Matt Clifford

Matt Clifford is a technology entrepreneur and AI policy leader who specialises in connecting innovation, government strategy and entrepreneurship at the highest level. As co-founder and chair of Entrepreneur First, a $1.3bn holding company that has supported founders building companies now worth over $16bn, and chair of ARIA, the UK's £1.4bn breakthrough research agency, he operates at the forefront of technology development. He has advised two UK Prime Ministers on AI strategy, authored the Government's AI Opportunities Action Plan, and represented the Prime Minister at the landmark Bletchley Park AI Safety Summit. Matt equips audiences with the strategic insight to navigate AI's rapid evolution, helping leaders understand how to seize opportunities, balance innovation with responsibility, and shape technology for sustainable economic and societal benefit.

At the Bletchley Park AI Safety Summit, Matt Clifford convened governments, technology leaders and researchers from across the world to address one of the defining challenges of our time: how to ensure artificial intelligence develops safely and for the benefit of humanity. From negotiating with global representatives to shaping the summit's agenda, he played a pivotal role in creating the first international effort of its kind on AI safety, drawing participation from figures including Elon Musk, Sam Altman, Kamala Harris and Ursula von der Leyen, alongside delegations from China, the Middle East and Africa. That work, alongside his authorship of the Government's AI Opportunities Action Plan and his role advising two UK Prime Ministers on AI strategy, has placed him at the heart of how nations respond to one of the most transformative technologies in history. Though he stepped back from his formal advisory role to government in 2025, his sense of mission on AI remains stronger than ever, and he continues to dedicate his career to making AI go well for the UK and the world.

Matt's credibility stems from his unique position across policy, entrepreneurship and breakthrough research. As co-founder and now non-executive chair of Entrepreneur First, a $1.3bn holding company, he has supported thousands of exceptional founders to build companies from scratch, with EF-backed ventures now valued at over $16bn. He also chairs the Advanced Research and Invention Agency, the UK's £1.4bn body for high-risk, high-reward scientific research, where he champions the importance of a robust R&D strategy to maintain national competitiveness. His work spans both public and private sectors, connecting government priorities with the innovation ecosystem, and his influence has been recognised through a CBE for services to AI in 2024 and inclusion in the Time AI100 list of most influential people in AI. He has written for Wired and City AM, and appeared on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg and BBC Radio 4's Today, establishing himself as a respected voice on AI's impact, governance and ethics.

As a speaker, Matt equips audiences with the strategic insight needed to navigate AI's rapid evolution and seize its opportunities with confidence. He explores how AI will reshape productivity, employment, security and economic growth, dispelling myths while emphasising the collaborative efforts required between public and private sectors. His talks also cover entrepreneurship, innovation and building companies in fast-changing environments, drawing on his experience supporting founders and shaping national technology strategy. Audiences value his ability to connect high-level policy with real-world business insight, leaving with a clearer understanding of how to engage with AI thoughtfully, strategically and responsibly. Whether addressing international perspectives on AI governance or practical pathways for organisational adoption, Matt provides the clarity and vision leaders need to shape technology for sustainable economic and societal benefit.