Matt Clifford

Co-founder, Chair and Talent Investor

2023

After 12 years as CEO, I stepped away from the role in December 2023 to allow me to spend more time with founders and to focus as much time as possible on AI. I am currently running an EF programme with a thesis on "defensive acceleration" - advancing the technologies that will bring about futures we want and defend our values.

Co-founder and CEO

2011 - 2023

We invest in the world's top technical talent and support them to build world-class startups in London, New York, San Francisco, Paris and Bangalore. The companies that we’ve helped to build from scratch are now worth over $11bn. I co-founded the organisation with Alice Bentinck in 2011 and led it for 12 years.

Chair

2022

I am the founding Chair of ARIA - a new R&D funding agency designed to make bold bets that complement and amplify the UK’s world-class research ecosystem. Our mandate: unlock scientific and technological breakthroughs that benefit everyone.

Co-founder and NED

2013

Code First: Girls exists to close the gender gap in tech. We have taught over 100,000 women to code, working in partnership with over 100 leading employers and 50 universities.

Trustee

2019

The Kennedy Memorial Trust is the UK's national memorial to President John F Kennedy. It has provided fully funded scholarships for graduate study at Harvard and MIT since 1966.

Prime Minister's Representative for the AI Safety Summit

2023 - 2023

The Prime Minister appointed me as his Representative for the AI Safety Summit that the UK hosted at Bletchley Park in November 2023. Alongside Jonathan Black, I led UK's preparations for the Summit - the first major diplomatic summit on AI - and the negotiations and discussions with the attending countries and companies. I took a short sabbatical from Entrepreneur First to take on this role.

Council Member (non-exec director)

2020 - 2023

InnovateUK is the UK's innovation agency. Innovate UK is part of UK Research and Innovation, a non-departmental public body funded by a grant-in-aid from the UK government. Member of the Risk and Audit Committee.

Trustee and Non-exec Director

2013 - 2018

techfortrade is the leading UK charity specifically focused on bridging the divide between emerging technology and international trade and economic development. We directly support early stage businesses using innovative and disruptive digital technology to create opportunities that facilitate trade and alleviate poverty.

Associate

2011 - 2011

Helped advise on a range of strategy, growth and innovation questions across healthcare, retail, high-tech and social sectors.

Business Analyst

2009 - 2011

Research

2007 - 2007