00:00 Hello and welcome to Tomorrow, the
00:03
00:03 Future Forum podcast. I’m Ollie Barrett
00:06
00:06 and here at Future Forum, we are all
00:08
00:08 about bringing people together from very
00:11
00:11 different backgrounds, different worlds
00:12
00:12 to shape the future together. This
00:15
00:15 week’s episode is a little bit
00:17
00:17 different. We’re not in the studio. In
00:19
00:19 fact, we’d like to take you with us on a
00:22
00:22 journey. In fact, come fly with us as we
00:25
00:25 go to the city of Los Angeles in the US.
00:29
00:29 We are going to an event called Greater
00:32
00:32 Together LA. It’s put together by the
00:34
00:34 great campaign and the department for
00:37
00:37 business and trade with lots of business
00:39
00:39 support and it’s all about unexpected
00:43
00:43 connections. So actually very clearly uh
00:48
00:48 similar if you like to the spirit of
00:50
00:50 future forum and what I’ve tried to do
00:52
00:52 in this episode is put together some of
00:55
00:55 the most interesting conversations I had
00:57
00:57 during a very inspiring few days. The
01:00
01:00 first person I caught up with was
01:02
01:02 effectively our ambassador, his
01:04
01:04 majesty’s console general in Los Angeles
01:08
01:08 and that is Paul Renie. Paul, welcome.
01:10
01:10 >> Well, no, thank you. It’s great. It’s
01:11
01:11 great to have you here. I should be
01:12
01:12 saying welcome to you.
01:14
01:14 >> Well, thank you for helping bring us all
01:16
01:16 together. Council General in layman’s
01:18
01:18 terms. You are his majesty’s
01:19
01:19 representative here. Kind of the
01:21
01:21 ambassador in a sense
01:22
01:22 >> for the southwest United States. And so
01:24
01:24 we’re based here in Los Angeles. We
01:25
01:25 cover all the southwest states. But for
01:27
01:27 the purposes of today, we have brought
01:28
01:28 together people from across America to
01:31
01:31 join us in Los Angeles for Greater
01:32
01:32 Together LA. Right. So give us a sense,
01:35
01:35 paint a picture around us who’s here and
01:38
01:38 why. you quite literally wrote the four
01:40
01:40 words uh for the program but give us a
01:42
01:42 sense of the essence because I think it
01:43
01:43 will resonate with our future forum
01:45
01:45 listener. So basically what we have
01:47
01:47 brought together is the largest ever
01:49
01:49 British trade delegation to the United
01:50
01:50 States. Now it sounds incredible when
01:52
01:52 you say cuz people imagine we must have
01:54
01:54 had one of these before but by and large
01:56
01:56 we’ve often brought things sector by
01:58
01:58 sector. We take a tech sector to San
01:60
01:60 Fran. We take a finance sector to New
02:01
02:01 York. What we’ve done today is combine
02:03
02:03 10 different sectors together from
02:05
02:05 finance to creative industries to sports
02:08
02:08 to tourism to education because we
02:10
02:10 recognize that all these sectors work
02:12
02:12 together and work off each other. And
02:14
02:14 critically somewhere like Los Angeles,
02:16
02:16 the Olympic and Parolympic games are
02:18
02:18 coming up. Team USA is his opening match
02:20
02:20 the World Cup. This is the place which
02:22
02:22 brings all of that suit together.
02:24
02:24 Exciting town and LA is a place for us
02:26
02:26 to make our pitch.
02:27
02:27 >> Right. So this is fascinating for us
02:29
02:29 because uh an author and entrepreneur
02:31
02:31 David Cleavely wrote a book recently
02:33
02:33 around organizing serendipity. Yes.
02:36
02:36 >> So in your experience is all we need to
02:39
02:39 do chuck these ingredients into a bucket
02:41
02:41 and give them a big stir or are there
02:44
02:44 techniques that you’ve noticed work to
02:46
02:46 help very different people and
02:48
02:48 industries get on and do business
02:50
02:50 better? So one of my favorite words is
02:53
02:53 combinativity. H not creativity,
02:56
02:56 combinativity, which is being able to
02:57
02:57 take existing things and push them
02:59
02:59 together. Think about the journey around
03:01
03:01 Uber. Uber was basically ride share, but
03:04
03:04 that was essentially taxis plus some
03:06
03:06 algorithms. There’s nothing new that was
03:08
03:08 invented. It was the combination that
03:09
03:09 became completely new. Yes. And I think
03:11
03:11 when you come to the ability to blend
03:13
03:13 space and pharmaceuticals, you’re not
03:16
03:16 inventing anything necessarily new, but
03:17
03:17 the combination of doing pharmaceutical
03:19
03:19 development in space is a complete
03:22
03:22 radical shift in how we could develop
03:23
03:23 the next generation drug. So for me,
03:25
03:25 sometimes it is about engineered
03:27
03:27 serendipity, which hopefully this venue
03:29
03:29 is the engineering, but I’m just hoping
03:31
03:31 people be sitting around tables like you
03:33
03:33 and I are right now in the sunshine
03:34
03:34 saying, “What do you do? I do this. I do
03:36
03:36 that.” It’s like, “Wow, we should
03:37
03:37 connect on that and find their own
03:39
03:39 pathway to something brand new.” and
03:40
03:40 exciting,
03:41
03:41 >> right? I love that and and and it is
03:43
03:43 absolutely living up to that uh on the
03:45
03:45 ground and that is the essence of what
03:46
03:46 we’re trying to build uh with the forum,
03:48
03:48 right? Um let’s talk about the future.
03:51
03:51 Give us a glimpse. What do you see?
03:53
03:53 >> So what I see out here in LA is the
03:56
03:56 power of storytelling and the power of
03:57
03:57 narrative. So the future is being
03:58
03:58 written by young people by and large. I
03:60
04:00 mean every trend you are seeing often
04:01
04:01 has its roots here in LA. So things like
04:03
04:03 the entire organic movement in America
04:05
04:05 began right here in Los Angeles. So the
04:07
04:07 future is talking a lot about basically
04:09
04:09 how does the human technology interface
04:11
04:11 take its next step forward. Everyone’s
04:13
04:13 talking a lot about AI. Everyone’s
04:14
04:14 talking a lot about AI in particular in
04:16
04:16 a town like Los Angeles when the kind of
04:18
04:18 interaction between film and screen the
04:20
04:20 replacement of people on the screen and
04:22
04:22 what does that mean? That is a bit of a
04:23
04:23 glimpse future for me is how we will
04:25
04:25 resolve that question around the human
04:27
04:27 and technology interface. And to be
04:29
04:29 honest, I think young people are going
04:31
04:31 to push back more into physical worlds
04:33
04:33 and the digital world might just be a
04:34
04:34 bit of an afterthought for some of them.
04:36
04:36 Even as we as a kind of, you know,
04:37
04:37 non-natives in the digital space keep
04:39
04:39 pushing more and more tech. I think
04:41
04:41 young people pushing more and more
04:42
04:42 physical and human contracts when it
04:44
04:44 comes to their environment. And on that
04:47
04:47 theme of physical gatherings, uh, our
04:50
04:50 listener might not need reminding, but
04:51
04:51 give us a sense of what’s coming up here
04:53
04:53 because you’ve got some pretty momentous
04:55
04:55 gatherings, face to face gatherings
04:56
04:56 coming your way, right?
04:57
04:57 >> Correct. Well, we have got Gareth
04:58
04:58 Southgate is out here who people in
04:60
04:60 England might remember he was big in
05:01
05:01 football. He’s going to be talking about
05:03
05:03 sport and leadership. You’ve got people
05:04
05:04 coming together around industry and
05:06
05:06 development. You got people coming
05:07
05:07 together around philanthropy and the
05:10
05:10 kind of Olympics and paralympics.
05:11
05:11 >> Well, and I’m thinking even more
05:13
05:13 broadly, right? Uh the World Cup.
05:14
05:14 >> World Cup. Yeah. Kicks off in just under
05:16
05:16 four weeks here in LA. Uh and again,
05:18
05:18 team Scotland and team UK uh team
05:20
05:20 England would both be here in America.
05:22
05:22 It’s great chance for the Brits to sell
05:24
05:24 their wares.
05:24
05:24 >> Totally agree. So, uh, let’s put you on
05:27
05:27 the spot. How could we tap the
05:29
05:29 storytelling talent of this city, this
05:32
05:32 part of the world to help change makers
05:36
05:36 far a field?
05:38
05:38 >> So, people think about LA as the heart
05:40
05:40 of Hollywood and the heart of sort of
05:42
05:42 American film. It’s much, much more than
05:44
05:44 that. It is one of the gateways to the
05:45
05:45 Hispanic speaking world. It is one of
05:47
05:47 the gateways to the Asian market. The
05:49
05:49 largest city in Korea outside Korea is
05:51
05:51 Los Angeles. And so really LA is one of
05:54
05:54 the few genuinely global broadcast
05:56
05:56 cities there is. You know people joke
05:58
05:58 about all these creative industries. The
06:00
06:00 challenge is to them. So you work in an
06:02
06:02 industry that isn’t creative. Oh yeah.
06:04
06:04 Yeah. And the storytelling journey of
06:06
06:06 people tell stories to each other. It’s
06:07
06:07 like what is marketing but telling a
06:09
06:09 story. Whether that is telling on
06:11
06:11 billboards, whether it’s telling it on
06:13
06:13 radio stations, whether it’s just
06:14
06:14 one-on-one across a table doing your
06:16
06:16 pitch, you are telling a story. And so I
06:19
06:19 think how we can harness the
06:21
06:21 understanding of great storytelling. How
06:22
06:22 it makes an emotional connection even
06:25
06:25 more important in digital world. How it
06:27
06:27 is something tactile rather than just
06:28
06:28 swiping across a screen. People in this
06:31
06:31 town are thinking every day about how
06:32
06:32 you connect narrative to audience. And
06:35
06:35 that I think is the heart of any
06:36
06:36 business. We might come back to you on
06:38
06:38 that Paul to ask your advice on who we
06:40
06:40 can get uh to give us a masterass on
06:42
06:42 that. So uh very very briefly um the
06:46
06:46 future of countries doing business
06:48
06:48 together is that going to look in future
06:50
06:50 much like it has looked for decades and
06:52
06:52 decades or in your experience on the
06:53
06:53 ground is something changing something
06:55
06:55 shifting? I think there’s a lot that’s
06:57
06:57 changing in terms of more of the world
06:58
06:58 was open than ever before. So I’m based
06:60
06:60 here now in Los Angeles. I spent time
07:02
07:02 working in India. I spent time working
07:03
07:03 in Malaysia. I spent time working in
07:05
07:05 countries around the world. You realize
07:07
07:07 now that places that felt inaccessible
07:08
07:08 before are now very accessible. And I
07:10
07:10 think that means that the financial
07:12
07:12 centers, the financial opportunities for
07:13
07:13 growth will be more invaded than they
07:15
07:15 ever were before. Languages will no
07:17
07:17 longer be a barrier with instantaneous
07:19
07:19 translation. The ability for products to
07:21
07:21 appear on the internet overnight from
07:22
07:22 locations anywhere in the world has been
07:24
07:24 changed like ever before. But at the
07:26
07:26 heart will still be the customer, the
07:27
07:27 customer journey, and critically the
07:29
07:29 logistics. We still have to get stuff
07:31
07:31 from A to B cuz not everything alike is
07:33
07:33 digital. I heard a fact. See if you can
07:34
07:34 check this. The biggest industry in town
07:37
07:37 isn’t movies. I think it is trade and
07:39
07:39 logistics. It is. So LA, the third
07:41
07:41 largest employer in LA is the film
07:42
07:42 industry. The largest is manufacturing.
07:44
07:44 Uh second largest is tourism. But LA
07:46
07:46 also sits upon two of the largest ports
07:48
07:48 in America, Long Beach and Los Angeles.
07:51
07:51 40% of all the goods coming into America
07:53
07:53 come through these two ports right here
07:54
07:54 on the west coast. It’s also home to
07:56
07:56 Space Beach. More rockets are built in
07:59
07:59 LA than anywhere else outside Texas. And
08:00
08:00 nobody would imagine that in the bingo
08:02
08:02 card when you say Hollywood. Space Beach
08:04
08:04 for the uh just for for for clarity
08:06
08:06 isn’t a newly opened bar. If only they
08:08
08:08 know it’s long beach but it’s home to
08:10
08:10 all the big rocket industries.
08:11
08:11 >> Right. So we’ll get ready for takeoff
08:13
08:13 there. So before we have to take off. Uh
08:16
08:16 a final question. This event is called
08:18
08:18 Greater Together. We are Greater
08:20
08:20 Together as two nations. Give us a sense
08:22
08:22 of your hope for the future of this
08:24
08:24 particular partnership. So I’m hoping
08:26
08:26 that every single Brick comes here with
08:27
08:27 new ideas, new visions. I’m hoping every
08:29
08:29 American leaves here with a sense of
08:31
08:31 what the Brits have to offer in much
08:32
08:32 more than just the film and creative
08:34
08:34 sector they know us for in this town.
08:35
08:35 And my hope really is that I’m going to
08:37
08:37 be sitting here in 12 months time with
08:39
08:39 an inbox full of people who’ve been
08:41
08:41 there saying, “Paul, we loved it. We
08:43
08:43 liked it. We got business wins and we
08:44
08:44 want to come and do more.” Here’s to
08:46
08:46 that. Now, let’s properly keep in touch.
08:48
08:48 But for now, console general here in Los
08:50
08:50 Angeles. Paul Renie, thank you very
08:51
08:51 much.
08:51
08:51 >> Thank you. Or that was Paul Renie, UK
08:54
08:54 console general in Los Angeles. Well,
08:57
08:57 I’ve been meeting a huge number of
08:59
08:59 innovators and entrepreneurs here at
09:01
09:01 Greater Together. And as you would
09:03
09:03 expect because it’s future forum, I’ve
09:06
09:06 been particularly interested by the
09:08
09:08 founders who seem to be combining
09:10
09:10 different industries, different worlds.
09:13
09:13 And that’s why I was particularly
09:14
09:14 excited to meet the co-founder and CEO
09:18
09:18 of Bio Orbit, Dr. Katie King. Welcome to
09:22
09:22 Tomorrow.
09:23
09:23 >> Thank you very much. It’s great to be
09:24
09:24 here. tell us a little bit more about
09:26
09:26 what you’re doing because I must confess
09:28
09:28 Katy, one of our previous guests on
09:31
09:31 Tomorrow, Josh Weston from Space Forge
09:34
09:34 said, “You have to meet Katie.” So, this
09:36
09:36 is serendipity uh in action.
09:39
09:39 >> That’s fantastic. Yeah, Josh Weston is a
09:41
09:41 great founder of a company called Space
09:43
09:43 Forge, also doing manufacturing in
09:45
09:45 space. So, um at Bio orbit, we are doing
09:48
09:48 drugs manufacturing in microgravity to
09:51
09:51 change the way in which cancer
09:52
09:52 treatments can be given to patients. So
09:54
09:54 in space you can form different
09:56
09:56 structures that you cannot form here on
09:58
09:58 earth. And when applied to drugs it
10:01
10:01 means that we can take treatments that
10:02
10:02 normally are given in the hospital and
10:04
10:04 we can turn it into something that we
10:06
10:06 can take at home.
10:07
10:07 >> Wow. So if we step right back from that
10:10
10:10 give us a glimpse of the future. Just
10:12
10:12 imagine if what could this unlock?
10:15
10:15 >> So a future where biobit exists will
10:18
10:18 mean that cancer patients can stay at
10:20
10:20 home and inject. we would have factories
10:23
10:23 permanently in space constantly churning
10:25
10:25 out these drugs bringing them back down
10:27
10:27 to earth and but there’s a very human
10:29
10:29 centered impact.
10:31
10:31 >> So help us understand the difference
10:33
10:33 here between my phrase science fiction
10:36
10:36 what could be possible one day and where
10:38
10:38 we actually are today.
10:40
10:40 >> Very good question. So when I first say
10:42
10:42 to people we’re doing drugs
10:43
10:43 manufacturing in space people think oh
10:45
10:45 my gosh that’s so far away. This is so
10:47
10:47 sci-fi and crazy. But the truth is it’s
10:50
10:50 not. It’s happening now. The
10:52
10:52 infrastructure is coming into place from
10:55
10:55 scale in space. So we have SpaceX with
10:58
10:58 the launch and the ticket all the way up
10:59
10:59 and then we have the return ticket back
11:02
11:02 down is being developed. There are maybe
11:04
11:04 30 companies working on this return
11:06
11:06 technology. And the way I see it is that
11:08
11:08 they are the couriers of space to get
11:10
11:10 you to and from. And then we at Bioorbit
11:13
11:13 would then be the customers using that
11:15
11:15 space in space to make these products.
11:17
11:17 So we have something on the space
11:19
11:19 station right now making protein
11:21
11:21 crystals in space which is the first
11:23
11:23 step towards mass manufacture. So it’s
11:25
11:25 happening right now.
11:26
11:26 >> So this is extraordinary because of
11:28
11:28 course when I and our listener think
11:30
11:30 traditionally of drug discovery we might
11:32
11:32 be imagining uh men and women in white
11:34
11:34 coats in laboratories with test tubes.
11:37
11:37 Uh paint us a picture of what’s actually
11:38
11:38 then occurring in space.
11:40
11:40 >> So for us we are doing just the
11:42
11:42 crystallization step and it’s actually
11:44
11:44 automated. So we don’t need any human
11:46
11:46 intervention. So we will be sending our
11:49
11:49 manufacturing box into space where it
11:51
11:51 will produce these crystals within
11:53
11:53 automatically within these uh satellites
11:56
11:56 and then it will return back down to
11:57
11:57 earth with the product and then us back
11:60
12:00 here on earth will then take those
12:01
12:01 crystals and form the final product.
12:04
12:04 >> And in terms of that overall home run,
12:06
12:06 you’ve already had a launch this week.
12:08
12:08 Congratulations. To what extent is that
12:11
12:11 about experimenting with one piece of
12:13
12:13 the journey? How far are you away from
12:15
12:15 being able to do that entire loop?
12:17
12:17 >> Yes. So for this particular mission,
12:20
12:20 it’s validating our hardware. It is the
12:23
12:23 world’s largest scale production of
12:24
12:24 crystals to date by at least one if not
12:27
12:27 two orders of magnitude. So we are
12:29
12:29 taking this crystallization process from
12:32
12:32 a research and development experiment
12:35
12:35 into industrialization. So this is the
12:37
12:37 first step towards that. The next bit
12:39
12:39 will be making our commercial version of
12:42
12:42 this platform. getting those commercial
12:44
12:44 partners on board and regulation is a
12:46
12:46 key piece and we are working with farmer
12:48
12:48 regulators to paint that paint that
12:51
12:51 picture in terms of what do we need to
12:52
12:52 adhere to so that we can be compliant
12:55
12:55 with normal farmer manufacturing uh
12:57
12:57 principles
12:58
12:58 >> right so in essence what you’re doing
13:00
13:00 sounds simple drugs and space but of
13:03
13:03 course enormously complex somebody
13:07
13:07 listening might say well Katie isn’t
13:10
13:10 this the sort of thing that a
13:11
13:11 multi-billion dollar company might be
13:13
13:13 doing and of course we’re cheering you
13:15
13:15 on. You are fundamentally though a
13:17
13:17 relatively small, relatively young
13:19
13:19 company. So how do you do that? How uh
13:23
13:23 where do you get your edge?
13:25
13:25 >> Yes. So for us, we’re not a space
13:28
13:28 company as typical space companies are.
13:31
13:31 I think of us more as a bio company that
13:33
13:33 uses space. And I hope that that becomes
13:35
13:35 more of the focus in the future as the
13:38
13:38 use of space becomes less um
13:40
13:40 imaginative. It’s like, oh, this is very
13:41
13:41 real. and it’s happening now. So we are
13:44
13:44 a small team. What we need to do right
13:46
13:46 now is make the hardware so that we can
13:48
13:48 scale up and then get that regulation in
13:50
13:50 place. This is all possible with a small
13:52
13:52 team. And even with our first commercial
13:54
13:54 partners, we don’t need that many people
13:56
13:56 on the team to hit get this IP and
13:59
13:59 really make a difference. Once we’re at
14:01
14:01 mass manufacturer, then we want to scale
14:03
14:03 and then we will be growing very quickly
14:05
14:05 and need a lot more people involved.
14:07
14:07 Yeah, it’s it’s a really powerful
14:08
14:08 reframe that idea that maybe one day
14:10
14:10 you’ll talk about space as a location. A
14:12
14:12 bit like we talk about doing something
14:13
14:13 in Los Angeles or in Austin.
14:16
14:16 >> Yes. And I think the way I see it is
14:18
14:18 that all of space don’t think of it as a
14:20
14:20 space company. It needs to be we are a
14:22
14:22 pharma company that uses space. They’re
14:24
14:24 a telecommunications company that use
14:26
14:26 space. Then it will be a semiconductor
14:29
14:29 manufacturing company that uses space.
14:31
14:31 Think of it differently.
14:32
14:32 >> Right. Love that. Entrepreneurs are
14:34
14:34 everywhere. What is it about being a
14:36
14:36 British entrepreneur or certainly born
14:38
14:38 out of the UK as a company uh that gives
14:41
14:41 you certain advantages and are there
14:44
14:44 certain things you wish were a little
14:45
14:45 bit easier?
14:46
14:46 >> Sure. So I think one thing that the UK
14:49
14:49 represents generally is that we are
14:50
14:50 small but but mighty and I really think
14:53
14:53 that that’s the same with our team. We
14:54
14:54 are a small team but we can still bring
14:56
14:56 about global impact even with a small
14:58
14:58 team. The UK has four of the top 10
15:00
15:00 universities in the world. such a tiny
15:03
15:03 country and and and having that
15:05
15:05 innovation, having that STEM expertise
15:08
15:08 is so so important and having it all
15:10
15:10 close together also makes a big
15:11
15:11 difference. So the UK has been brilliant
15:13
15:13 for that early stage and really uh
15:15
15:15 helping to to nurture that innovation
15:18
15:18 and then partnering with the US then
15:20
15:20 helps for that scale part.
15:21
15:21 >> Right. So one of the things that we
15:23
15:23 notice around hugely innovative smaller
15:26
15:26 companies is that they have to get much
15:28
15:28 larger partners on board. Who will you
15:30
15:30 need to unlock for this to fly?
15:32
15:32 >> Yes. So, we will need investment to get
15:34
15:34 this going fully. We also do need the
15:37
15:37 farm partners and get that commercial
15:38
15:38 revenue in as soon as possible. And we
15:40
15:40 are open for that even next year. So,
15:43
15:43 that is fantastic. So, we will be
15:45
15:45 pushing for those commercial deals.
15:47
15:47 Smaller in the beginning, but they will
15:48
15:48 grow to the hundreds of millions to
15:50
15:50 billions in in contract deals. Um, but
15:52
15:52 we do need those farmer partners and
15:55
15:55 investors to bring us on board. We we we
15:57
15:57 are partnering with the space companies
15:59
15:59 with infrastructure now. So that bit’s
16:01
16:01 ticked. It’s the other part that we need
16:04
16:04 now.
16:04
16:04 >> So other than cash, you must get asked
16:06
16:06 this all the time. What does the dream
16:07
16:07 investor also bring to the table?
16:10
16:10 >> So a dream investor, they need to be
16:11
16:11 bold. They need to have like an open
16:13
16:13 mind to thinking we’re not doing this
16:15
16:15 for a short-term win. We are doing this
16:17
16:17 for the future of humanity and using
16:19
16:19 space to manufacture products. So they
16:21
16:21 need to be in line with that vision. Um,
16:23
16:23 and they I would love them to have a
16:25
16:25 biotech background as well. But again,
16:27
16:27 it’s that long-term aim. What are we
16:29
16:29 building? We’re building something to
16:31
16:31 change the future for humanity.
16:33
16:33 >> So, it’s so powerful and that phrase
16:35
16:35 moonshot gets used, but in this case,
16:38
16:38 it’s actually close to the truth. Um, we
16:40
16:40 often repeat a motto if you like with
16:43
16:43 future forum, which is leave your lane.
16:45
16:45 >> What does that phrase mean to you and
16:47
16:47 your career?
16:48
16:48 >> Yes. So 10 years ago I was a teacher um
16:51
16:51 a physics of maths a secondary school
16:53
16:53 and again getting out of my lane take
16:55
16:55 those risks take the risk
16:57
16:57 >> and you went from teacher to
16:59
16:59 entrepreneur how did this come about as
17:02
17:02 a pinball wizard how did it happen
17:03
17:03 >> so I went from teaching to interning at
17:06
17:06 NASA to PhDing and then became a founder
17:10
17:10 about three years ago
17:13
17:13 >> interning at NASA I mean that must be
17:15
17:15 unbelievably competitive frankly excuse
17:17
17:17 my ignorance I didn’t even know the
17:19
17:19 Brits could do that.
17:20
17:20 >> There were some roots, but
17:21
17:21 internationals. I’m not sure the
17:23
17:23 program’s still running, but it was
17:24
17:24 then.
17:25
17:25 >> So, this is incredible. So, from teacher
17:27
17:27 to space and health entrepreneur. Um,
17:31
17:31 we’ve been here for a couple of days at
17:32
17:32 Greater Together in Los Angeles. Uh,
17:34
17:34 what’s something you’ve taken away from
17:36
17:36 it? What’s something you’ve noticed? How
17:38
17:38 has it been? Uh,
17:39
17:39 >> it’s been fantastic. I think first of
17:41
17:41 all meeting so many people from
17:42
17:42 different sectors I think is very
17:44
17:44 healthy to learn things from an area
17:46
17:46 that you don’t know much about but
17:48
17:48 you’re not an expert in that’s fantastic
17:50
17:50 and seeing how open everyone is to
17:53
17:53 collaborating and working together
17:55
17:55 across the pond I think that that’s it’s
17:57
17:57 so key we we need to work together to
17:60
17:60 bring about this global impact and um
18:02
18:02 and I think that’s been captured
18:03
18:03 beautifully in the last few days
18:04
18:04 >> I completely agree with those
18:06
18:06 reflections on greater together Katie we
18:08
18:08 ask all our guests to send a memo to the
18:11
18:11 future, maybe 10 years time, could be to
18:14
18:14 your future self, a future space and
18:16
18:16 health innovator. What would you say?
18:18
18:18 >> I would say that if you have a vision
18:20
18:20 for the future and it seems so obvious
18:22
18:22 to you, you can make that change as an
18:25
18:25 individual, you can push, you need a
18:27
18:27 team behind you, but you can make that
18:29
18:29 difference. Don’t give up.
18:31
18:31 >> Well, we are behind you all the way.
18:34
18:34 Everything you’re doing at Bio Orbit,
18:35
18:35 you are leaving your lane. You are
18:38
18:38 fusing very different worlds and I know
18:41
18:41 that anyone listening to this will be
18:43
18:43 following your journey with great
18:44
18:44 interest. Dr. Katy King, thank you very
18:46
18:46 much for joining us on tomorrow.
18:48
18:48 >> Thank you. One of the things that
18:50
18:50 strikes me about Greater Together LA is
18:52
18:52 the sheer variety of people here. From
18:56
18:56 astronaut Tim Peak to Dame Donna
18:59
18:59 Langley, chair of Universal Pictures,
19:02
19:02 Leona Lewis, our great British pop
19:05
19:05 sensation, and even Gareth Southgate,
19:08
19:08 former England manager. It is
19:10
19:10 wallto-wall interesting characters and
19:12
19:12 stories, and I’ve met so many brilliant
19:15
19:15 British innovators. Uh, one of them is
19:18
19:18 the co-founder of Apen and he is
19:21
19:21 Alexander Trouy. Welcome to tomorrow.
19:23
19:23 >> Oh, thanks so much for having me.
19:25
19:25 >> Let’s think about the future. Give us a
19:27
19:27 glimpse very much inspired by what
19:29
19:29 you’re up to dayto-day. Give us a
19:31
19:31 glimpse of what the future could look
19:32
19:32 like. Well, in fact, it was thinking
19:33
19:33 about the future that started this
19:35
19:35 business in the sense that I’ll talk
19:38
19:38 about my co-founder in a moment, but my
19:39
19:39 journey was that I was I’ve been failing
19:42
19:42 uh and founding all my life for 30 years
19:44
19:44 now. um one or two successes. The last
19:46
19:46 one went to Google. And in there they
19:49
19:49 said, “Stop thinking about founding and
19:50
19:50 flipping companies in a five-year time
19:52
19:52 frame, but close your eyes and imagine
19:54
19:54 what the future might look like in 30
19:55
19:55 years time.” And so I did and I saw
19:58
19:58 drones. And I saw drones flying around
20:01
20:01 the cities, a Ready Player One kind of
20:03
20:03 visual, but delivering healthcare. Now,
20:06
20:06 my co-founder Hammer Galani, an
20:08
20:08 incredible fellow, born in a refugee
20:10
20:10 camp in Afghanistan, and he saw drones
20:13
20:13 flying over his camp, but just wondered
20:14
20:14 if they could be put to slightly better
20:16
20:16 use. And so, as a result of that, Apen
20:18
20:18 was born.
20:20
20:20 >> Now, so an AP takes flight. When you say
20:22
20:22 healthcare, we’re talking about drugs,
20:25
20:25 equipment, pages of picture.
20:26
20:26 >> Exactly that. And it’s not just drones
20:28
20:28 either. We’re really in the business of
20:30
20:30 moving moving physical items as quickly
20:32
20:32 and efficiently as the internet moves
20:34
20:34 bits. uh and say for far too long we’ve
20:37
20:37 had some amazing technology with AI you
20:39
20:39 know developing new drugs and
20:42
20:42 communicating uh in real time but the
20:45
20:45 movement of physical items and physical
20:47
20:47 technology has somewhat laggered here we
20:48
20:48 were flying out to LA uh and I gather
20:52
20:52 British Airways were able to use the
20:54
20:54 same call sign as Concord had all those
20:57
20:57 years ago what is it speedy bird one and
20:60
20:60 I think that when we look at that
21:01
21:01 technology uh infrastructure technology
21:03
21:03 physical technology um we’re now coming
21:06
21:06 back with physical AI uh enabling uh
21:09
21:09 physical technology to catch up with
21:11
21:11 where digital technology has been. And
21:12
21:12 so we’re in the business of of moving
21:14
21:14 pathology, medical devices, uh pharmacy
21:18
21:18 uh between hospitals uh and within
21:20
21:20 hospitals and we use drones to fly
21:23
21:23 between them. We have live operations
21:25
21:25 between guys and St. Thomas’s Hospital
21:27
21:27 flying pathology at St. George. Please
21:30
21:30 when we say pathology just say
21:32
21:32 specifically what
21:32
21:32 >> we’re talking about blood. So globally
21:34
21:34 30 billion blood tests take place or
21:37
21:37 pathology tests take place uh every
21:39
21:39 year. In England uh there’s more than
21:41
21:41 more than a billion. Um so there’s a lot
21:44
21:44 of tests. 70% of all uh clinical
21:47
21:47 decisions are based on pathology. Um and
21:50
21:50 right now you have 25% of all clinicians
21:53
21:53 time is taken up organizing and with
21:56
21:56 logistics and transporting these things.
21:59
21:59 These are highly trained, highly skilled
22:01
22:01 individuals um that really they should
22:03
22:03 be spending their time on what they were
22:05
22:05 skilled and trained to do. And so we
22:07
22:07 really want humans to take care of
22:09
22:09 humans and we want the robots to move
22:11
22:11 the items and the things around.
22:12
22:12 >> So as we’re moving these around, point
22:14
22:14 one is you’re saying this frees up time
22:17
22:17 >> absolutely
22:17
22:17 >> from some of these talented individuals.
22:19
22:19 Uh how much quicker is it?
22:21
22:21 >> Oh, so for instance that guys in St.
22:23
22:23 Thomas’s route, we’re talking about a
22:25
22:25 30-minute journey which is done in 2
22:27
22:27 minutes. But it’s not just about doing
22:28
22:28 things more quickly. It’s doing things
22:30
22:30 reliably. So you know when it’s going to
22:33
22:33 arrive and then it’s being done
22:34
22:34 autonomously. So you’ve got Europe’s
22:37
22:37 largest employer, the NHS, 1.x million
22:41
22:41 people. You’ve got 150,000 advertised
22:43
22:43 job vacancies. So we either pay people
22:46
22:46 more reverse Brexit or you bring in the
22:48
22:48 robots. So on that we’re now imagining
22:51
22:51 that we’re in um St. Thomas’s Hospital
22:54
22:54 in London. Uh our medical supplies are
22:57
22:57 on the way. Where are they going to
22:58
22:58 land?
22:59
22:59 >> So um they will land on the roof. Uh and
23:02
23:02 currently we have porters not being
23:05
23:05 replaced by robots but being retrained
23:07
23:07 retrained to actually uh become drone
23:10
23:10 porters. They take the pathology from
23:12
23:12 that robot into the lab. Now this is a
23:15
23:15 distraction on their time. We would much
23:16
23:16 rather they were moving patients around.
23:18
23:18 And so that’s where the robots came in.
23:21
23:21 And so then we have quadriped robots who
23:23
23:23 will take that product from the drone
23:26
23:26 and autonomously navigate through the
23:28
23:28 corridors of the hospital. We’re talking
23:29
23:29 about stairs and elevators or lifts.
23:31
23:31 Sorry, I’m in America, aren’t we? Um,
23:33
23:33 and deliver it to the lab. So you have
23:35
23:35 an entire end toend journey fully
23:38
23:38 autonomously. So this is fascinating.
23:41
23:41 Now to what extent is this in the future
23:44
23:44 a my word would be luxury item for the
23:47
23:47 hospitals that can afford it? What what
23:50
23:50 does it end up unlock?
23:51
23:51 >> Oh, no. Absolutely. Uh not a luxury at
23:53
23:53 all. I think with every transportation
23:55
23:55 cost increasing, drone delivery is uh
23:57
23:57 unique uh and that it is decreasing in
23:60
23:60 cost. Um and then as it relates to
24:02
24:02 robots um navigating around the
24:05
24:05 hospital, you’ve got a projected uh
24:08
24:08 World Health Organization, I think it’s
24:10
24:10 about uh uh 10 million uh shortage in
24:14
24:14 healthcare workers uh by the end of the
24:16
24:16 decade. um and with people living longer
24:19
24:19 um and the more uh increasing chronic
24:22
24:22 conditions, we need as much help as we
24:24
24:24 can possibly get here.
24:25
24:25 >> So give me your view then as an
24:28
24:28 entrepreneur, the world is your oyster.
24:30
24:30 Uh hospitals in every country on earth.
24:33
24:33 What is your approach to how you scale
24:36
24:36 this? What’s your attitude? So if I had
24:38
24:38 a blank piece of paper and I didn’t
24:41
24:41 happen to be British, I think that there
24:43
24:43 is every reason to choose the United
24:45
24:45 Kingdom to start this. Europe’s largest
24:48
24:48 employer, world’s seventh largest
24:50
24:50 employer. You’ve got regulatory
24:52
24:52 tailwinds absolutely in our favor. We
24:55
24:55 are the one of the only permanent drone
24:58
24:58 delivery operations taking place in a
25:01
25:01 capital city. Um certainly uh uh over
25:05
25:05 that level of population density. So the
25:07
25:07 CIA is extremely supportive and have
25:09
25:09 been very very helpful uh in this
25:11
25:11 particular area. So I would absolutely
25:13
25:13 choose the NHS. You also from this
25:15
25:15 >> by the way forgive me at least that’s a
25:16
25:16 civic aviation your pardon. That’s the
25:18
25:18 civil aviation authority. So they are
25:20
25:20 the regulator airspace. Um and at the
25:23
25:23 same time I would look at the NHS and I
25:25
25:25 would say you have a single governance
25:27
25:27 model over some of the largest number of
25:30
25:30 buildings in the world. larger than the
25:32
25:32 NHS, you’ve got the PLA and Amazon, but
25:34
25:34 we’re talking about hospital buildings
25:36
25:36 which aren’t too dissimilar from schools
25:39
25:39 or offices. Um, and every hospital is
25:41
25:41 pretty similar in the world. And so
25:43
25:43 therefore, you have a wonderful
25:44
25:44 opportunity from a physical AI
25:45
25:45 perspective to create training data um
25:48
25:48 that is able to train those robots from
25:51
25:51 a visual perspective. So that in actual
25:53
25:53 fact, we create one of the world’s
25:54
25:54 largest post-training uh data sets for
25:56
25:56 physical AI in the world. It’s an
25:58
25:58 absolutely fantastic opportunity that
26:00
26:00 the UK has and that we are with the
26:03
26:03 great support of the government and the
26:05
26:05 hospitals taking advantage of.
26:07
26:07 >> Right. So let’s look to the skies in 10
26:10
26:10 years time. We could be in Los Angeles.
26:12
26:12 We could be in London. Multiple drones,
26:14
26:14 some of them powered by Aven taking um
26:18
26:18 medical supplies, medical medical
26:20
26:20 equipment. What else?
26:22
26:22 >> Um so I think that you’ll have this end
26:24
26:24 to- end journey. So it’ll be entirely
26:25
26:25 seamless. And so it really is
26:27
26:27 teleportation. You’ll have a nurse
26:29
26:29 taking a blood sample and they will hand
26:32
26:32 over to a robot uh and that robot will
26:35
26:35 navigate it to be it a ground
26:37
26:37 transportation vehicle or a drone
26:39
26:39 ideally both autonomous that will then
26:42
26:42 take it to the destination to the
26:43
26:43 pathology lab or wherever and then it
26:46
26:46 will be picked up and delivered by
26:48
26:48 another robot into the lab.
26:50
26:50 >> Right. So I suppose I’m also asking Alex
26:52
26:52 about your peers potentially in other
26:54
26:54 industries. What else is getting
26:55
26:55 transported around the skies using
26:57
26:57 drones? Who’s alongside you?
26:58
26:58 >> I mean, there’s some there’s some
26:60
26:60 amazing work being done. Um, you
27:02
27:02 obviously have these um I say amazing, I
27:04
27:04 mean, you have this drone warfare uh
27:06
27:06 that is taking place and there’s a lot
27:07
27:07 of people using drones uh in uh in
27:10
27:10 foreign lands um for that and you have
27:13
27:13 the work being done by the good folks at
27:15
27:15 Walmart in America uh to deliver food.
27:18
27:18 Um but our heart is very much in
27:21
27:21 healthcare. We believe that there’s
27:23
27:23 something wonderful about um doing this
27:25
27:25 in Britain because it’s a very British
27:26
27:26 use case. I mean, you may be reminded of
27:29
27:29 our 2012 opening ceremony at the
27:30
27:30 Olympics where we had the NHS and all
27:32
27:32 the beds on display. I think for Britain
27:36
27:36 to not only be one of the first
27:38
27:38 countries in the world to have this
27:39
27:39 operation over its capital city, but
27:42
27:42 also for it to be done for health care
27:44
27:44 is what makes us very proud.
27:45
27:45 >> Right. Well, there’s a rhyme, isn’t
27:46
27:46 there, with Sir Tim Berners Leo and this
27:48
27:48 is for everyone.
27:49
27:49 >> Yeah. as how does the NHS would have
27:51
27:51 said the same.
27:52
27:52 >> Exactly. Exactly.
27:52
27:52 >> So, and we touched on that accessibility
27:54
27:54 point. One of our mottos at Future Forum
27:57
27:57 is leave your lane.
27:59
27:59 >> So, my question is, have you always done
28:01
28:01 this?
28:02
28:02 >> Absolutely not. I’m I’m a I’m a software
28:04
28:04 nerd. I I very, you know, I bad things
28:06
28:06 happen when I leave my bedroom and step
28:08
28:08 out from behind my computer. I think one
28:10
28:10 of the wonderful things about APN is
28:12
28:12 that we’ve got this diversity of talent.
28:14
28:14 You’ve got a bunch of medics with a
28:15
28:15 bunch of aviation professionals with a
28:18
28:18 bunch of roboticists. We’ve never met
28:19
28:19 each other at all. Um, never met
28:21
28:21 physically. Well, I don’t think that a a
28:23
28:23 healthcare practitioner has spent too
28:25
28:25 much time with an air traffic
28:26
28:26 controller. Uh, and it’s just sort of
28:28
28:28 goes to say my wife said I could do this
28:30
28:30 one if this one was fun. And so, we’ve
28:32
28:32 tried to do it in a relaxed manner. Um,
28:34
28:34 and we do a 4-day work week. I’ve got
28:37
28:37 more women than than men on the team,
28:39
28:39 which is actually doubly hard in in in
28:41
28:41 aviation, but who knew when you have
28:43
28:43 that diverse talent that you actually
28:44
28:44 end up by creating a rocket ship. It’s a
28:46
28:46 ton of fun. It’s truly worthwhile and
28:48
28:48 it’s British,
28:49
28:49 >> right? We’re here to we follow your
28:51
28:51 progress with keen interest. Try to be
28:53
28:53 helpful here at Future Forum. What do
28:55
28:55 you need more of? What would be useful
28:56
28:56 to you as you look into your future? I
28:58
28:58 think we’re looking for people who want
29:01
29:01 to sort of invest in the future, who
29:03
29:03 really aren’t looking for that sort of,
29:04
29:04 as I said, that 5year flip. They’re
29:06
29:06 trying to build that critical national
29:07
29:07 infrastructure and they’re trying to go
29:09
29:09 on a journey. Um, and so it’s people who
29:11
29:11 truly believe in that, who want to build
29:14
29:14 the future that their kids will enjoy,
29:17
29:17 and that when they’re sitting uh in
29:19
29:19 their wheelchair dribbling out of the
29:20
29:20 corner of their mouth, looking up at the
29:22
29:22 sky, and they see those drones, they
29:23
29:23 know that they actually got involved uh
29:25
29:25 and try to help uh build that future.
29:27
29:27 >> Some people might say, well, that might
29:29
29:29 appeal to certain states themselves.
29:31
29:31 They ought to be taking a longerterm
29:33
29:33 view. Government investing in Apen
29:35
29:35 possible.
29:36
29:36 >> I think so. And I think it’s very
29:37
29:37 important that and and we’ve enjoyed uh
29:40
29:40 being grant funded. Um but I think it’s
29:42
29:42 equally important the government gets
29:44
29:44 out the way and so that companies like
29:46
29:46 us can actually truly find our business
29:48
29:48 model and be self- sustaining
29:49
29:49 thereafter.
29:50
29:50 >> Right. So a tiny glimpse Alex of um Apen
29:55
29:55 which we are has already I know captured
29:57
29:57 our listeners imagination. A brief
29:59
29:59 reflection on Greater Together. We’ve
29:60
30:00 been here for a day and a half. Give us
30:02
30:02 your quick uh give us your quick review.
30:04
30:04 >> Well it’s amazing. I I’ I’ve had a lot
30:05
30:05 of fun. I will say it’s not just about
30:07
30:07 meeting the Americans. I spent 10 years
30:09
30:09 in New York. So speak the language. Um
30:11
30:11 and there’s a lot of opportunity there
30:14
30:14 and especially I mean just in terms of
30:15
30:15 APA the traffic in in LA. Um you know 4%
30:18
30:18 of the traffic and the roads in the UK
30:20
30:20 is healthcare related. So if we can
30:21
30:21 actually get that off the ground and
30:23
30:23 people can get around that much more uh
30:25
30:25 quickly. But actually it’s also an
30:27
30:27 opportunity for the Brits to speak to
30:28
30:28 the Brits. Uh and so I don’t going to
30:30
30:30 embarrass you. I’ve been following you
30:31
30:31 from afar for many years. I first met
30:33
30:33 you back in 2014. I haven’t seen you
30:34
30:34 since. and here I am together with you.
30:37
30:37 So sometimes it takes this sort of
30:38
30:38 serendipitous moments for that to to
30:40
30:40 happen.
30:40
30:40 >> It’s a good point. Greater together is
30:42
30:42 bringing us all together. Even the Brits
30:45
30:45 with the Brits. That’s very kind of you,
30:46
30:46 Alex. We follow your progress very
30:49
30:49 keenly. Thank you, Alexander Trouy,
30:51
30:51 founder of Apen. Uh to the skies. Uh we
30:55
30:55 are very grateful to you for joining us
30:56
30:56 on tomorrow. Thank you. Thanks for
30:58
30:58 having me. That’s Alexander Trouy,
30:59
30:59 co-founder of Apen, taking to the skies
31:02
31:02 in a city near you very soon. The next
31:05
31:05 person I caught up with knows that all
31:08
31:08 the world’s a stage or at least all the
31:11
31:11 world’s a football pitch perhaps. Lotty
31:14
31:14 Bzol Strong started her career in sport.
31:18
31:18 She is a former professional footballer.
31:20
31:20 In fact, she was signed to play for
31:22
31:22 Arsenal at the tender age of just 7
31:25
31:25 years old. A very successful career in
31:28
31:28 sport and leadership and in particular
31:30
31:30 in women’s sport followed and recently
31:33
31:33 she has left her lane by joining
31:36
31:36 Shakespeare’s Globe as its head of
31:39
31:39 impact. So we talked about the arts,
31:42
31:42 about culture and of course about impact
31:44
31:44 as well and how all of them can combine
31:47
31:47 >> the chance to to not stay um to to
31:51
31:51 swerve around uh and and have fun doing
31:54
31:54 it. The challenges we face ahead as
31:57
31:57 human beings are going to require us to
31:60
31:60 think very laterally and and look left
32:02
32:02 and right and up and down and
32:03
32:03 everywhere. Not not to kind of stay in
32:05
32:05 our remits or our disciplines or our
32:07
32:07 sectors. And I find that really I find
32:10
32:10 it as exciting as I do um worrying in so
32:14
32:14 far as I’m excited about our ability to
32:16
32:16 do that. Um and I and I I worry about
32:20
32:20 when we don’t do it enough. I’d like to
32:22
32:22 see a a future where social value is
32:25
32:25 seen as a currency that we can generate
32:28
32:28 and grow and a currency with with high
32:32
32:32 value economically and culturally. I’m
32:35
32:35 really fortunate in my career like
32:37
32:37 working in sport and the arts. I see the
32:39
32:39 you know these are Trojan horses right
32:40
32:40 for adding value to people’s lives
32:43
32:43 >> health happiness opportunities to
32:45
32:45 realize potential and I think this
32:48
32:48 approach this way of thinking will bring
32:51
32:51 impact measurement into a kind of core
32:53
32:53 component of governance actually and so
32:56
32:56 a future I think I see a greater focus
32:58
32:58 on the why a newer and growing form of
33:02
33:02 of impact currency
33:04
33:04 and a governance implication that sees
33:06
33:06 impact built into the very architecture
33:08
33:08 of decision decision making in
33:09
33:09 organizations. I’m excited about the
33:12
33:12 role of culture in tomorrow’s world and
33:14
33:14 and so you know Shakespeare is a 400y
33:17
33:17 old IP. So as long as humans are around
33:21
33:21 Shakespeare will be around for 400 more
33:24
33:24 years. I want to stay curious and stay
33:28
33:28 chatty.
33:29
33:29 >> Stay chatty. I love what a good motto.
33:31
33:31 We will incorporate that in future
33:33
33:33 forum. Uh Ly such pleasure to spend time
33:36
33:36 with you here. I look forward to
33:38
33:38 reconnecting in the United Kingdom as
33:40
33:40 well. Lotty Birds Strong, thank you for
33:42
33:42 joining us on tomorrow.
33:43
33:43 >> Thank you for having me.
33:44
33:44 >> That was Lotty Birds strong, chief
33:47
33:47 impact officer at Shakespeare’s Globe. I
33:50
33:50 am joined by someone who originally from
33:53
33:53 the UK but has made the US his home.
33:55
33:55 Jeremy Burton from Snowflake. Welcome to
33:58
33:58 Tomorrow.
33:59
33:59 >> Thank you. Thanks for the opportunity.
34:00
34:00 Now Jeremy, when I think of Snowflake, I
34:03
34:03 think about collecting data
34:06
34:06 >> and working with some of the world’s
34:07
34:07 leading companies. Give us a glimpse of
34:10
34:10 the future. What’s becoming possible?
34:13
34:13 >> Yeah, there’s
34:15
34:15 I mean Snowflake I I from the formative
34:18
34:18 years of my career where I where Oracle
34:20
34:20 another database company Snowflake cloud
34:22
34:22 data platform, same idea, different
34:24
34:24 architecture. I happen to believe
34:27
34:27 everything is a matter of data. So been
34:30
34:30 a part of Snowflake um you know it’s
34:32
34:32 it’s sort of my idea of a company that
34:34
34:34 can create a huge impact and I think
34:36
34:36 probably the most telling stories end up
34:39
34:39 uh maybe been in the medical profession.
34:41
34:41 I mean I I I’m I’m an optimist. So this
34:44
34:44 story of AI just replacing jobs. I’d
34:47
34:47 much prefer to think about like well
34:49
34:49 what is AI going to enable us to do that
34:51
34:51 we’ve never even thought of? What
34:53
34:53 complex problems can we now solve? And
34:56
34:56 one of the things that is quite
34:57
34:57 exciting, I mean, if if you look at just
34:59
34:59 for example, how long it takes to do a
35:01
35:01 clinical trial, it takes you probably 18
35:04
35:04 months to get a cohort of 200 patients.
35:08
35:08 You probably have to go to 12 or 15
35:10
35:10 different hospitals. And and the problem
35:12
35:12 is is you’ve got 12 or 15 different
35:13
35:13 systems. You’ve got to look at 12 or 15
35:16
35:16 different patient record systems to
35:18
35:18 understand whether someone is the right
35:20
35:20 candidate for the trials. If you can
35:22
35:22 bring that data together, that should be
35:24
35:24 a query. It shouldn’t take 18 months. It
35:26
35:26 should take 18 minutes. And so the nice
35:29
35:29 thing about that is then, okay, a drug,
35:32
35:32 not only would it cost less, it could
35:33
35:33 come to market a year earlier. So the
35:35
35:35 opportunity is that, you know, you you
35:37
35:37 really can save lives if you get the
35:38
35:38 data in the right place.
35:39
35:39 >> So on that, what’s your advice? Because
35:41
35:41 I can imagine a leader coming away with
35:45
35:45 serious ambition being aware of huge
35:48
35:48 power and be sisters but the old line is
35:52
35:52 you know every journey begins with a
35:53
35:53 single step. What give us some tips on
35:55
35:55 that first step.
35:56
35:56 >> Yeah the classic in enterprise my entire
35:58
35:58 career I’ve I’ve worked with large
35:59
35:59 enterprise companies and and the key
36:01
36:01 thing is baby steps. Don’t boil the
36:03
36:03 ocean. You will fail. AI it may sound
36:07
36:07 magical. Well, I’m sure when you read
36:08
36:08 your LinkedIn feed every day, it’s
36:10
36:10 telling you it’s magical. Actually, it
36:12
36:12 starts with baby steps. Look at a
36:14
36:14 tangible problem that you think you can
36:16
36:16 bring AI to bear on. Prove it out, show
36:19
36:19 the value, and gather up a head of steam
36:21
36:21 from there.
36:22
36:22 >> Amazing advice. Thank you, Jeremy. Now,
36:24
36:24 final question. We’re here at Greater
36:26
36:26 Together. It is about connecting the US
36:27
36:27 and the UK. A quick reflection from the
36:29
36:29 last couple of days.
36:30
36:30 >> Yeah, I’ve never been before. It’s super
36:32
36:32 interesting. I I am still a big believer
36:34
36:34 even in this world of AI that um AI is
36:37
36:37 also important human intelligence
36:40
36:40 because certainly in the enterprise
36:42
36:42 people buy from people at the end of the
36:44
36:44 day we provide technology and we try and
36:46
36:46 solve a business problem and the person
36:48
36:48 who owns that business problem needs to
36:51
36:51 trust that they’re working with someone
36:52
36:52 that’s going to be there when things
36:54
36:54 inevitably go wrong. And so these places
36:56
36:56 are great to make connections with
36:58
36:58 senior people. So they’ve got a point of
36:59
36:59 escalation. Now, I’m very conscious that
37:02
37:02 that will resonate with our future forum
37:04
37:04 listener. I’m also conscious that in
37:05
37:05 your near future is a stage appearance.
37:08
37:08 So, we must let you go. So, for now,
37:09
37:09 Jeremy Burton, thank you for joining us
37:11
37:11 on Tomorrow. Thank you.
37:13
37:13 >> It’s a pleasure to say to Pphanie Godwin
37:16
37:16 from London and Partners, welcome to
37:18
37:18 Tomorrow.
37:19
37:19 >> Thank you. It’s great to be here and
37:20
37:20 thank you for having me.
37:22
37:22 >> Well, Pesphanie, connecting countries is
37:25
37:25 in your DNA for anyone who isn’t
37:27
37:27 familiar. And confession, I’ve been a
37:29
37:29 fan for over a decade of the work of
37:31
37:31 London and Partners. Remind people what
37:33
37:33 you’re all about.
37:34
37:34 >> London and Partners is uh it’s it’s the
37:37
37:37 growth agency for the mayor of London,
37:39
37:39 but it’s so much more than just business
37:42
37:42 growth. It’s also tourism. It’s bringing
37:44
37:44 events to London, conferences to London,
37:47
37:47 um sports, uh experience, economy,
37:50
37:50 everything. And uh even capital
37:51
37:51 investment. But for what we do here in
37:54
37:54 the North America team is more helping
37:57
37:57 businesses expand to and from London.
37:60
37:60 >> Yeah. And we’ve heard some amazing
38:02
38:02 success stories here uh greater
38:04
38:04 together. Um what’s something that you
38:07
38:07 wouldn’t necessarily know about Los
38:09
38:09 Angeles if you hadn’t spent some time
38:12
38:12 here?
38:13
38:13 >> Yeah. Well, I’ll give a couple of I’ll
38:14
38:14 I’ll try to hit one business and then
38:16
38:16 one more fun personal activity. Um,
38:19
38:19 first of all, I’m here with the Greater
38:21
38:21 Together event this week, which is
38:23
38:23 exciting. All of these Brits, including
38:24
38:24 yourself, here in Los Angeles. Um, I’m
38:27
38:27 also splitting my time between a
38:29
38:29 conference called LA Best. So, I feel
38:31
38:31 really excited to be here with the best
38:32
38:32 of the UK, the best of London here, and
38:35
38:35 also just celebrating LA and everything
38:39
38:39 that’s going on in the life sciences
38:40
38:40 sector. Um, just for fun, people think
38:44
38:44 of LA and we are urban sprawl and we are
38:46
38:46 a lot of concrete. It’s true, but there
38:49
38:49 is we’re also our lives revolve around
38:51
38:51 nature and the amount of nature that you
38:53
38:53 have access to right here in LA. Like
38:56
38:56 right up the hill from me is a massive
38:58
38:58 mountain, Griffith Park, the
38:60
38:60 observatory, the uh Hollywood sign,
39:02
39:02 everything. You can be working in the
39:05
39:05 city and you can just get out and get
39:07
39:07 your, you know, balance pre-time and
39:11
39:11 nature time.
39:12
39:12 >> Good. Your dose of nature. Good. Well,
39:14
39:14 we love to challenge uh perceptions at
39:16
39:16 Future Forum. So, one perception is
39:19
39:19 because we are in Hollywood, it is about
39:22
39:22 glamour. It’s about red carpets. It’s
39:24
39:24 about glittering awards. And yet, of
39:26
39:26 course, the reality is there are
39:28
39:28 challenges as in any industry.
39:30
39:30 >> Yes. And you actually I like how you how
39:33
39:33 you asked the question because people do
39:36
39:36 think that the film the movie industry
39:38
39:38 is so glamorous and you probably know
39:39
39:39 this because London is so great at
39:42
39:42 creating films but it’s actually a very
39:44
39:44 bluecollar hardworking industry and
39:46
39:46 there are a lot of unions around it at
39:48
39:48 least here that’s a difference that we
39:49
39:49 have but our creative industry has been
39:52
39:52 hit really hard um we have lost a lot of
39:54
39:54 movie productions so that’s the
39:56
39:56 challenge that we’re working through now
39:58
39:58 but I have confidence and faith because
40:01
40:01 of the passion and the creativity of the
40:04
40:04 industry, the writers, the actors, the
40:06
40:06 producers, the directors, they’re we’re
40:08
40:08 all going to come together and we’re
40:09
40:09 sticking together. And that extends to
40:10
40:10 the music community, too, because of the
40:13
40:13 amount of music and sync in film. Um the
40:16
40:16 film composing world is which we’re
40:18
40:18 actually part of. Um there’s so much
40:21
40:21 here. We’re going to get our we’re going
40:22
40:22 to get it back. I don’t know how and
40:24
40:24 when, but we’re working toward that with
40:26
40:26 the state, with the city, everything.
40:28
40:28 >> Yeah. And that resilience is really as
40:30
40:30 you say built on those human connections
40:32
40:32 as much as anything else. So let’s think
40:34
40:34 briefly about the future. What is
40:36
40:36 something you’re looking forward to in
40:38
40:38 your work and especially of course out
40:40
40:40 here in the US?
40:42
40:42 >> Yeah. Um so in in creative which we also
40:46
40:46 support a lot and do a lot with London
40:48
40:48 and partners um companies expanding back
40:50
40:50 and forth over the pond and we’re kind
40:51
40:51 of the two cities are neck and neck in
40:53
40:53 that creative and sports and media
40:55
40:55 economy and they you know we both win in
40:58
40:58 different areas so it’s fun to watch
40:60
40:60 that. Um I think it’s going to be fun to
41:02
41:02 see how creative tech lands how AI
41:06
41:06 influences things maybe not in the ways
41:09
41:09 that people feared that would take over.
41:11
41:11 I think that those things are going to
41:13
41:13 resolve itself, but it’s actually going
41:14
41:14 to make some jobs easier. And then we’re
41:16
41:16 still going to have those great creative
41:18
41:18 jobs that we need and have that human uh
41:23
41:23 piece of all of the content that we
41:25
41:25 consume rather than have it be AI. It’ll
41:28
41:28 be how to help us with the the practical
41:30
41:30 applications of it.
41:32
41:32 >> Right. Well, I’m happy you’ve said that.
41:33
41:33 That is at the core of future forum. uh
41:35
41:35 combination of uh creativity and
41:38
41:38 technology uh weaving keeping humans uh
41:42
41:42 in the mix. Uh finally, Pphanie, uh
41:44
41:44 maybe a tip we’ve got listeners around
41:47
41:47 the world and of course especially in
41:49
41:49 the UK. Have you got any advice uh for a
41:51
41:51 British innovator trying to make their
41:53
41:53 way trying to uh hit the ground running
41:55
41:55 in the US? Top tip.
41:56
41:56 >> Yeah. Well, first contact London and
41:60
41:60 Partners.
42:00
42:00 >> Yes.
42:01
42:01 >> We’ll put you in touch with the right
42:02
42:02 people. will connect you with of course
42:04
42:04 the department for business and trade
42:06
42:06 the UK trade arm which is located at the
42:09
42:09 British British consulate here but also
42:11
42:11 anywhere in the US. So we will kind of
42:13
42:13 triage to find out what markets do you
42:15
42:15 want to what what if markets serve you
42:18
42:18 best where will you have the most
42:20
42:20 strategic advantage um and make
42:22
42:22 connections for you that’s what we’re
42:24
42:24 here for and our services of course are
42:26
42:26 free and confidential to help the
42:28
42:28 economy of London. Now, it’s such an
42:30
42:30 overused joke that Ronald Reagan line,
42:32
42:32 you know, I’m from the government and
42:33
42:33 I’m here to help being the most
42:35
42:35 terrifying words an entrepreneur can
42:37
42:37 hear. And I want to put it on record
42:38
42:38 that everything I’ve experienced working
42:40
42:40 with London and partners shows that that
42:42
42:42 is a very good thing. And I’ve seen you
42:44
42:44 help more entrepreneurs and innovators
42:46
42:46 than I can count. So, thank you for the
42:48
42:48 work that you’re doing. Stephanie
42:50
42:50 Godwin,
42:51
42:51 >> thank you, Ali.
42:52
42:52 >> It’s great to connect here and let’s
42:53
42:53 keep connected in the UK and beyond.
42:56
42:56 >> I would love that. Well, I wasn’t flying
42:58
42:58 solo for Future Forum here at Greater
43:00
43:00 Together. I was joined by Future Forum’s
43:03
43:03 founder and chair, Matt Sheckchnner, and
43:06
43:06 we caught up to reflect on a very busy
43:09
43:09 couple of days and to look forward to
43:11
43:11 Future Forum’s first UK edition later in
43:15
43:15 2026. Matt, greetings.
43:17
43:17 >> Wonderful, Alli. And great to have you
43:19
43:19 here this week in LA and get to spend so
43:21
43:21 much time with you and watch you do your
43:23
43:23 magic. Well, it has been a magical week
43:25
43:25 and our theme is greater together and
43:27
43:27 that means United States and the United
43:30
43:30 Kingdom greater together. Give me your
43:31
43:31 sense of this. It’s been quite a
43:33
43:33 concoction.
43:34
43:34 >> Yeah, I think it’s really amplifies the
43:36
43:36 world of opportunity for the UK around
43:40
43:40 the embrace of the convergence of
43:43
43:43 culture, creativity and technology. And
43:46
43:46 very smartly, the UK has recognized
43:49
43:49 that’s their pathway forward. The US
43:52
43:52 remains their most important trading
43:54
43:54 partner. Tremendous history of relations
43:56
43:56 between the two countries whether you
43:59
43:59 fly above or below politics. This is
44:02
44:02 about business, about economic
44:04
44:04 opportunity and about paving our way
44:07
44:07 forward in the future. And I think the
44:09
44:09 UK has done itself very proudly here in
44:12
44:12 LA and what is the largest trade mission
44:14
44:14 ever to the United States.
44:16
44:16 >> That’s absolutely right. It is a
44:17
44:17 historic high in that sense. Now, Future
44:20
44:20 Forum is about more than gathering
44:22
44:22 people for events. It’s about more than
44:24
44:24 that. You’ve built and scaled businesses
44:26
44:26 around the world. Just take us back, and
44:28
44:28 I’ve never asked you this certainly on
44:30
44:30 the microphone before. Give us a sense
44:32
44:32 of what inspired it in that way. Why was
44:34
44:34 it important for you to bring this team
44:37
44:37 and this uh this platform together?
44:40
44:40 Well, the personal is a great passion
44:43
44:43 for an awful lot of the culture that has
44:46
44:46 come out of the UK in music and film and
44:49
44:49 fashion, so many other disciplines.
44:53
44:53 The professional answer, Ali, is it’s
44:57
44:57 the right place at the right time. You
44:59
44:59 know, in the absence of leadership from
45:01
45:01 America, well, we have withdrawn from
45:04
45:04 leadership on so many important issues
45:06
45:06 that transcend borders that, if you
45:09
45:09 really look at it factually, transcend
45:11
45:11 politics. The notion of helping humanity
45:16
45:16 forward has always been central to the
45:18
45:18 DNA of the United States and under the
45:20
45:20 current president is not. That’s a big
45:23
45:23 problem, conversation for another day.
45:27
45:27 But the UK has a real opportunity here
45:30
45:30 to be at the center of the global
45:32
45:32 conversation around where we are and
45:34
45:34 where we’re going across borders. And
45:38
45:38 that’s the essence of what we’re doing
45:40
45:40 with the future forum is not only having
45:42
45:42 one-way conversations in one industry
45:45
45:45 sector, but having two-way conversations
45:48
45:48 across sectors. as you say, Ali, people
45:51
45:51 who will leave their lanes and run
45:54
45:54 around in other unfamiliar territories
45:58
45:58 because it’s that diversity and
45:59
45:59 collaboration across sectors that
46:02
46:02 enables us to move things forward.
46:04
46:04 >> Yeah. And I have to say we’ve been uh
46:07
46:07 really blessed here by hearing from
46:09
46:09 astronauts, from NFL sports superstars,
46:12
46:12 from entrepreneurs. I mean, it has been
46:14
46:14 very eclectic. Um, a piece of advice,
46:18
46:18 somebody listening who’s thinking of not
46:20
46:20 just leaving their lane, but
46:21
46:21 particularly globally, uh, doing
46:24
46:24 business across different borders,
46:26
46:26 perhaps in territories, even sectors
46:27
46:27 they haven’t really trodden into before.
46:30
46:30 What do you say to them? Well, listen,
46:32
46:32 digital technology has flattened the
46:34
46:34 earth, and we are no longer limited in
46:39
46:39 terms of ambition and opportunity. So, I
46:42
46:42 think you got to think big. paint the
46:44
46:44 picture of what you want it to look like
46:46
46:46 in the end in your head and then go out
46:50
46:50 and paint that picture. And you know
46:53
46:53 that’s what we’re trying to do with
46:54
46:54 future form. I had a very clear picture
46:57
46:57 about what we want this to look like you
46:59
46:59 know on our road markets in Manchester
47:01
47:01 and Birmingham and Glasgow of a
47:03
47:03 wonderful collaboration. very happy.
47:05
47:05 Ali, you and the team will all be up at
47:07
47:07 Oxford uh later uh in June and then of
47:11
47:11 course the big show in October 13 to 15
47:14
47:14 in King’s Cross and I have a very clear
47:17
47:17 picture of what I want that to look like
47:19
47:19 and we will go out and paint that
47:21
47:21 picture as a team together. Well, I must
47:24
47:24 say I cannot wait for that and this few
47:27
47:27 days uh in the United States has really
47:30
47:30 put a spring in our step. It rhymes with
47:31
47:31 so many of the qualities that we’re
47:33
47:33 trying to foster. Uh Matt Shagna, always
47:36
47:36 a pleasure to see you. Thanks for
47:37
47:37 joining us on Tomorrow. Thank you for
47:39
47:39 having me, Ally. Well, very often on
47:41
47:41 Tomorrow, we explore the relationships
47:43
47:43 between extraordinary people. And very
47:47
47:47 often too, we find ourselves exploring
47:49
47:49 the links and cross-pollination between
47:51
47:51 different sectors. This week has been a
47:54
47:54 different level. We’ve unpacked
47:57
47:57 relationships between two very joined
48:00
48:00 different countries, the United Kingdom
48:02
48:02 and the United States. And uh hopefully
48:05
48:05 some of the conversations and
48:07
48:07 connections forged here will continue
48:09
48:09 for many months and years to come. Uh
48:13
48:13 it’s been an absolute pleasure to be
48:15
48:15 here on the west coast of the United
48:17
48:17 States and we are super grateful at
48:18
48:18 Future Forum for the support of the
48:20
48:20 Department for Business and Trade. This
48:23
48:23 has been an on the road episode of
48:27
48:27 tomorrow. And so from here at Greater
48:29
48:29 Together in Los Angeles, California,
48:32
48:32 thank you for listening and until next
48:33
48:33 time, goodbye.
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