Speakers

Piers Linney MBE is an entrepreneur and investor with experience across a range of sectors including technology, media converged communications, and additive manufacturing. He is a ‘top artificial intelligence voice’ on LinkedIn and the co-founder of next generation technology partner, Implement AI, which supports businesses of all sizes to understand and implement AI-related technologies. Piers is also chairman and a co-founder of Atherton bikes, a world-leading mountain bike manufacturer and winner of #1 and #2 podiums in the world championship 2023. Piers is well-known as a champion of entrepreneurship and SMEs and is a regular media commentator. Piers is probably best known as a former dragon investor on BBC Dragons’ Den and from Channel 4’s The Secret Millionaire. He has a professional background as a qualified lawyer specialised in venture capital and in M&A investment banking at Credit Suisse and was a non-executive director of the UK government’s Development Bank, British Business Bank during the roll-out of the £90bn Covid-19 business support loan schemes. Piers has been recognised as one of the UK’s top 100 most influential black Britons and in 2020 he was recognised as one of the UK’s top 20 ethnic minority executives. Piers is an adviser to Sky and sits on its Diversity Advisory Council and sits on the future strategy for the leading global automotive company, Jaguar Land Rover.