Shae O. Omonijo is a founder, speaker, and PhD candidate at Harvard University who helps entrepreneurs build sustainable, human-first startups in the age of AI. As the founder of Analog Social—named a 2025 semifinalist in the Harvard President’s Innovation Challenge—she draws on what she calls “analogue intelligence”: the art of critical thinking, authentic storytelling, and genuine human connection. She holds a BA from the University of Chicago, an MA and Teaching Certificate from Harvard, and is passionate about equipping mission-driven founders with the mindset and tools to thrive—burnout-free—in today’s fast-moving tech landscape.

Thor is the Executive In Residence for Product at London based VC firm Balderton Capital, providing advisory and coaching support on Product Management to startup founders and product leaders across the Balderton portfolio.

Thor has worked in the technology sector for over 30 years, initially as a support and software engineer, before moving into Product Management while at Google in 2010. He has built and led Product teams at early, growth, and scaled technology companies in the U.S., Australia, and Europe, including three years as Chief Product Officer at Crowdcube, and four years as a VP of Product at Miro through their pandemic fuelled years of hypergrowth.

In addition to his work supporting the startup community, Thor is also an Industry Advisor for the Säid Business School of the University of Oxford, a Product Advisor to the Royal Academy of Engineering, co-organiser of ProductTank Oxford, and a regular speaker on Product Management at meetups, conferences, and on podcasts.

Born and bred in Cornwall, Dickon has spent over 30 years in the tech sector, around a decade of which he spent in house running recruitment teams for the likes of Yahoo!, Betfair and Arise Virtual Solutions in EMEA. A former software engineer, he is also a former founder of his own headhunting firm, has been instrumental in the scaling of a series of challenger recruitment brands on both sides of the Atlantic and has worked closely with a series of top tier VC’s and PE companies during this time. With a focus on product, engineering, gtm, people and ops leadership roles for start ups, scale ups and companies undertaking strategic change, his particular interest is around helping companies as they scale from Pre Seed to Series A and beyond.

Awarded a Bardship by the Cornish Gorsedh in 2024 for services to Cornish culture through rugby, he also is the longest serving Director of Rugby in England for London Cornish RFC, a role he undertakes on a purely voluntary basis. He is also proud to have been involved with Cornwall’s Bill Beaumont Cup efforts over the past decade.

Based in Cornwall, Lloyd works within the UK Network team representing the British Business Bank across the far South West’s SME Finance ecosystem to drive connection and collaboration so that smaller businesses can access the funds they need to operate and grow. He has a wide-ranging commercial background having worked as a research analyst, marketing manager, commercial lawyer, innovation adviser, high growth business coach and knowledge exchange manager before he joined the Bank in early 2019. Lloyd has directly supported over 1000 businesses and has long been a passionate enthusiast for purpose driven business, business innovation and innovative business models.

Caitlin Gould is an award-winning founder, digital strategist, and inclusivity advocate with over 15 years’ experience in senior leadership roles within the tech sector. She is the Founder and Director of TECwomen CIC, which she established in 2020 after launching the grassroots initiative TECgirls the year before to inspire girls in the Southwest to see themselves in technology, engineering, and creative digital careers. Since then, her work has expanded to include the roll out of hybrid primary school after-school clubs, secondary school programmes, STEM festivals, and digitalUPLIFT, a career-shifting course supporting women entering the digital space. A recognised voice on equity in technology, Caitlin speaks frequently about how emerging technologies intersect with gender and the urgent need to design inclusive futures. Beyond her non-profit work, she is also the co-founder of Kensa Health, a femtech startup developing educational tools and workplace programmes to address women’s health topics, and TECgirl Labs, her latest venture creating innovative products that encourage curiosity and confidence in STEM.

After 15 years in PE and VC in the UK and US, Matt co-founded Ada Ventures in 2018. Ada is an Inclusive Alpha VC fund investing in the best talent from the UK and Nordics. Ada manages £100M+ of capital for LPs from around the world. The fund invests in differentiated technologies that can scale to global businesses, especially from regions like Cornwall. Matt’s Dad has lived full time in Cornwall for the past 25 years, just down the road in fact!

An experienced Managing Director, Programme Director and Strategic Leader, Ally has been working in or supporting businesses for over 3 decades and has a canny knack for building rockstar teams of people who love their jobs and achieve outstanding results.  

Her legendary networking ability, inherent inquisitiveness, and ability to make outstanding connections and partnerships has led to the design and delivery of some of the most impactful business support programmes seen in the region. 

Ally keeps her infectious enthusiasm topped up by taking a daily dip in the ocean, running around a netball court, roaming the cliff paths with her husband and new pup and boating across the Carrick Roads when the weather and conditions allow. All whilst trying to stay connected with 3 grown-up kids at opposite ends of the country! Fresh air and an ocean view is her happy place!

As a Knowledge Transfer Manager for the Create Growth programme (CPG), Bethany is focused on developing the creative industries investor community. She bring a strong background in entrepreneurship and early-stage start-ups. Originally from Australia, she has worked within the Australian entrepreneurial ecosystem, particularly in a female-focused accelerator. This experience has provided her with a comprehensive understanding of how to support founders through their start-ups and investment rounds.

With a Bachelor’s and Master’s in entrepreneurship, Bethany’s expertise includes customer discovery, lean start-up principles, and commercialisation. As an entrepreneur herself, she understands the start-up ecosystem from both sides. She is passionate about using her skills to promote innovation and growth, especially within the creative sector.

Nina is an award-winning x2 exited founder (one in fashion and one in SaaS tech) so understands first-hand the challenges involved in financing, running and growing a start-up.  Named as one of the most influential people in fashion in the noughties when she co-founded the luxury lingerie lifestyle brand, Myla.com (backed by VC & Family Office capital), she’s mentored for RCA’s innovation accelerator advising on pragmatic business planning, & currently supports start-ups on Creative UK’s growth programme.

Nina is more commonly known as a world leading expert in customer behavioural analytics, being part of the ground-breaking team who pioneered Clubcard for Tesco & their use of data to drive business decisions.  After Myla, Nina co-founded Zinc Retail which created a disruptive AI/ML analytics SaaS platform for retailers & sold this to Nectar in 2014.  Nina now predominantly mentors deep/frontier tech start-ups with positive impact consultancy IUSEGENIUS, guiding them through their investment journeys from Pre-Seed to Series B and beyond.

Sara leads the Investment Team in Innovate UK Business Connect, which acts as the investor engagement arm of Innovate UK, with the mission to increase private capital into UK innovation. Previously, Sara spent over a decade supporting UK businesses to raise equity and grant funding and is particularly passionate about ensuring that the most innovative entrepreneurs can source the funds they need to take great ideas to fruition, and change the world for the better.

Dan Parker is the co-founder of FireText, a Cornwall-based tech success bootstrapped entirely by the founders. Growing into one of the UK’s largest providers and sending over 7 billion messages, FireText became a multi-million-pound business before Dan exited for the final time in 2025. His story proves world-class companies can grow from anywhere.

Joe is Founder of award winning creative video agency and B Corp, Bull & Wolf. 

He is a creative advocate who has moved from the corporate world to creative industry while focussing on leaving a positive impact on the planet. After an initial career as a management consultant, he worked in TV before settling in Cornwall and founding what is now one of the fastest growing creative agencies in the South West.

Moving to Cornwall and starting anew, Joe has built his video agency into an award winning powerhouse working with leading brands in Cornwall and beyond. A serial Cornwall 30 Under 30 Winner and listed in Insider Media’s 42 Under 42, Joe has been recognised as one of the emerging entrepreneurial talents in the region. Beyond business, he is also a trustee of a leading charity, the Cornwall Community Foundation, working to support communities across Cornwall & the Isles of Scilly.

Tendai is Head of Creative Industries at the Department of Business and Trade (DBT), working with Nations, Regional teams and British Consulates around the world to champion and amplify the global success of the UK’s world renowned creative sectors. This includes enabling exports, boosting investment and being a voice across Government for creative industries businesses to deliver the International aims of the UK Government’s Creative Sector Plan and Industrial Strategy. 

Tendai joined DBT from the BBC, having worked in its Group Corporate Strategy function, leading pan-BBC market intelligence projects spanning audio, video, news and digital globally. Prior to that, he worked in Government at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS), serving on the DCMS Shadow Executive Board while delivering major programmes in the Corporate Strategy and Major Sporting Events Units. A strategic foresight practitioner, Tendai led the development of DCMS’s Futures and horizon scanning function. Before Government, Tendai had consultancy background across multiple sectors including media, local government, social enterprise and charity. In 2022 he was appointed as a Trustee of the Design Council, contributing to the development of its 10-year “Design for Planet” mission.  He also completed a 5-year term as the youngest Trustee on the Board of ODILS Learning Foundation, a charity which operates an OFSTED-assessed English Language and teacher training school enabling the effective integration of refugees, asylum seekers, and minority groups into UK life.

Shona is an energetic startup builder, specialising in direct-to-market and digital platform launches. She spent the last 3 years building the largest tech accelerator in the UK for the Scottish Government, as well as the Ministry of Justice’s Lawtech UK, academic entrepreneurship programmes and other public sector tech startup support programmes. Prior to that she was the first non-founder on the team of traveltech startup Accomable (‘the Airbnb for people with disabilities’), leading all things non-tech. After growing the company for 2.5 years, they were acquired by Airbnb where she led the financial due diligence process and integration of supply, product features and knowledge. She then took up a role in the newly created Airbnb Experiences business, leading growth for northern Europe.

Her background prior to tech was in tourist destination building and travel, as well as having worked as a moonlighting ski instructor across Europe for 10 years. She now sits on the board of VisitScotland and chairs the charity Disability Snowsports UK, continuing her passion for travel, tourism, skiing and accessibility.