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David Richards MBE
Co-Founder @ Yorkshire AI Labs LLP | Revolutionising Venture Capital | Philanthropy
David Richards is a prominent technology entrepreneur and the Co-Founder & Managing Partner of Yorkshire AI Labs LLP, a venture capital firm based in Sheffield, England. With over 25 years of experience in the software industry, particularly in Silicon Valley, Richards has a robust background in founding and leading technology businesses. He was previously the founder and CEO of WANdisco plc, a company focused on data management solutions, until April 2023.13
Career Highlights
- Yorkshire AI Labs LLP: Launched in January 2024, this venture aims to invest in local companies leveraging artificial intelligence. The firm started with an initial fund of £10 million and seeks to create more publicly-listed businesses in Yorkshire than ever before.14
- WANdisco plc: Richards led WANdisco for nearly 18 years, during which he significantly impacted the data management sector.3
- Philanthropy: He is also involved in charitable activities, serving as a board trustee for the David and Jane Richards Family Foundation, which focuses on empowering children. Additionally, he co-founded the "Laptops For Kids" campaign to bridge the digital divide.23
Recognition
Richards was awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in 2022 for his services to information technology and support for young people during the COVID-19 pandemic. He has received honorary doctorates from both the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University.23
Vision for Yorkshire AI Labs
Richards emphasizes a hands-on approach to venture capital, aiming to provide not just financial support but also strategic guidance and product knowledge to startups. He believes that many businesses could greatly benefit from AI but often lack the understanding of how to implement it effectively.14
Highlights
Brilliant 3 days at the Longshaw Sheep Dog Trials in the Peak District National Park on the beautiful National Trust Longshaw Estate.
It’s so good to see these country traditions are still alive and well in the UK.
(Please keep a look out for tickets for next years event. It’s a wonderful experience in truly spectacular surrounds)
#sheepdog 🌳🐑🐏🐕 #sheffield
GitHub's annualized run rate has surpassed $2 billion, a significant leap from £300m at the time of Microsoft’s acquisition in 2018. Satya Nadella revealed that Copilot, with 77,000 users, has been a key driver, contributing to over 40% of revenue growth this year. The use of AI in code completion is reshaping the tech landscape, Software Devs were always to most likely to adopt AI to help them write code. I think this trend will expand into traditional white-collar professions like law and accounting. Very quickly…
#AI #GitHub #TechTrends
