The Digital Forge: AI and the New Reality for Companies
The Digital Forge: AI and the New Reality for Companies
AI has removed the barriers to building.
Execution is no longer the advantage.
Founders can now do with five people what once took fifty. The question now is simple. What actually creates value?
This event brings together the founders, investors, and operators answering that in real time, and building the next generation of companies in the North.
The evening will be hosted by David Richards MBE, Co-Founder of Yorkshire AI Labs and founder of WANdisco, with a track record spanning IPOs, major capital raises, and scaling global technology companies.
Keynote Speakers
Chris Dalrymple, co-founder of Mina, will open with a keynote on what happens when building software becomes easy and why that raises the bar for everyone.
Where does advantage now sit?
What do investors actually look for?
And why most companies will struggle to build anything defensible.
We’re also joined by Dr Rob Ward, CEO of DigitalCNC, an AI-driven spin-out from the University of Sheffield AMRC transforming precision manufacturing in aerospace and defence.
Rob is building a new kind of deep-tech company. AI-first. Industry-rooted. Globally ambitious.
Fireside Chat
Tim Craggs, CEO of Exciting Instruments, joins for a fireside chat on building at the edge of science and technology.
From academia to startup, he is working to democratise single-molecule detection and unlock breakthroughs in drug discovery, diagnostics, and biophysics.
Panel Discussion
Most AI startups will fail.
This panel is about why, and what the best are doing differently.
Featuring:
Amber Jardine (Mercia Ventures), investing in high-growth, early-stage companies across deep tech, manufacturing, and SaaS
Gary Neville, Sheffield-based technologist building real-world AI solutions and backing grassroots entrepreneurship across the North
Dr Laura Bennett (Royal Academy of Engineering), leading national programmes supporting deep tech founders, scaleups, and regional ecosystems
No theory. No recycled takes. Just practical insight into what is changing and what actually matters.
The Foundry
The Foundry is where things get real.
A fast, focused pitch segment for founders building with intent:
• 3 minutes per business, no slides
• 2 minutes of questions from investors and operators
No fluff. No filler. Just clarity, challenge, and momentum.
We’re pleased to confirm Katie Steele, Founder and CEO of Cheribim, will be pitching.
Katie is tackling one of the built environment’s hardest problems, adapting historic buildings for a low-carbon future while maintaining performance, comfort, and heritage value.
With 15+ years across building conservation, BIM, and digital innovation, Cheribim sits at the intersection of AI and the physical world, creating a source of truth for better decisions and more confident investment.
Evening Agenda
17:00 Doors open
17:30 Networking
18:00 Opening remarks
Keynote
Fireside chat
The Foundry
Panel discussion
Closing keynote
19:30 Networking, food and drinks
🚫 Please note
This is a curated room for founders, investors, operators, educators, and senior leaders.
If you are a service provider, consultant, agency, or recruiter, please only attend if invited or directly involved.