Catching UK tech up with the States – Tej Kohli, investor and philanthropist

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UKTN

Technology, Entrepreneur, Tech, Business, Hr, Sales, Uktech, Investing, Funding, Entrepreneurship, Marketing

5 • 6 Ratings

🗓️ 18 March 2025

⏱️ 31 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Tej Kohli, billionaire investor and philanthropist, discusses why he's most excited by the future of esports, biotech and artificial general intelligence, how the UK lacks the collaborative culture between academia and business seen in the US and why Elon Musk should stick to tech and avoid unelected government work.

Kohli is the founder of the investment firm Kohli Ventures and the charity the Tej Kohli Foundation, which aims to effect social and economic change in poor and underserved communities. Kohli warns that while the UK is full of talent and intent, there is not enough conversation about the most cutting-edge ambitious tech ventures.

Transcript

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0:00.0	There's lots of smart people here who have lots of money.
0:10.0	Government itself wants to do the right thing and so do the universities.
0:16.0	But there isn't the type of partnership that exists, let's say, in Stanford or Harvard.
0:23.6	This is very basic, Jane, compared to AGI, which is the real artificial intelligence in the making.
0:29.6	And I don't see many people, at least in this country, our country here, into AGI.
0:39.3	This guy is absolutely brilliant. He should stick to that.
0:40.3	He shouldn't come and interfere in government and go around,
0:43.3	making all these false things.
0:45.3	He's a brilliant guy.
0:51.3	From the first time founders to the funds that back them, innovation needs different.
0:56.0	Our episode partner, HSBC Innovation Banking, is proud to accelerate growth for tech and life science businesses,
1:03.0	creating meaningful connections and opening up a world of opportunity for entrepreneurs and investors alike.
1:10.0	Discover more at www.h.hbc Innovationbanking.com
1:15.1	slash EM-GB. Hello and welcome to the UKTM podcast, a weekly chat with the movers and shakers of the UK tech industry and the destination for all things UK tech related.
1:33.2	I am your host, Jane Wakefield, and today I'm joined by Tej Coley, a billionaire tech investor and philanthropist.
1:40.9	Welcome, Tej.
1:41.8	Hello, Jane. How are you?
1:43.2	I'm very well. Thank you for having me on.
1:45.4	Now, let's start asking you about why you decided to launch the Coley Impact Investment Initiative
1:52.3	in 2017. What was it that you saw in the UK that you wanted to sort of get invested in?
1:58.1	So it's strange that you ask that, you know, I have always wanted to do something high
2:03.7	tech here.
	...

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