Matt Clifford

Matt Clifford CBE is a globally recognised keynote speaker on technology, artificial intelligence and the future of work. He is the co-founder and chair of Entrepreneurs First, a global talent investor that has helped build some of the world’s most ambitious technology companies. As a speaker, Matt combines expertise in entrepreneurship, technology and finance with first-hand experience shaping the global AI ecosystem. His talks offer practical insight into building innovative companies and navigating rapid technological change, while encouraging audiences to think boldly and champion greater diversity across the technology sector.

Matt has a Double First Class Honours Bachelor's Degree with Distinction from the University of Cambridge and completed his MSc at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2004. From there, he worked as a researcher at the Office of US Senator Sherrod Brown before moving to McKinsey & Company in 2009 to be a Business Analyst. In 2011, he co-founded Entrepreneurs First with business partner Alice Benrinck. Since its creation, the company has supported founders across London, New York, San Francisco, Paris, and Bangalore with businesses collectively valued at over $13.5 billion. Notable companies to emerge from the programme include Tractable, Cleo and Accurx. A few years later, Matt co-founded Code First: Girls, a global social enterprise that has taught over 100,000 women to code and partnered with over 100 employers and 50 universities to expand access to technology careers. In 2022, Matt became the Founding Chair of the Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA), an independent, government-funded organisation created to support high-risk, high-reward scientific research. With his extensive knowledge of technology and AI, Matt was appointed as the UK Prime Minister's Representative for the AI Safety Summit in 2023. 

Over the next few years, Matt was trusted to design the Frontier AI Task Force, which later became the United Kingdom's AI Safety Institute, and became an Adviser on AI Opportunities to the UK Prime Minister in 2024. Matt is also involved in several non-profit organisations, including as a Trustee and Non-Executive Director for TechForTrade, which leverages digital technologies like 3D printing, mobile payments and microfinance to alleviate poverty in developing countries. Additionally, Matt is a trustee for the Kennedy Memorial Trust,  a charity that supports British students pursuing postgraduate study at Harvard University and MIT. In 2023, Matt co-authored 'How to be a Founder' with Alice Bentinck, which was named Startup/Scaleup Book of the Year at the Business Book Awards. Matt also published 'AI Opportunities Action Plan' in 2024, where he detailed his 50-point strategy for the adoption and development of AI in the UK. For his services to technology and AI, Matt has been awarded both an MBE and a CBE and was named on the TIME100 list of the most influential people in AI in 2024. 

Matt Clifford is an exceptional speaker on technology, AI and the future of work, whose career spans influential roles across business, technology and government. With this breadth of experience, Matt is a compelling choice for industry events, conferences and summits, where he delivers insightful and engaging keynote speeches. Passionate about gender equality and diversity in the technology sector, Matt is also a valuable contributor to empowerment sessions, workshops, and panel discussions. To hire Matt Clifford for your next event, contact Champions today.