The world of technology journalism boasts few figures as influential as the Editor-at-large of TechCrunch. A multifaceted individual, he has been instrumental in shaping the landscape of technology and journalism in the UK and beyond. Awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list in 2016 for his services to the UK technology industry and journalism, his contributions continue to resonate across multiple platforms.
In addition to his editorial duties, he has made significant strides in the European tech scene. Named one of the most influential people in European technology by Wired UK, he has penned articles for numerous UK national newspapers and magazines. His ability to engage with top-tier personalities is evident from interviews with notable figures such as Tony Blair, Dmitry Medvedev, Kevin Spacey, Lily Cole, Pavel Durov, and Jimmy Wales.
His entrepreneurial spirit led him to co-found TheEuropas.com, a prestigious listing of the top 100 European startups. His commitment to societal impact is further demonstrated through his co-founding of notable non-profits like Techfugees.com, TechVets.co, and Startup Coalition. These organizations aim to leverage technology for humanitarian efforts and support veterans transitioning into tech careers.
A regular presence on major news networks, he frequently appears on BBC News, Sky News, CNBC, Channel 4, Al Jazeera, and Bloomberg. His expertise has been sought after by UK Prime Ministers and the Mayor of London for advice on tech startup policy. Furthermore, his reputation as a thought leader has been cemented through speaking engagements at prestigious forums such as the World Economic Forum, Web Summit, and DLD.
GQ magazine recognized him as one of the 100 Most Connected Men in the UK, highlighting his extensive network and influence. He also serves as a judge on The Apprentice UK, showcasing his ability to spot entrepreneurial talent.
In his latest venture, he has raised $4 million in seed funding for his company Space. This innovative cloud-based platform uses AI to revolutionize the design of complex regulated products. As Janis Vavere explains:
“It’s now the right moment to combine modern software architectures and UIs with AI, and apply them to these industries. Companies are looking for something better right now.” – Janis Vavere
Space leverages advanced AI models to address the increasing complexity in designing regulated products across sectors like automotive and aerospace. Janis Vavere elaborates on the technology:
“We use AI models like Llama and then some deterministic AI libraries, as well as aspects of OpenAI’s LLM.” – Janis Vavere
The innovation addresses the limitations of legacy tools which struggle with modern complexities. Janis Vavere highlights the need for updated solutions:
“Every company in the world that builds complex regulated products in automotive, medical, aerospace, and so on, faces the issue that these products are becoming more and more complex, especially to design. The legacy tools and processes are struggling. IBM’s tools for this were designed in the late 80s. It’s a desktop client and needs to be installed on every computer.” – Janis Vavere
Hailing from Riga, Latvia, he brings a wealth of experience from previous roles at Jama Software and Lokalise to his current endeavors.
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