AI moves from hype to reality across sectors, say tech founders
Panel at Jewish Leadership Council event explores how data is driving real-world change from insurance to climate tech
Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming industries from insurance to data platforms and climate tech, leading founders told a recent panel hosted by the Jewish Leadership Council (JLC) in partnership with Jewish News and Jews in Technology.
Introduced by Louise Jacobs, JLC vice chair, and moderated by Dan Zinkin, head of data and AI at Investcloud, the Tech Connect event brought together three leading founders from across the tech sector: Emma Sinclair MBE, founder of EnterpriseAlumni, Louise Parlons Bentata, founder of climate-tech company Blue Methane, and Steven Mendel, co-founder of pet insurance unicorn ManyPets.
Speakers highlighted how AI is no longer a future concept but a tool already reshaping how companies operate, make decisions and scale.
Mendel’s ManyPets has grown into a major player in pet insurance, said more than half of claims are now processed using AI, helping to speed up what has traditionally been a manual and time-consuming process.
“About 55% of our claims are now handled by AI,” said Mendel, “but we’re still early in what AI can do here.”
Sinclair, whose company EnterpriseAlumni helps organisations manage and engage networks of former employees, pointed to the growing importance of data in unlocking AI’s potential.
“AI only works if you have the data, and the more data you have, the more powerful it becomes,” she said.
Parlons Bentata explained how the ability to generate and analyse high-quality data is central to her work at Blue Methane, which focuses on capturing methane emissions.
“You need the best technology to extract the best data,” she said.
The panel also reflected on how the tech sector itself is evolving. Parlons Bentata spoke about founding a company during the Covid pandemic without ever meeting her co-founder in person, underlining how digital-first working has reshaped entrepreneurship.
Speakers also pointed to changing approaches to growth and funding, with some companies choosing to move away from traditional venture capital models in favour of more sustainable strategies.
Across sectors, the message was clear: companies that can effectively harness data and integrate AI into their operations are likely to gain a significant competitive advantage as the technology continues to evolve.
JLC head of programmes Laurence Rosenthal said: “We were delighted to bring together tech professionals from across the community to hear from three groundbreaking leaders who are doing exceptional work within their organisations.
“At a time when the community is facing real challenges, it was inspiring to see so many people come together for an evening of learning, connection and collaboration. We’re excited to continue hosting events that create opportunities to share knowledge and build meaningful networks, and it was a real pleasure to partner with Jews in Technology and Jewish News as our media partner.”
Over 70 guests attended the event, which took place at Wallacespace Spitalfields.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
