Matt Clifford CBE is a leading figure in artificial intelligence policy, technology entrepreneurship, and national innovation, advising governments while building the institutions that shape the future of science, startups, and economic growth.
He is the co-founder and Chair of Entrepreneurs First (EF), a talent investor that has built companies now worth over $15 billion, with alumni including Tractable, Cleo, Accurx, Aztec, and GenSyn. EF is backed by some of the world’s most respected technology founders, including leaders from Stripe, LinkedIn, DeepMind, GitHub, Monzo, and GoCardless.
Matt is Chair of ARIA, the Advanced Research and Invention Agency, which funds high-risk, high-reward scientific research, Vice-Chair of the AI Safety Institute Advisory Board, and authored the government's AI Opportunities Action Plan.
In 2023, he led preparations for the AI Safety Summit at Bletchley Park as the Prime Minister's representative, bringing together leaders including Elon Musk, Sam Altman, and representatives from China, the US, and Europe. Matt is also the co-author of How To Be A Founder and the co-founder of Code First Girls, which has trained over 50,000 women in coding.
Matt's work connects frontier research, public policy, and private capital, giving him a rare perspective on how innovation moves from labs to markets at national and global scale. Matt regularly engages senior leaders through keynote talks, interviews, and panel discussions, translating complex technical and regulatory issues into clear strategic choices for boards, investors, and policymakers.
Audiences learn how AI will affect their specific industries, what regulatory changes to anticipate, and how to build organisations that can adapt to rapid technological change, informed by Matt's work with policymakers, investors, and entrepreneurs across Europe, the US, and Asia.
Book Matt for a rare combination of policy influence, entrepreneurial experience, and access to cutting-edge research that few can match.
How can I book Matt Clifford for my next event?
Email [email protected], or call us on +44 20 3835 2929 (UK) or +1 737 888 5112 (US), and one of our speaker agents will contact you within hours to confirm availability and fees. If you can, please include your budget upfront – it helps us fast-track your request. It’s also helpful to know the date, format (virtual or in-person), location, and a bit about your audience.
As speaker agents, PepTalk can secure Matt Clifford for commercial and corporate events, conference keynotes, leadership talks, celebrity brand endorsements & partnerships, personal appearances, and motivational speaking engagements. We can assist with enquiries about Matt Clifford's speaking fees, availability, and booking process for private business functions, industry conferences, and team events. Please note, for media interviews, autographs, charity appearances, or personal matters, we recommend contacting Matt directly.
What topics does Matt Clifford specialise in?
Matt Clifford specialises in discussing AI governance, global AI trends, innovation ecosystems and more.
What is Matt Clifford's speaking style like?
Previous bookers say Matt Clifford connects well with audiences and speaks with clarity, confidence, and ease.
Does Matt Clifford offer virtual speaking engagements?
Yes, Matt Clifford offers virtual speaker bookings for webinars, online conferences, and remote or distributed team engagements.
Matt Clifford CBE’s role shaping UK AI policy, chairing ARIA, and co‑founding Entrepreneurs First gives him unusual credibility in linking regulation, research funding, and startup talent to corporate strategy. Clients value his practical guidance on anticipating regulatory shifts, forging research partnerships, and aligning talent to de‑risk product launches and accelerate scaling in regulated markets across healthcare, finance, and policy.
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