Ian Hogarth

In 2007, Ian Hogarth co-founded Songkick with Michelle You and Pete Smith, creating a platform that grew to serve 15 million music fans discovering concerts. This venture culminated in a 2015 legal settlement where TicketMaster paid shareholders $130 million following an antitrust lawsuit. Hogarth’s early entrepreneurial success included spots on Inc. magazine’s 30-under-30 list in 2010 and Forbes magazine’s 2012 music 30-under-30, along with the British Council’s UK Young Music Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2010.

He also co-founded Silicon Milkroundabout that same year. Having graduated with first-class honours in engineering from Cambridge University, he demonstrated an early aptitude for AI by developing a computer vision system for classifying cancer biopsy images in 2004. In 2015, Songkick merged with CrowdSurge, securing a $16.6 million Series C investment, and Hogarth became co-CEO. Transitioning from operational leadership, Hogarth established a significant investment career, backing over 50 startups since 2014, primarily those leveraging machine learning across diverse sectors like drug discovery, sales, and defense.

His notable portfolio includes companies such as Anthropic, Cleo, Chorus AI, Hopin, Helsing, and Kheiron Medical. Further solidifying his role as an authority in AI, Hogarth has co-authored the annual ‘State of AI Report’ since 2018, a widely read publication providing critical insights into global AI advancements and trends. Expanding his impact in the tech ecosystem, Hogarth co-founded Plural Platform in 2021, an early-stage venture capital firm dedicated to investing in frontier technology and science. He also serves as Chair of Phasecraft, a quantum computing startup.

As Chair of the UK Government’s AI Foundation Model Taskforce, Hogarth is at the forefront of conversations surrounding AI safety and ethical development, reinforcing his standing as a key voice in both entrepreneurial ventures and the responsible future of technology.