Parhaat Category Design Podcastit (2025)

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66. The Rise of Europe’s Deep Tech Spinouts 26:53

8d ago26:53

26:53

In 1990, while working at CERN, Tim Berners-Lee proposed and developed what would become one of the most influential spinouts in history: the World Wide Web. The Web was opened to the public in 1991, and in 1993 CERN released the software into the public domain - enabling its rapid global spread and laying the foundation for today’s modern Internet…

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65. Colin Tenwick: Mastering the Art of Reinvention 42:33

22d ago42:33

42:33

Recorded in partnership with Boardwave, this episode of The Difference Engine features Colin Tenwick - a leader whose career tracks the evolution of modern tech. Colin began in the early enterprise software era with Ingres, later leading Sybase and driving Red Hat’s European expansion long before open-source and SaaS were mainstream. Colin’s career…

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64. The Hidden Power Behind the AI Boom 30:55

1M ago30:55

30:55

It’s easy to be captivated by the dazzling glow of AI. Sky-high valuations, relentless acquisitions, and the promise of investor cash are drawing in a swarm of hungry tech moths. But what’s really fueling this blaze? What forms the wax that keeps this light alive, and are we overlooking the real AI winners? Today, we uncover the hidden power behind…

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63. What does the MIT report actually tell us about the AI industry? 40:28

2M ago40:28

40:28

MIT’s State of AI in Business 2025 report found that 95% of generative AI pilot projects fail to deliver a measurable return on investment. When findings like this drop, they spread fast - sparking debate, reshaping narratives, and influencing how companies, investors, and even public policymakers think about AI’s real-world impact. So what does MI…

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62. A Founder's Journey: From Cornish Roots to Global RegTech Rockstar | Ben Richmond 38:08

2M ago38:08

38:08

Cornwall, in England’s far southwest, is known for its rugged coastline and mining heritage. Home to just over 600,000 people, it’s produced cultural icons from author William Golding to Fleetwood Mac’s Mick Fleetwood - and now, CUBE’s Founder & CEO, Ben Richmond. In 2008, as the world reeled from the fallout of the financial crisis, Ben saw an opp…

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61. Rupert Jones: A Major General's guide to Defence Tech 37:06

2M ago37:06

37:06

Recorded at Boardwave Live, this episode of The Difference Engine features former British Army Major General Rupert Jones. With three decades of service, from commanding 5,000 troops in Afghanistan to leading the liberation of Mosul and Raqqah, he brings unparalleled knowledge of strategic leadership. Now advising startups, Rupert guides us through…

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60. Boardwave Live 2025 Review 21:08

2M ago21:08

21:08

This week, the Difference Engine is stepping out of the office and heading to one of the most exciting tech events of the year - Boardwave Live 2025. The Boardwave network brings together a powerful community of founders, CEOs, chairs, independent NEDs, and investors from across Europe, representing companies at every stage of growth. At their flag…

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59. Can Klarna convince Wall Street? 34:40

3M ago34:40

34:40

Klarna has been through the wringer. Once Europe’s most valuable fintech, it’s endured a sharp valuation drop, a tough round of layoffs, and endless questions about the sustainability of ‘buy now, pay later.’ However, with profitability back on the books, Klarna is pushing ahead with its long-awaited IPO. So, does sheer staying power translate into…

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58. Texas bets big on tech. Will it steal the pot? 29:53

3M ago29:53

29:53

As the sun sinks over the faltering London Stock Exchange, a new frontier is emerging. Not in Silicon Valley or Wall Street, but deep in the heart of Texas. There, a sharp-shooting newcomer is stepping through the salon doors with a bold dual-listing strategy. Could the Wild West be quietly transforming into the best place to do business? Also on t…

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57. GEO vs AIO. Who will win the title fight? 33:26

4M ago33:26

33:26

“What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet”. This might’ve been true for a couple of love birds in the 15th century, but in the battle for supremacy in today’s AI war, a name (and who controls it) means everything. So who will win the right to claim the name of this new AI category? Also on today’s episode, …

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56. Interview with Sean Williams: How I built a new AI category 42:25

4M ago42:25

42:25

Welcome to the fifth in a series of interviews with European tech leaders brought to you in association with Boardwave. The Boardwave network is a powerful community of Founders, CEOs, Chairs, Independent NEDs & their Investors from across Europe, representing companies at every stage of development. This week, we are joined by tech entrepreneur Se…

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55. Interview with Bill Conner: Lessons from a serial value creator 56:34

5M ago56:34

56:34

A seasoned technology executive with an extraordinary career spanning more than four decades, Bill Conner is the real deal. From leading companies through high-stakes turnarounds to creating category-defining tech products, Bill has done it all. He’s been a four-time CEO, a trusted partner to Private Equity and Venture Capital, and a go-to expert f…

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54. What everyone is missing about Grok 34:11

5M ago34:11

34:11

What do we know about Grok? We know it’s Elon Musk’s latest so-called free speech machine and that it has drawn heavy criticism for spreading hate, earning the disturbing nickname ‘Mecha Hitler.’ With headlines dominated by non-stop controversy, it's no surprise that the broader public knows little about Grok’s technological potential. So are we mi…

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53. Is the UK keeping up with Quantum? 33:25

5M ago33:25

33:25

The UK government has pledged £550 million towards quantum technologies. At first glance, that might sound like a hefty sum—enough to buy Chelsea a striker or two. But when you stack it against Amazon’s £40 billion investment in the UK, it raises a serious question: Is the UK taking quantum seriously? Also on today’s episode: we take a look at how …

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52. Do we need to get ready for the age of algorithmic investing? 32:44

6M ago32:44

32:44

‘A gut feeling.' It's a fairly common answer from many VCs when asked why they backed a particular startup over another. When all the numbers have been crunched and the data deliberated, the final decision often bypasses the brain and falls on the gut. However, is the human gut about to be out of a job? Nik Storonsky, co-founder of Revolut, is bett…

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51. Has the £300 million M&S cyberattack created a major category opportunity? 32:27

6M ago32:27

32:27

Every crisis hides an opportunity. That might be cold comfort for M&S execs staring down a £300 million profit hit after a shelf shattering cyberattack. However, here at The Difference Engine, we prefer to see the positive. With cybersecurity now front and centre, and traditional defences clearly falling short, the question is: how can you seize th…

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50. Interview with Amber Vodegel: Designing the new category of Ethical AI 52:13

7M ago52:13

52:13

Welcome to the fourth in a series of interviews with European tech leaders brought to you in association with Boardwave. The Boardwave network is a powerful community of Founders, CEOs, Chairs, Independent NEDs & their Investors from across Europe, representing companies at every stage of development. This week, we are joined by tech entrepreneur A…

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49. What EVERY startup needs to know: Wisdom from Y Combinator 30:50

7M ago30:50

30:50

Y Combinator is widely regarded as the world’s leading startup accelerator, having helped launch companies now worth a combined $800 billion! So when they speak, it’s worth paying close attention. Today, we’re diving into some timeless wisdom from Y Combinator co-founder Paul Graham. Could a couple of key insights change your chance of success? Als…

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48. Interview with Rich Waterworth: Building the tech that defines modern culture (YouTube, Tik Tok, ITV) 56:21

7M ago56:21

56:21

Welcome to the third in a series of interviews with European tech leaders brought to you in association with Boardwave. The Boardwave network is a powerful community of Founders, CEOs, Chairs, Independent NEDs & their Investors from across Europe, representing companies at every stage of development. This week, This week we are joined by Boardwave …

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47. Tariff Tech: Breakthrough tools for turbulent times 41:39

8M ago41:39

41:39

When global trade becomes chaotic, tech steps up to create order. In today’s episode, we explore the idea of ‘Tariff Tech’. Born from disruption, driven by necessity, and poised to reshape supply chains, resilience, and trust in an uncertain world. Is there a golden opportunity hidden within Trump’s tariff turmoil? Also in today’s episode, we’ll as…

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46. Interview with Steve Garnett: A lifetime building software giants (Oracle, Siebel, Salesforce) 59:14

8M ago59:14

59:14

Welcome to the second in a series of interviews with European tech leaders brought to you in association with Boardwave. The Boardwave network is a powerful community of Founders, CEOs, Chairs, Independent NEDs & their Investors from across Europe, representing companies at every stage of development. This week, we are joined by Boardwave member an…

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45. Trump’s impact on the tech market 31:05

9M ago31:05

31:05

Why would someone buy a stock? It’s a good question - one whose answer has changed in recent times. Stock markets are struggling to keep up with the chaos of a new world order. So in a market where a single Trump tweet can trigger massive, unpredictable swings where do tech investors turn and what impact will this have on the tech sector? Could it …

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44. Interview with Stephane Kurgan: From Candy Crush to a $5.9 billion cash out 41:13

9M ago41:13

41:13

Welcome to the first in a series of interviews with European tech leaders brought to you in association with Boardwave. The Boardwave network is a powerful community of Founders, CEOs, Chairs, Independent NEDs & their Investors from across Europe, representing companies at every stage of development. This week, we are joined by Boardwave member Ste…

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43. Is NVIDIA on track to 'do a Cisco'? 42:14

10M ago42:14

42:14

It’s becoming increasingly clear that, despite our admiration for Nvidia, its future may not be as assured as it seemed just a few months ago. A striking graph from New Normal Consulting compares Cisco’s meteoric rise and sharp decline from 1990 to 2002 with Nvidia’s trajectory from 2014 to the present. The correlation is almost 100%. Spooky. Do st…

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42. The visionary behind the UK's biggest AI exit ($650 million): Interview with Husayn Kassai 40:55

10M ago40:55

40:55

This week, we’re joined by one of Britain’s most innovative entrepreneurs, Husayn Kassai. Born in Iran, Husayn moved to Manchester at the age of 10, where his occupied with playing video games and selling Iranian music CDs online. Husayn later attended Oxford University, where he secured £12,000 in funding to launch his AI start-up, Onfido. What st…

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41. AI PCs: Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, and Lenovo fight for the future of computing 38:40

11M ago38:40

38:40

NVIDIA's groundbreaking Personal AI Supercomputer has shaken the PC industry, leaving giants like Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, and Lenovo scrambling to find their footing. At the recent Consumer Electronics Show in Los Angeles, these manufacturers seized the opportunity to prove they belong in the emerging AI PC market. So, let's see what they’ve got to o…

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40. Personal AI supercomputer: How NVIDIA created a new category 43:51

11M ago43:51

43:51

In tech, it often feels like innovation is reserved for the big players - those with the money and means to lead the way. But this can change in an instant. Just look at cloud computing, 3D printing, and the internet. These technologies democratised the ability for people to explore and push the cutting edge. Now, it seems the wall around AI is poi…

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39. The breakdown and break up of Intel 33:41

12M ago33:41

33:41

What happens if you fail to adapt to the age of AI? Intel's decline offers us a compelling insight into this question. They failed to keep up with the pack in 2024 and on the first of December CEO Pat Gelsinger was forced into an early resignation. So, what does 2025 hold for Intel? Is there a pathway back to industry leadership, or will this forme…

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38. Top takeaways from 2024 and what lies ahead in 2025 37:26

1y ago37:26

37:26

The world of tech never stands still. 2024 has been another year of breakthroughs, challenges, and trends. In this episode, we reflect on the most significant tech stories of the year, from AI's rapid evolution to blockchain's unprecedented expansion. Looking ahead, we share our predictions for 2025, highlighting the areas of tech that will redefin…

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37. Interview with Ben Marrel: How VCs can fix the world 40:02

1y ago40:02

40:02

Today, we’re talking to Ben Marrel, co-founder of Breega, a fast-growing European VC firm that is on a mission to lead categories with its mission driven investments. Based in London, with offices in Paris and Barcelona, Breega has supported high-potential companies like Curve, Cuvva, Exotech, and Moneybox - recently valued at £550 million. In this…

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36. Google vs the DOJ: The showdown of the century 28:12

1y ago28:12

28:12

Ding, ding! The bell has rung for the showdown of the century as the Department of Justice steps into the ring against Google. The DOJ throws a hefty hook in the form of a 23 page document which aims to chip and chisel away at Google’s monopoly. Could this blow crush Google’s category lead? Will Chrome be dislodged like a loose tooth? Or are we in …

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35. Interview with Nigel Verdon: Fintech innovation is dead. So what next? 42:29

1y ago42:29

42:29

Today, we have the privilege of speaking with someone who has a proven track record of founding and exiting category-defining companies. Nigel Verdon, born in Germany, began his journey studying Mechanical Engineering at Warwick University. After a brief stint in the automotive industry with EBS, he transitioned into financial services, carving out…

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34. Why did Stripe spend $1.1 Billion on a crypto startup? 36:13

1y ago36:13

36:13

Europe's favourite unicorn, Stripe, has announced that it is picking up crypto Stablecoin player, Bridge, for $1.1 billion. But why is the fintech powerhouse spending nearly two percent of its valuation on the roll of a crypto dice? Could it be an ingenious category play? Also in today’s episode, we’ll be flicking through the history books to try a…

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33. Creating the world's first green software | Sumir Karayi 44:00

1y ago44:00

44:00

Today, we explore the remarkable career of Sumir Karayi, whose journey took him from one of the UK's worst schools to becoming one of the country's most successful entrepreneurs. As the founder and CEO of 1E, Karayi grew his company organically over 20 years, serving 1,700 organisations across 42 countries with 26 million licenses deployed. 1E is n…

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32. Could the budget kill the UK tech scene? 38:31

1y ago38:31

38:31

The Labour Party is about to unveil its first budget in over 14 years. This is a huge moment for the country as the foundations for its economic future are put in place. But the budget doesn’t only affect the UK’s bank balance, it also influences the behaviour and values of its citizens. So, will the red briefcase promote entrepreneurship and the c…

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31. What’s going on at the CMA? 35:10

1y ago35:10

35:10

How did Microsoft’s controversial ‘partnership’ with UK AI firm Inflection slip through the CMA's (Competition and Markets Authority) net, while Adobe’s multi-billion-dollar Figma acquisition got blocked? In this episode, we dive deep into the paperwork to uncover the methods and motivations behind the CMA’s puzzling ruling on the Inflection deal. …

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30. The secrets to scaling your business | Phill Robinson 41:54

1y ago41:54

41:54

In this episode of The Difference Engine, we sit down with a major figure in the global software industry - Phill Robinson. With a career spanning multiple continents and as the CEO of Velocix, IRIS, and Exact, Phil's contributions to the tech world has been monumental. Today, he’ll share what he learnt from working in the heart of industry giants …

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29. Has Musk gone mad? 25:31

1+ y ago25:31

25:31

We like Elon Musk's style. In previous episodes, we’ve championed him as a visionary innovator and category king. One of the things we’ve always admired is his bold approach to business. But, his recent posts on X seem less bold, and more barmy. Is Musk’s free speech starting to backfire? Will he be the engineer of his own downfall? Also in today’s…

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28. Have we found Europe's AI category leader? 26:33

1+ y ago26:33

26:33

If you’re a regular listener of the show then you’ll know that we’re always banging on about two things: European category leaders and AI. Well, while sniffing around this year's SaaStr event, our dreams came true. We think we found a potential AI category leader based in Cologne, Germany. Could Jaroslaw Kutylowski’s translation service, DeepL, be …

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27. Putting the SDV in SUV 38:16

1+ y ago38:16

38:16

Nissan, Honda and Mitsubishi. Three of the greats, and sometimes under-rated manufacturers of automobile. From Honda’s engines revolutionising motorsport to Nissan making the iconic British Austin 7 cars under license, they’ve got a rich history. But where will the future take them? How will their new joint research venture create fundamental softw…

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26. The top 5 greatest tech acquisitions of all time 37:04

1+ y ago37:04

37:04

In the last episode, we began our exploration of the greatest tech acquisitions of all time, concluding with Booking.com at number six. Their purchase of Priceline returned an impressive $46.6 billion. Now, we move into the top five. These acquisitions dwarf what has come before, each one generating returns of over $100 billion. So, who is going to…

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25. Lessons from the greatest tech acquisitions of all time 30:19

1+ y ago30:19

30:19

Decisions, decisions, decisions. Every workday is just a collection of decisions. Who to hire, when to sell, what shirt goes with this tie. We take a punt and hope it pays off. But what about the decisions with the biggest payoffs? What are the best business decisions of all time? In today’s episode we uncover the stories behind the greatest tech a…

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24. Which European fintechs have a shot at category leadership? 30:15

1+ y ago30:15

30:15

Last month the start-up news publication Sifted introduced us to Europe's fastest growing fintechs. The 10 listed companies are successfully bucking the trend and managing to raise capital in these difficult times. Congratulations to them. However, today on the Difference Engine, we take it one step further. We find out which of these fintechs are …

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23. The secrets to shaping Apple and beyond | Andy Cunningham 46:13

1+ y ago46:13

46:13

In this episode of The Difference Engine, we sit down with a pivotal figure in the tech world who helped shape one of the most iconic brands in history. Apple. Andy Cunningham had a seat at the table for one of the most exciting periods in the tech industry’s history. The birth of Silicon Valley, The emergence of the groundbreaking Macintosh in 198…

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22. Top 10 go-to-market mistakes: Lessons from SaaStr 2024 29:00

1+ y ago29:00

29:00

Jason Lemkin is not afraid to admit to his errors. In fact, a few weeks ago he eagerly shared them with a room full of people in East London. The founder of SaaStr revealed his top 10 go-to-market mistakes at this year’s SaaStr conference. So, who should you avoid hiring? Which cuts should you steer clear of? And what single word on someone's Linke…

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21. Will France’s €15 billion investment propel it to category leadership? 32:14

1+ y ago32:14

32:14

All eyes will be on Paris next month as they welcome athletes and fans from all over the world for the 2024 Olympic Games. However, the international sports day isn’t the only event drawing significant foreign investment into France. The 7th Choose France showcase announced €15 billion of industry investments, promising an estimated 10,000 jobs. Co…

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20. The age of regulation: Turning rules to your advantage 30:51

1+ y ago30:51

30:51

We are living in the age of regulation. Going forward, category creators will have to dance to the tune of the CRA, NIRS2, GDPR and numerous other weighty rulebooks. But, can we learn to love the music? Embrace the constraints? Turn the rules to our advantage and waltz our way to success. Also in today’s episode, We’ll analyse the emergence of `Sto…

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19. Electric vehicles: An automotive upgrade or brand new category? 34:27

1+ y ago34:27

34:27

Electric vehicles are expected to make up 25% of all new passenger car registrations this year, with projections indicating that by 2030, EVs will capture two thirds of the market share. As consumer choices change, so does the whole transport ecosystem. This technological shift demands new fueling stations, tyres, job roles and even road design. So…

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18. Pain & Suffering! A lesson in resilience from Jensen Huang and James Dyson 26:10

1+ y ago26:10

26:10

“I wish upon you ample doses of pain and suffering” These are the encouraging words of Nvidia founder Jensen Huang. For Jensen, suffering is the whetstone on which one sharpens their character. It is the shaper of greatness. But, what about the lucky ones? The painless people whose lives have avoided such sore turns. Can they achieve such heights? …

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17. Who just won the second battle of the AI war? 23:28

1+ y ago23:28

23:28

Throughout this series, we have been surveying the battlefield of the AI war. From an elevated outpost, we have analysed and reported on the tactical moves of both Microsoft and Google. Data centres, acquisitions, and an arms race of innovation have all weaponised in their attempts to wrestle control of tech’s future. But who just won the latest ba…

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