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 for driving both top and bottom line growth in complex technology businesses. In this episode, we sit down with Bill to trace his remarkable journey fr...
Aug 06, 2025•57 min
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 missing something? Has all the outrage obscured a significant breakthrough? Also on today’s episode: we continue our assessment of the mad mad world of ...
Jul 30, 2025•34 min
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 Swedish startup Lovable stacks up in the crowded AI arena, and explore why, when the going gets tough, the tough choose to think differently. What to ...
Jul 23, 2025•33 min
‘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 betting on it. Will his new venture, QuantumLight, usher in a new era of algorithmic investing? And if so, are you ready? Also on today's episode, a word ...
Jul 09, 2025•33 min
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 the moment? Also in today’s episode, how Builder.ai rose fast and stumbled hard, and whether Intel can hold it together after going under the knife...
Jun 25, 2025•32 min
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 Amber Vodegel. Born in the Netherlands and now based in the UK, Amber has built a career at the cutting edge of healthtech, creating tools that dir...
Jun 11, 2025•52 min
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? Also in today’s episode, we'll take a look at the launch of a new Big 4 spin-out consulting firm, Unity. They are backed by $300 million of PE money. But...
May 28, 2025•31 min
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 patron and mentor Rich Waterworth. Rich has spent his career at the intersection of media and technology, shaping the future of how we create, con...
May 14, 2025•56 min
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 ask how AI can downsize your team while dialling up your productivity, and we’ll continue to be Europe’s loudest cheerleaders by speculating how the dum...
Apr 30, 2025•42 min
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 and patron, Steve Garnett. A man of many accomplishments, Steve is best known as the former Chair of Salesforce in Europe, having built Category lea...
Apr 16, 2025•59 min
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 spell a Category opportunity? Also in today’s episode, we’ll ask if Salesforce is making a new case for Category leadership and are static workforces ...
Apr 02, 2025•31 min
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 Stephane Kurgan. A man of many accomplishments in the IT and associated investment industries, Stephane is best known for being the COO of European C...
Mar 19, 2025•41 min
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 stock market bubbles always follow the same pattern? What forces could be pushing Nvidia towards a similar fate? And, what can Nvidea do to avoid ‘doing...
Mar 05, 2025•42 min
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 started as a bold idea became a groundbreaking company, culminating in the UK’s largest AI exit to date with a $650M deal. Rather than stepping away aft...
Feb 19, 2025•41 min
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 offer. Also in today’s episode, we’ll be asking if the EU’s tech police are losing control of the streets and be giving you a hands on guide on how to ...
Feb 05, 2025•39 min
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 poised to be shattered with NVIDIA’s personal AI supercomputer. So what happens when the full power of AI is placed in the hands of the masses? Also in t...
Jan 22, 2025•44 min
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 former giant be chipped away into obscurity? Also in today’s episode, we ask if our obsession with AI is distracting us from developing critical tech, and ...
Jan 08, 2025•34 min
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 redefine industries and reshape society. What to look forward to: 00:40 The magnificent seven that defined the IT industry in 2024/2025 20:11 Lynch’s legacy ...
Dec 18, 2024•37 min
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 conversation, we’ll explore Ben’s insights on the European startup ecosystem, the data driven link between diversity and profitability, and why he be...
Dec 11, 2024•40 min
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 for a gruelling twelve round slugfest? Also in today’s episode, we react to that Jaguar advert and ask if Stablecoin could be the category leader that...
Dec 04, 2024•28 min
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 an impressive career. His roles include working at Swiss Bank Corporation, serving on the board of LCJ, and holding a director position at Dresdner K...
Nov 20, 2024•42 min
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 and predict Apple’s future, and tackle the age-old question; what is the right amount of tech branding? What to look forward to: 00:35 Can Europe’s big...
Nov 06, 2024•36 min
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 now ranked in the Sunday Times International Track 100 league of top private companies and is recognised as one of the top 20 companies for CIOs. In th...
Oct 30, 2024•44 min
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 category leaders of tomorrow or will it suffocate the UK’s promising tech scene? Also in today’s episode, we bring you the lessons from two of the UK’s...
Oct 16, 2024•39 min
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. Is the regulator inconsistent, misunderstood, or simply out of its depth? Also in today’s episode, we share the intellectual spoils from this year's B...
Oct 09, 2024•35 min
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 including Oracle, Sybase, Siebel, and Salesforce. We’ll also delve into his latest venture: Boardwave. A unique community aimed at helping Europe comp...
Sep 25, 2024•42 min
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 episode, We’ll be looking at the love affair between politicians and tech jobs, asking if the SaaS playbook is the road to category leadership and an...
Sep 11, 2024•26 min
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 the golden goose? Also in today’s episode, We’ll take a look at how Apple is redefining privacy and why London Tech Week needs a big rethink. What to ...
Aug 28, 2024•27 min
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 software for the next generation of SDVs? It’s clear that not only are manufacturers seeing a shift in value from parts to software, but that consumers are...
Aug 21, 2024•38 min
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 be number one? (It’s probably not who you think.) Also in today’s episode, We’ll ask who are the best people to lead a Category Design project and wh...
Aug 14, 2024•37 min
