Matt Clifford

Matt Clifford is a prominent British entrepreneur, known for co-founding Entrepreneur First (EF), a leading talent investor and startup accelerator established in 2011 alongside Alice Bentinck. Under his leadership, EF has supported the creation of numerous successful startups, with a combined valuation exceeding $10 billion. Clifford's work focuses on identifying and nurturing exceptional individuals to help them build innovative companies from scratch.123

In addition to his role at EF, Clifford serves as the Chair of the UK's Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA), which is dedicated to funding groundbreaking research and development initiatives. His influence extends into government, where he was appointed as the Prime Minister's representative for the AI Safety Summit in 2023, reflecting his commitment to addressing the challenges and opportunities presented by artificial intelligence.245

Clifford is also an author, having co-written How to be a Founder, which explores the traits and skills necessary for successful entrepreneurship. His educational background includes a Bachelor's degree from the University of Cambridge and a Master's degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).35

His contributions to the tech and startup ecosystem have earned him recognition, including being appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2024 for his services to AI.25