside the US. It has. "In Japan, they said, 'Oh, the Japanese don't like dealing with strangers, they're very serious,'" he recalls. "But our Japanese launch team would do skits every week - act out two people who didn't know each other, introduce themselves and talk about what they're doing." Now there are seven Venture Cafés in Japan. "Last week in Tokyo, we had 1,200 people," Rowe says. "Next week in Berlin, we're expecting 1,000 people. This is our first one in London today." Where next? Two more UK Venture Cafés are set to launch in 2025, locations yet to be announced. What makes a good city for one? "We typically focus on larger cities…amongst those, there are quite a lot of entrepreneurs, a lot of people tinkering with science." London, with its dense ecosystem, will be the flagship. But Rowe is confident it will grow elsewhere. "I think the UK will get very comfortable with it very quickly." In a fast-changing world, new companies aren't just nice to have - they're essential. "Existing companies die around age 50 - quicker than humans do," Rowe says. "So for an economy to be healthy, it has to replace the companies it has." Most big companies can't reinvent themselves. But founders can. And Venture Café is where they might find the co-founder, the investor - or just the courage - to begin. "I have no doubt that the UK will find its own way of metabolising these opportunities," Rowe says. "There's already something very special here." So, if you're in London on a Thursday night, just follow the pulse - that's where ideas are turning into action
Entrepreneur
16-05-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Fintech Week London Relaunches as London Fintech Summit 2025
You're reading Entrepreneur United Kingdom, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. Marking its fifth anniversary, Fintech Week London is undergoing a major revamp. In partnership with global event firm Trescon, it will relaunch its flagship conference as the London Fintech Summit – a new international gathering aimed at uniting finance leaders, investors, policymakers and startups to chart the future of fintech. Set for 6–7 October 2025, London Fintech Summit will spotlight cross-border collaboration and investment. The week will also feature a VIP dinner for 100 C-level leaders and government officials, an industry party, and a dedicated day for international delegations in partnership with Grow London. "London has long been at the centre of financial innovation, and the London Fintech Summit 2025 will cement its role as a critical link between financial capitals," said Raf De Kimpe, CEO of Fintech Week London. "By combining Fintech Week London's existing network with Trescon's extensive international reach, we are creating a summit that brings together the most influential voices shaping the future of finance." While Fintech Week London will continue to host a series of finance-focused events across the capital, the newly launched summit will serve as the main stage for global fintech dialogue. London Fintech Summit 2025 aims to connect financial powerhouses from markets including New York, Singapore, Dubai, Hong Kong, and Brussels, with a sharp focus on investment, regulation, and innovation - reasserting London's role as a global fintech hub. The event will connect top financial minds from across the globe to shape the future of finance. London may be one of the world's oldest financial centres, but it remains at the cutting edge of fintech innovation. Home to over 1,600 of the UK's 3,300 fintech companies, the capital has become a meeting point for traditional banks, tech giants, and startups alike. From legacy institutions to digital disruptors, the London Fintech Summit and Fintech Week London offer a front-row seat to the global forces shaping the future of finance. The annual London Fintech Summit is set to raise the bar for global fintech events, uniting policymakers, regulators, financial institutions, tech innovators, and end-users for impactful, solution-focused dialogue. By connecting major financial hubs and prioritising inclusivity, cross-border collaboration, and regulatory alignment, the summit reinforces London's position at the heart of global fintech - and offers a platform for shaping the future of finance. London Fintech Summit: Key Themes The summit will spotlight the forces shaping global fintech, including: Future of Payments – Mobile-first, tech-enabled, frictionless interactions Data, Risk & Fraud – Tackling cybersecurity and system resilience Government & Regulation – Global policy shifts and cross-border alignment Artificial Intelligence – From agentic to generative AI in finance Digital Assets & Tokenisation – Opportunities and regulatory challenges Fintech for Good – Driving inclusion, impact, and access Why London Fintech Summit Stands Out - High-Impact Networking: Two content stages, curated 1-on-1 meetings, and 700+ leaders from finance, tech, VC, government, and regulation. - Global Perspective: Country and industry pavilions spotlighting innovations from major fintech markets. - Investor Access: Roundtables linking startups with VCs, institutions, and family offices. - Policy Dialogue: Direct engagement with regulators and government on cross-border fintech policy. - Innovation Showcase: Live demos of the latest financial technologies. - Broad Impact: Focused not just on business, but on fintech's real-world impact for users and society. Backed by the UK government's £250 million Financial Services and Markets Bill, and with global fintech projected to grow at over 22% annually through 2030, London is poised to remain a global fintech leader. About London Fintech Summit London Fintech Summit is a premier global platform bringing together financial leaders, investors, policymakers, and innovators to drive cross-border collaboration and shape the future of financial services. As the flagship event of Fintech Week London, the summit serves as a catalyst for investment, regulatory dialogue, and technological advancements, reinforcing London's role as a global fintech hub. About Trescon Trescon is a global business events and consulting firm, creating high-impact platforms that connect governments, investors, and industry leaders in fintech, AI, and emerging technologies. With a track record of hosting industry-leading summits such as the Dubai FinTech Summit, Dubai AI Festival, Future Sustainability Forum, HODL, DATEwithTech, and World FinTech Show, Trescon drives innovation, investment, and strategic collaboration in high-growth markets. Backed by Trescon's expertise in delivering industry-leading fintech and technology summits, including: • HODL (formerly World Blockchain Summit) – The longest-running blockchain event series • DATE with Tech – A fintech and emerging technology series hosted in India, Saudi Arabia, and Jakarta • World Fintech Show – A key platform for fintech innovation and investment With a proven track record of managing government-backed events like the Dubai FinTech Summit and Dubai AI Festival (a flagship AI and emerging technology event) both hosted for Dubai government), Trescon brings a world-class platform that drives meaningful discussions and shapes the future of financial services. About Fintech Week London Fintech Week London is a week-long celebration of London's fintech innovation, culminating in a flagship conference that brings together industry leaders, decision makers, and innovators to explore the latest trends and developments in the fintech space. With a commitment to collaboration and networking, this event is the premier destination for anyone looking to stay at the forefront of fintech innovation.
Entrepreneur
15-05-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Why finance must now play the long game
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. You're reading Entrepreneur United Kingdom, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. However, the finance sector's response doesn't have to continue being so reactive. First and second order market effects may have caught some off guard, but in reality, these could be seen as the latest of a long series of challenges since 2008. The point is, we've been here before. Not with identical conditions, but with similarly destabilising effects; from the Eurozone crisis to Brexit to the pandemic. Each event has tested the industry's ability to adapt, but also revealed that durability is built over time, not improvised under pressure. Firms might not realise it, but many already have the playbook to navigate it. While short-term priorities are important, businesses must resist becoming consumed by them. In times of turbulence, tunnel vision is a common pitfall - it drives leaders to fixate on the immediate consequences, at the expense of long-term resilience. A business that centres its messaging, brand, and strategy around temporary conditions risks losing direction, and most importantly its relationship with its customers. Leadership requires guiding your organisation and customers not through the next few months, but through the next few years or even decades. A long-term vision enables firms to sidestep short-termism and build a business model that meets customer needs consistently over time, by evolving alongside them. Get this right in a moment of uncertainty, and the long-term loyalty of your customers will likely follow. Lessons from past turmoil As someone who began his career in the aftermath of the 2007/2008 financial crisis, I've seen firsthand how disruption separates the resilient from the reactive. The firms that emerged strongest shared a few common traits: clarity on the value they delivered to customers, and a future strategy rooted in those fundamentals. It can be tempting to think that a radical situation necessitates a radical change of direction, and sometimes a dramatic course correction is needed. The financial institutions that performed the best post-crash did not set out to fundamentally alter their model overnight, but instead doubled down on the core values that had served them and their customers for so long. Even some firms with significant exposure to the very sub-prime mortgages causing the crash focused on tighter principles and flourished again. They coupled this with a patient vision of the future, taking the key learnings from the preceding years and steadily feeding this into a long-term progressive strategy. In this way they treated the crisis as a test of their endurance – rather than a signal to pull out of the race. There's also a psychological component here. Teams that are encouraged to think long-term are less prone to reactionary decision-making. Like skyscrapers that are built to bend during an earthquake, teams that have clearer priorities and fewer internal pivots operate with more coherence — even under stress. the best leaders reinforce this mindset from the top, ensuring their teams are focused on direction rather than distraction. The Erosion of Customer Trust While tariff disruptions and market instability may feel like new challenges, the truth is that the finance sector has been wrestling with a much longer crisis: the slow erosion of public trust. Many financial institutions have fundamentally failed to demonstrate accountability, generosity, and innovation post-crash. Customers generally feel like they are not being adequately rewarded for the money they deposit in their bank, and major banks have often been slow to adapt their products to modern technology. Stagnating savings rates, inflexible and outdated products, and a lack of transparency has prevented the industry from making any meaningful recovery in consumer trust. It is perhaps no surprise that, ten years on from the crash, 66% of Britons reported no trust in banks to work in the best interests of society, and 62% of Britons feared that the sector could lead them into another crash. Britons currently have little trust in their bank's ability to manage periods of turmoil. Recent polling found that almost half do not trust their banks to help them manage thier finances throughout a recession. Trust is clearly not being earned back. A 'lay low' approach has done little to rebuild relations with the British public, who are instead looking for active signs of transparency, support, and accountability from the sector. With current economic uncertainty unlikely to dissolve in the foreseeable future, major banks must be aware of their responsibility to protect consumer wealth – and should communicate their commitment to this clearly. Banks that add value to customers' lives before, during, and after a 'crisis' will thrive – reliably delivering this should be the priority of the industry, rather than drastic restructuring or product changes that do nothing to grow consumer trust. Building a resilient company When dealing with current periods of unrest, and planning for future episodes, the question then becomes clear – how do you build a company that is resilient to the inevitable shocks and surprises that the future will bring? Prioritising customer trust is a key component of this, as I have mentioned. If you want your customers to support you throughout periods of growth and decline, you have to demonstrate that you will value and reward them during both. These values must also be reflected in your technological offering. Customer-centric product design is essential, and the tech that your customers rely on should be scalable, reliable, and create game-changing experiences. Customers will notice if product infrastructure lags behind developments in the industry. They will also certainly notice if their banking infrastructure fails when under stress, as many did a few months ago when IT failures caused millions of Brits to lose access to their finances. So getting the basics right is non-negotiable. New technologies can be implemented to mitigate these risks, but this is also a fundamentally people-based business. The future of finance belongs to those who forge strategic partnerships with other industry players, collaborate with innovators who share your vision, and learn from others. I see some firms staying insular, reticent to share knowledge, isolating themselves. If you know why your customers need you, and are determined how to make that experience unbeatable, then you shouldn't be afraid to partner to make it happen. Long-term thinking is the ultimate disruptor Time and time again, the businesses that thrive in periods of disruption are those that anticipate, and openly manage stress with their teams, without panicking. In an industry obsessed with instant and, frankly, knee-jerk reactions, long-term thinking is the most innovative foundation. Those who stay committed to this value will emerge stronger, no matter what lies ahead.
Entrepreneur
15-05-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Culture Over Code
You're reading Entrepreneur United Kingdom, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. As CEO of REGnosys, a London-based regulatory technology startup, he believes that building a successful business isn't just about the tech – it's about culture, clarity, and conviction. "Running a tech startup is as much about mindset as it is about execution," says Labeis, speaking from the company's modest but sleek office in the City. REGnosys, which specialises in simplifying regulatory compliance through open-source solutions, is tackling one of the least glamorous yet most vital pain points in finance. But Labeis is quick to point out that the company's true foundation isn't code – it's principles. "At REGnosys, we operate under four guiding principles that keep us focused," he explains. "Do what's right. Startups often tackle complex problems. For us, it's about solving acute industry pain points while staying true to an ethos of integrity." That emphasis on doing the right thing isn't just window dressing. In a sector still grappling with trust issues in the wake of past scandals, REGnosys's clients – which include some of the world's largest financial institutions – are drawn to the company's transparent, partnership-first approach. "Treating clients, colleagues and stakeholders with fairness and respect is non-negotiable," says Labeis. Unlike many fintech founders who lean heavily on hierarchy or cult-of-personality leadership, Labeis is a quiet advocate for a decentralised approach. "Everyone's a leader," he says. "In a high-trust environment like ours, responsibility and decision-making aren't bound by seniority. The best ideas win, fostering innovation and accountability at all levels." This philosophy filters into everything from how teams collaborate to how products are built. REGnosys is behind Rosetta, an open-source platform designed to streamline regulatory reporting across jurisdictions – a tool praised for its elegant simplicity in an area known for bureaucratic sprawl. That's no accident. "Less is more," Labeis says. "Whether it's in product design, processes, or communication, clarity helps us cut through complexity and deliver value." But in a space as fast-moving as fintech, clarity also means knowing what not to do. Labeis is candid about the dangers of distraction. "No startup can excel at everything. By staying laser-focused on our strengths and partnering where necessary, we maximise our impact and efficiency." This strategy has helped REGnosys scale carefully but deliberately – expanding its client base while resisting the temptation to become a jack-of-all-trades. For Labeis, who spent years in senior roles at Goldman Sachs before founding REGnosys in 2019, the key lesson is one of alignment. "For any tech founder, identifying and then staying aligned with your core principles is the key to building not just a great product but a resilient, high-performing team culture." In a world where tech often equates speed with success, REGnosys is betting on something slower, deeper – and perhaps, longer-lasting.
Entrepreneur
14-05-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Future-Proofing Energy Sector: Hover Energy Confirms that Microgrids Are the Answer to Transforming Power Delivery
For over a century, the global power grid has remained largely unchanged. Built at a time when centralized power plants and fossil fuels dominated, today, the traditional grid system is failing to keep up with the demands of modern society. Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. You're reading Entrepreneur United Kingdom, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. That is why Hover Energy, the inspiration of Christopher Griffin (Chris), has been flipping the script since 2015 on how electricity is generated and consumed. Its mission is bold yet necessary: to make microgrids the primary source of energy, relegating the centralized utility grid to a backup role. Instead of a one-size-fits-all energy model dependent on large, inefficient grids, Hover envisions a world powered by tens of thousands of independent, self-sustaining microgrids—each tailored to its environment, optimized for efficiency, and fully integrated with cutting-edge renewable technologies. This renewable energy power generation company's solution is simple yet revolutionary: shift the grid from being the primary energy source to a secondary backup system. By creating microgrids that integrate multiple renewable energy sources, Hover enables businesses, communities, and individuals to take control of their energy production. This decentralized approach not only ensures stability and resilience but also reduces dependence on fossil fuels, driving a global shift toward sustainability. "We're not just talking about improving the grid—we're redefining the entire system," says Chris. "The traditional grid is like an old mainframe computer—it's outdated, inflexible, and inefficient. We need an energy model that matches the speed of modern innovation, and that's exactly what we've built." At the core of Hover's mission are two groundbreaking technologies: the Hover Microgrid and the Microgrid Management System™. Hover's Wind-Powered Microgrid™ is customized based on two key factors: the client's specific energy needs and the natural renewable energy resources available at that location. The microgrid seamlessly combines wind, solar, and energy storage to deliver reliable, round-the-clock power. Mounted along the windward edges of buildings, Hover's wind turbine arrays generate energy 24/7, while solar panels installed in optimal locations maximize daytime energy capture. This hybrid system produces more power per square foot than standalone solar or wind solutions, ensuring efficiency and reliability. At the heart of the system is Hover's Intelligent Integrated Energy Management System (IEMS), which has become the Microgrid Management System™ that optimizes and combines both AC (wind) and DC (solar) energy into a single, stable power stream. This ensures a smooth and efficient flow of electricity, whether the microgrid is operating independently or supplementing grid power. A microgrid is only as powerful as the system managing it. Hover's Microgrid Management System™ is designed to seamlessly integrate any energy source—whether it's wind, solar, hydrogen fuel cells, batteries, or even the future technologies that haven't been invented yet. This level of flexibility ensures that Hover's microgrids are truly future-proof. "The biggest problem with most energy systems today is that they lock you into a single source of power. What happens when better technology emerges in five years? Do you have to rip everything out and start over? Our Microgrid Management System™ eliminates that problem by making it easy to plug in new energy sources as they develop. It's the ultimate flexible energy solution," explains Chris. "If I'm in a place with a waterfall, I should use hydroelectric power. If I'm in a desert, then I need to harness solar energy. If I'm in a windy region, wind power makes sense. The point is that energy is all around us—we just need the right tools to capture and use it. That's what Hover provides." Chris has truly foreseen every possible angle. Microgrid Management System™ has partnered with and integrated WatsonX AI technology into its system, allowing real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, and automated compliance with jurisdictional regulations. This AI-driven system enables clients to track and report their carbon reduction progress in real time, helping businesses achieve 'real zero' emissions goals. Hover's vision is not just about making energy more efficient—it's about shifting society's mindset from passive consumers to active producers of energy. For decades, people have depended entirely on the centralized grid, much like a child depends on a parent. But there comes a point in life where one transitions from being a taker to being a giver—from consuming resources to contributing to a larger system. Hover's mission is to transform the world's energy landscape, one microgrid at a time. Its goal is to make decentralized energy systems as common as WiFi routers, allowing businesses, homes, and entire communities to generate, store, and use their own power without dependency on the grid. By doing this at scale, Hover is not only future-proofing energy innovation but also ensuring a more resilient, secure, and sustainable world. The centralized utility grid, once the backbone of modern civilization, is now being redefined as a backup system. And with the rapid adoption of microgrids, the future of energy is no longer just a concept—it's happening now. And Hover is not waiting for change. It is leading it.
