We are Innovators and Disruptors

At the AI Forge, we're driven to disrupt the status quo and push the boundaries of innovation. We embody this spirit every day, both in our work and in the people we bring on to our team.

Company values

Our Mission

We are well-positioned to become a major player in the world of AI incubation. Our plan is to expand to eight offices worldwide by 2026. The founding team has extensive experience in both starting and then securing exits in the multi-millions. They have also started a Blockchain incubator, which created companies that accounted for 24% of all UK Blockchain investments in 2022.

Our global growth also enables us to recruit a more diverse talent pool, stimulating new ideas and masterclasses to include in our programme and creating a more resilient business model.

Founded
2023
Employees
25
Countries
2
Founder Exits
13

Our Background

We built the UK’s #1 Blockchain Incubator

This incubator accounted for 24% of all Blockchain investments in 2022.

Block Dojo was officially launched on January 8th, 2022, as a dedicated blockchain incubator aimed at fostering innovation and nurturing promising startups in the field. Since its inception, Block Dojo has successfully initiated the growth of 33 cutting-edge companies, empowering them with the resources and mentorship necessary for their development and eventual success.

In February 2023, Block Dojo caught the attention of nChain, a leading global blockchain technology company, and was subsequently acquired. The strategic acquisition allowed us to expand our vision and support a new generation of AI startups through our recently established AI Forge incubator.

More at www.blockdojo.io

In-Person Support

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Meetup Events

Meetup event with investors and fouders

Investor Events

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Demo Days

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Who We Are

We're a team of serial entrepreneurs driven to create real-world value through AI innovation. Our incubator, AI Forge, rapidly launches bold ideas and provides comprehensive support to startups, including world-class mentorship, funding, and resources. Our goal is to revolutionize the AI industry by empowering startups to develop game-changing solutions that tackle real-world challenges.

  • Craig Massey

    CEO

    Craig Massey is a dynamic entrepreneur with a keen eye for finance and an unwavering drive to succeed. He's not afraid to take risks or pivot his business when necessary, and his contagious energy motivates those around him. With years of experience under his belt, Craig knows exactly how to make the perfect investor deck and give tough love feedback when needed. He's also great at building teams and creating a fun, supportive community. And when it's time to celebrate, Craig knows how to throw a wild party!

  • Robin Gounder

    CTO

    Robin Gounder is true visionary in the world of technology. With a deep understanding of AI and blockchain, he is a true tech genius who founded Vaionex in 2020 (V: 21.5M), a top-tier blockchain infrastructure company that processes an impressive 3 million transactions daily. Robin's unique ability to build startups cost-effectively and with incredible efficiency is truly exceptional, making him an invaluable asset to any team in the fast-paced tech industry.

  • Kevin Jackson

    Director International

    Kevin Jackson is the International Director at AI Forge. Kevin was the head of a division at Saatchi Group and rolled out 16 agencies for Grey Global; with over 10 years of experience creating communication strategies for emerging technology companies he is an expert in building and managing operations globally. Kevin has co-founded four companies and is a serial investor in tech startup.

The London Team

Our London team is thrilled to be part of the dynamic tech ecosystem in the city, which is home to major industry leaders like Google, Amazon, and Facebook. With over £7.2 billion in venture capital invested in London startups in 2022 alone, the city is rapidly emerging as a hub for technology and innovation. Our presence in the UK capital not only bolsters our global expansion plans but also grants us convenient access to the thriving European AI market.

Our team is dedicated to harnessing the favourable business environment and innovation-driven government in London to support entrepreneurs and startups in the region. We specialize in AI and machine learning, and are committed to providing our clients with powerful financial models to help them achieve success. With top universities nearby, a vibrant tech scene, and a collaborative community, London is the ideal location for our team to continue fostering innovation and growth in the AI industry.

  • Ian Mackinnon

    Programme Director

    Ian Mackinnon is a renowned serial DeepTech entrepreneur with over 15 years of invaluable experience in incubators and accelerators, as well as over a decade of mentoring tech founders. As an expert in information systems and innovation, Ian has played a pivotal role in the launch and growth of numerous successful startups. Throughout his impressive career, he has cultivated a reputation for nurturing emerging technologies and fostering a spirit of collaboration among young entrepreneurs.

  • Kelly Roberts

    Dealflow Director

    Kelly Roberts is a dynamic business development professional with a proven track record in various high-profile roles. As the former Dealflow Director at Block Dojo, she successfully navigated the complex landscape of blockchain technology and helped secure lucrative opportunities for the organization. Prior to that, she honed her skills in business development at prestigious firms such as Freshfields and Savills, where she pitched for over £600 million in business.

  • Andy Weston

    Partnership Director

    Andy Weston is an accomplished tech entrepreneur with two successful startup exits under his belt, demonstrating his prowess in the world of technology and business. As the former Head of EU Product for industry giants Amdocs and Verizon, he has garnered extensive experience in driving product innovation and maintaining a strong market presence.

  • Natascha Scholten

    Investment Director

    Natascha Scholten stands out as a seasoned expert in capital raising and strategic partnerships. As the Investment Director at AI Forge, she leverages her deep-rooted expertise to drive business growth. Her tenure at globally recognized institutions like Barclays Investment Bank and Moody's Investors Service has honed her skills in structured finance and investment analysis. Natascha's distinguished career, spanning from Amsterdam's top law firms to London's leading financial institutions, positions her as a trusted figure in the world of finance and investment.

  • Shaw Tsen

    Operations Manager

    Shaw Tsen has a rich background in operations, holding positions such as COO for Yourkeys (Proptech), Head of Operations at Zoopla, Campaign Manager at Monitise, and Operations Manager at Last Second Tickets. With extensive experience in managing and overseeing various operations, Shaw has a proven ability to drive efficiency and success.

  • Kate Stickland

    Events Manager

    Kate Stickland is a seasoned professional with a strong background in sales and media. She has spent 5 years as a Sales Director in Telecommunications and 6 years as a Director of a UK Media Broadcaster. Kate has also served as a Deal Flow Manager at Block Dojo, focusing on blockchain technology. Passionate about innovation-driven events, Kate now excels as an Events Manager.

  • Gregory Dean

    Investment Manager

    Gregory brings a wealth of experience in fundraising, M&A and strategic partnerships at high growth technology startups. As an M&A analyst, he played a key role in the meteoric growth of digital health giant Cera, establishing them as one of the largest health-tech players in Europe. And with experience raising over £300 million from Seed through to Series C across multiple scale-ups, he is poised to support our founders as they fundraise, while also driving our investment thesis for future cohorts.

The Miami Team

Our Miami team is excited to be a part of the thriving tech ecosystem in the city, which has attracted major players in the industry, including Spotify, Microsoft, and Apple. With more than $5.3 billion in venture capital being invested in Miami startups in 2022 alone, the city is quickly becoming a hub for technology and innovation. Our presence in South Florida not only supports our plans for global expansion but also provides us with easy access to a large and growing market for AI in Latin America.

Our team is committed to leveraging the favourable business environment and innovation-friendly government of Miami to help entrepreneurs and startups in the area. We are experts in AI and machine learning and are dedicated to providing our clients with robust financial models to help them achieve success. With top universities in the area, a booming tech scene, and a supportive community, Miami is the perfect location for our team to continue driving innovation and growth in the AI industry.

  • Miguel Diaz

    Program Director

    Miguel Diaz is the Program Director at AI Forge (Miami), responsible for managing, curating, implementing, and facilitating the curriculum for AI Forge. With over 15 years of management consulting experience, including Accenture, Miguel designed and deployed a strategic, learning certification program for all Business Analysts of a global healthcare company. He also built, managed, and expanded operations globally for a British manufacturing company with $20M P&L.

  • Patrick Thompson

    Dealflow Director

    Patrick Thompson is the Dealflow Director at AI Forge (Miami), responsible for creating measurable, high-impact deal flow strategies that lead to brand growth. With over 10 years of experience creating communication strategies for emerging technology companies, Patrick has successfully founded and grew two companies from the ground up without external investment. He has been featured on some of the world's largest stages to provide insight and perspective on the latest trends and developments in bleeding-edge tech industries.

  • Roxette Irvine

    Investment Manager

    Roxette Irvine is the Investment Manager at AI Forge, bringing with her a wealth of experience in building startup ecosystems and connecting founders with investors. In her earlier roles, Roxette spearheaded accelerators, an incubator, and has been pivotal in tech company exits. With a strong focus on aiding founders in securing funding over the past 5 years, she has also excelled as the Director of Founder Institute, where she introduced innovative accelerator programs and founder-investor initiatives. Her journey has allowed her to craft an unmatched network consisting of investors, founders, and community collaborators. Roxette's hands-on approach with early-stage startups has shaped her founder-centric mindset, making her adept at refining startup strategies and fundraising methodologies. With a keen interest in AI-driven innovations, she is devoted to discovering and mentoring talented entrepreneurs. At AI Forge, Roxette is eager to pair the next wave of AI startups with the perfect investment partners.

  • Paul Spende

    Chief Technology Officer

    Paul is a technical virtuoso, currently helming the technological advancements at AI Forge. Before joining AI Forge, he showcased his proficiency as a Software Engineer at PassFort, a Moody's Analytics company. At neXenio, Paul's adeptness was evident as he not only delved deep into the MERN stack but also pioneered the introduction of the react-testing-library to the codebase. His dedication to clean coding and his ability to craft robust solutions, such as a POS system integrating Stripe and iOS, set him apart. In Berlin, his tenure at TolaData as a Data Scientist saw him innovating interactive dashboard solutions with Javascript and D3 and creating pivotal data migration tools. Paul's early experiences include a role at 4flow, emphasizing test automation and Java development. Across his career, Paul has seamlessly blended data science insights with software development prowess, ensuring technological excellence in his ventures.

  • Jennetta George

    AI Outreach Advisor

    Jennetta is a leader in the AI and tech ecosystem both in Miami and internationally. Named Top 100 Women of the Future in 2023, Jennetta has grown her career in executive consulting, business strategy and AI engineering through advising and delivering AI products for top companies such as Apple, AWS, and Meta. Jennetta is extremely passionate about the startup space, as a 2x founder of her own AI companies, and finds the most fulfillment from helping founders leverage AI to enhance their products and, in turn, make the world a better place through ethically and responsibly applied AI and engineering practices.

  • Heather A. Matjasic

    Director, Investments & Partnerships

    Heather is a seasoned professional with nearly 25 years of experience in sports, business operations, and investment. She began her career with the Cleveland Browns in 1999 and has worked with various college football teams, NFL franchises, and ESPN/ABC Sports. Over the past decade, Heather has excelled in consulting for startups, managed biotech facility operations, and played a key role in angel fund management, even overseeing Florida's largest angel fund. With a degree in Sports Industry from Ohio University and five certifications from Wharton Business School, she brings a wealth of expertise and a robust network of global connections.

Start Making an Impact

In addition to hiring key personnel, we actively seek talented individuals to join our team as paid Associates for each Cohort. If you are a driven and skilled individual seeking an opportunity to grow, we invite you to reach out and say hello. Our team is dedicated to fostering a supportive and inclusive workplace culture that values diversity and encourages collaboration

See our Job Openings