Hays and Empact Ventures inspire tech start-ups in Milton Keynes networking event

SCS Milton Keynes

Hays, the leading recruiting experts and global super connectors Empact Ventures, recently held an event in Milton Keynes as part of their Super Connect Series to support tech start-ups and scale-ups across the UK and Ireland.

The event brought together top tech start-ups and scale-ups emerging in the UK with decision-makers at corporates, brands, SMEs, non-profits, investors, grant bodies and funding providers. It was supported by Future Kings and Ying De Group along with Seedrs, BizBritain, Angels Den, UGenie, Synap and Linkilaw.

The focus of the event was AI, IoT and AutoTech and its aim was to facilitate collaboration and funding support between organisations.

It began with introductory talks by Kosta Mavroulakis (Founder & CEO, Empact Ventures & Super Connect Series), Kevin Celia (Business Director, Hays UK & Ireland) and Ben Mott (Managing Director of Future Kings).

Following this was a fireside chat hosted by Richard Wiggins (Geek Night & Pixel Creation). Roz Bird (Commercial Director, Silverstone Park and Chair of the Silverstone Technology Cluster) appeared as the guest.

Finally, a discussion panel chaired by Matthew Hughes (Editor in Chief, Top Business Tech) took place. Panellists included Oli Hammond (Associate, Fuel Ventures), Dr. Jo Slota-Newson (Investment Manager, Mercia Technologies), Benn Mott (Managing Director, Future Kings) and Mark Sear (Head of Data and Integration, Maersk).

The day also featured a number of pitches from tech start-ups and scale-ups in the areas of AI, IoT and AutoTech from Milton Keynes.

The event was held on Wednesday, 11th March at MK Gallery in Milton Keynes. It is part of a regional roadshow in 12 cities and towns across the UK and Ireland following a successful pilot in five areas including Bournemouth, Bristol, London, Cambridge and Leeds.

Kosta Mavroulakis, Founder & CEO of Empact Ventures, said: “We are delighted to have brought the Super Connect Series to the area and receive such a great reception from the local tech ecosystem of startups, SMEs, corporates, and funders in particular during a difficult time recently.”

Kevin Celia, Technology Channel Lead at Hays, said: “We had a very positive reception to our event in Milton Keynes which was a pleasure to host in partnership with Empact Ventures. It’s great to see the tech community in the region come together for what was an insightful and inspiring day and one which we hope will create a wealth of opportunities for tech professionals across different sized organisations.”

James Milligan, Director of Hays Digital Technology, said: “Our event in Milton Keynes provided tech start-ups and scale-ups in the area with a rare chance to connect with a diverse range of organisations they might not otherwise come across. By taking this opportunity, small and large organisations alike opened doors to collaborate, share knowledge and support one another.”

Ross Thornley, Co-Founder of Adaptai “In times of uncertainty, experiencing this event in Milton Keynes highlighted how important adaptability is for organisations to thrive by building resilient workforces, leveraging collaborations and embracing technology.”


Bekki Barnes

With 5 years’ experience in marketing, Bekki has knowledge in both B2B and B2C marketing. Bekki has worked with a wide range of brands, including local and national organisations.

Choose an AI solution to transform beyond technology

Kit Cox • 09th December 2024

The first step is knowing exactly what your business wants to achieve with AI; think faster, smarter and more efficient. Once you know what you are working towards, you can start looking for a solution that can help you make it a reality. AI integration can feel like a daunting task at the beginning, so...

A Roadmap to Security and Privacy Compliance

John Lynch Director of Kiteworks • 04th December 2024

Only by understanding the current regulatory environment and implementing robust data protection measures, can organisations enhance their security posture, ensure compliance, and build resilience against the latest cyber threats. This article provides a comprehensive roadmap of how to do it.

Data-Sharing Done Right: Finding the Best Business Approach

Bart Koek • 20th November 2024

To ensure data is not only available, but also accessible to those that need it, businesses recognise that it is vital to focus on collecting, sorting and governing all the data in their organisation. But what happens when data also needs to be accessed and shared across the business? That is where organisations discover a...

Nova: The Ultimate AI-Powered Martech Solution for Boosting Sales, Marketing...

Erin Lanahan • 19th November 2024

Discover how Nova, the AI-powered engine behind Launched, revolutionises Martech by automating sales and marketing tasks, enhancing personalisation, and delivering unmatched ROI. With advanced intent data integration, revenue attribution, and real-time insights, Nova empowers businesses to scale, streamline operations, and outperform competitors like 6Sense and 11x.ai. Experience the future of Martech with Nova’s transformative AI...

How E-commerce Marketers Can Win Black Friday

Sue Azari • 11th November 2024

As new global eCommerce players expand their influence across both European and US markets, traditional brands are navigating a rapidly shifting landscape. These fast-growing Asian platforms have gained traction by offering ultra-low prices, rapid product turnarounds, heavy investment in paid user acquisition, and leveraging viral social media trends to create demand almost in real-time. This...

Why microgrids are big news

Craig Tropea • 31st October 2024

As the world continues its march towards a greener future, businesses, communities, and individuals alike are all increasingly turning towards renewable energy sources to power their operations. What is most interesting, though, is how many of them are taking the pro-active position of researching, selecting, and implementing their preferred solutions without the assistance of traditional...

Is automation the silver bullet for customer retention?

Carter Busse • 22nd October 2024

CX innovation has accelerated rapidly since 2020, as business and consumer expectations evolved dramatically during the Covid-19 pandemic. Now, finding the best way to engage and respond to customers has become a top business priority and a key business challenge. Not only do customers expect the highest standard, but companies are prioritising superb CX to...