I’m a technology executive, currently VP of Strategy at Zapp. You can read my story on Sifted.
Prior to joining Zapp, I spent nearly 15 years as a technology and business journalist, including over 10 years as a reporter for TechCrunch, the leading global technology news site, where I focussed on UK/European startups, companies and venture capital.
In June 2011, I took a break from journalism to co-found the London and Prague-based startup Beepl. In the role of CEO, I helped the company raise its first venture capital funding round, and took the Question & Answer site through development to a high profile public launch. Beepl was acquired by Brand Embassy in November 2012.
In addition to TechCrunch, I’ve written for numerous other publications, including ZDNet (where I wrote the well-respected blog ‘The Social Web’), The Guardian, Macworld, Times Educational Supplement, and ReadWriteWeb. I also wrote and directed the critically acclaimed Silicon Valley documentary ‘In Search of the Valley‘, which was released in September 2006.
In both 2016 and 2017, I was named on the Business Insider UK ‘Tech 100’ list (the only journalist to ever make the list two years running).
Prior to journalism, I worked as an educator, specialising in digital technology and how it could be harnessed for better learning outcomes. In 2002, I was made a fellow of the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts. From 2004 to 2005 I served on the board of governors for the University of East London.
I’m an experienced public speaker and regularly appear in the media and on stage. Television, print and online media appearances include BBC, Forbes, CNN, The Guardian, The Next Web, Fast Company, Wired, Sifted, and numerous others.