
hello it’s a pleasure to be here today thank you for inviting me so have any of
thank you for inviting me so have any of
thank you for inviting me so have any of you ever had a crazy childhood dream I
you ever had a crazy childhood dream I
you ever had a crazy childhood dream I mean things like going to space being
mean things like going to space being
mean things like going to space being elected Prime Minister I know that being
elected Prime Minister I know that being
elected Prime Minister I know that being a racing car driver is some people’s
a racing car driver is some people’s
a racing car driver is some people’s fantasy for me my childhood fantasy has
fantasy for me my childhood fantasy has
fantasy for me my childhood fantasy has always been about going into technology
always been about going into technology
always been about going into technology and business when I was 11 year or 11
and business when I was 11 year or 11
and business when I was 11 year or 11 years old like many young people in this
years old like many young people in this
years old like many young people in this country I got my first iPod Touch and
country I got my first iPod Touch and
country I got my first iPod Touch and from then on ours exposed the world of
from then on ours exposed the world of
from then on ours exposed the world of mobile applications and software when I
mobile applications and software when I
mobile applications and software when I downloaded some of the first apps was
downloaded some of the first apps was
downloaded some of the first apps was amazed by what I saw and I instantly
amazed by what I saw and I instantly
amazed by what I saw and I instantly fell in love with technology after that
fell in love with technology after that
fell in love with technology after that my desire became to learn more about how
my desire became to learn more about how
my desire became to learn more about how applications are developed and learn how
applications are developed and learn how
applications are developed and learn how to create my own so I searched around
to create my own so I searched around
to create my own so I searched around the internet and I was I came what was
the internet and I was I came what was
the internet and I was I came what was returned to me was loads of jargon which
returned to me was loads of jargon which
returned to me was loads of jargon which my 11 year old self could not understand
my 11 year old self could not understand
my 11 year old self could not understand and from then on I felt like I would
and from then on I felt like I would
and from then on I felt like I would never be able to learn how software was
never be able to learn how software was
never be able to learn how software was developed and I was never able to
developed and I was never able to
developed and I was never able to develop mobile applications so like many
develop mobile applications so like many
develop mobile applications so like many people who try to follow their dreams
people who try to follow their dreams
people who try to follow their dreams and fantasies by the research stage I
and fantasies by the research stage I
and fantasies by the research stage I went on with my life going through
went on with my life going through
went on with my life going through school not being able to do what I
school not being able to do what I
school not being able to do what I wanted to do the problem was was that I
wanted to do the problem was was that I
wanted to do the problem was was that I was surrounded by technology all the
was surrounded by technology all the
was surrounded by technology all the time and as years got went past more
time and as years got went past more
time and as years got went past more people got smartphones and more apps
people got smartphones and more apps
people got smartphones and more apps became popular and this only fueled my
became popular and this only fueled my
became popular and this only fueled my desire to learn more about technology
desire to learn more about technology
desire to learn more about technology and to be able to create my own mobile
and to be able to create my own mobile
and to be able to create my own mobile applications so a few years later I went
applications so a few years later I went
applications so a few years later I went back to my dream and decided to search
back to my dream and decided to search
back to my dream and decided to search the internet again try learn more about
the internet again try learn more about
the internet again try learn more about how mobile applications worked and at
how mobile applications worked and at
how mobile applications worked and at this time it was all before initiatives
this time it was all before initiatives
this time it was all before initiatives such as coding in schools began and I
such as coding in schools began and I
such as coding in schools began and I was very much alone
was very much alone
was very much alone and it was all in my free time and
and it was all in my free time and
and it was all in my free time and luckily I came across a new website that
luckily I came across a new website that
luckily I came across a new website that was developed specifically towards young
was developed specifically towards young
was developed specifically towards young people to teach them how to code and
people to teach them how to code and
people to teach them how to code and after a few weeks I’d quickly picked up
after a few weeks I’d quickly picked up
after a few weeks I’d quickly picked up web development and once I’ve made my
web development and once I’ve made my
web development and once I’ve made my first website I was amazed both by what
first website I was amazed both by what
first website I was amazed both by what I’d created and already I was on my way
I’d created and already I was on my way
I’d created and already I was on my way to fulfilling my dream and after that I
to fulfilling my dream and after that I
to fulfilling my dream and after that I thought well many other people would
thought well many other people would
thought well many other people would have a similar child her dream to me and
have a similar child her dream to me and
have a similar child her dream to me and I’m sure that many other young people at
I’m sure that many other young people at
I’m sure that many other young people at that time were interested in technology
that time were interested in technology
that time were interested in technology and creating software so I went online
and creating software so I went online
and creating software so I went online again and I went to social media and I
again and I went to social media and I
again and I went to social media and I found some other people that were
found some other people that were
found some other people that were interested in coding to ultimate they
interested in coding to ultimate they
interested in coding to ultimate they wanted to collaborate and there at age
wanted to collaborate and there at age
wanted to collaborate and there at age 13 I had my own software development
13 I had my own software development
13 I had my own software development startup now it wasn’t as amazing enough
startup now it wasn’t as amazing enough
startup now it wasn’t as amazing enough sounds when you say software development
sounds when you say software development
sounds when you say software development startup you think of like awesome
startup you think of like awesome
startup you think of like awesome offices with like slides and stuff I
offices with like slides and stuff I
offices with like slides and stuff I mean it was none of that
mean it was none of that
mean it was none of that but it became my hobby and I’d created
but it became my hobby and I’d created
but it became my hobby and I’d created my own apps I mean they were nothing
my own apps I mean they were nothing
my own apps I mean they were nothing groundbreaking they were just copies of
groundbreaking they were just copies of
groundbreaking they were just copies of other things that had been made but I’d
other things that had been made but I’d
other things that had been made but I’d achieved my dream but the problem is
achieved my dream but the problem is
achieved my dream but the problem is then you know I opened the news one
then you know I opened the news one
then you know I opened the news one morning and you hear all the popular
morning and you hear all the popular
morning and you hear all the popular stories of like a 12 year old creating
stories of like a 12 year old creating
stories of like a 12 year old creating an app in their bedroom and then selling
an app in their bedroom and then selling
an app in their bedroom and then selling it to some big company for a few million
it to some big company for a few million
it to some big company for a few million and I was like well I could be that
and I was like well I could be that
and I was like well I could be that person so I then decided to look into
person so I then decided to look into
person so I then decided to look into how I could expand my startup so I went
how I could expand my startup so I went
how I could expand my startup so I went online again and I looked into how I can
online again and I looked into how I can
online again and I looked into how I can officially create a company and how I
officially create a company and how I
officially create a company and how I can make my absolutely even better but
can make my absolutely even better but
can make my absolutely even better but the problem was that in the UK have to
the problem was that in the UK have to
the problem was that in the UK have to be sixteen to register charity a company
be sixteen to register charity a company
be sixteen to register charity a company and I’m still 15 and also to submit to
and I’m still 15 and also to submit to
and I’m still 15 and also to submit to certain app stores you need to be a
certain app stores you need to be a
certain app stores you need to be a certain age to and those limitations
certain age to and those limitations
certain age to and those limitations stood in front of me and I was too
stood in front of me and I was too
stood in front of me and I was too scared to ask my dad to register for me
scared to ask my dad to register for me
scared to ask my dad to register for me because he thought that
because he thought that
because he thought that voting was a waste of time and you can
voting was a waste of time and you can
voting was a waste of time and you can what I should be focusing on my homework
what I should be focusing on my homework
what I should be focusing on my homework so I was too scared to ask him but a few
so I was too scared to ask him but a few
so I was too scared to ask him but a few months later I was brave enough to ask
months later I was brave enough to ask
months later I was brave enough to ask him to do it in my behalf and we managed
him to do it in my behalf and we managed
him to do it in my behalf and we managed to register the company and then after
to register the company and then after
to register the company and then after that the months went by we created
that the months went by we created
that the months went by we created partnerships we managed to start making
partnerships we managed to start making
partnerships we managed to start making some money and my company didn’t just
some money and my company didn’t just
some money and my company didn’t just become a bunch of teams and a group chat
become a bunch of teams and a group chat
become a bunch of teams and a group chat creating some app we were actually going
creating some app we were actually going
creating some app we were actually going places creating real products and that’s
places creating real products and that’s
places creating real products and that’s that’s led me one thing led me to learn
that’s led me one thing led me to learn
that’s led me one thing led me to learn about one thing about dreams and
about one thing about dreams and
about one thing about dreams and ambitions is that many people get stuck
ambitions is that many people get stuck
ambitions is that many people get stuck when they want to do something after the
when they want to do something after the
when they want to do something after the research stage I said a lot about going
research stage I said a lot about going
research stage I said a lot about going online to research how to do something
online to research how to do something
online to research how to do something and many people they go to research a
and many people they go to research a
and many people they go to research a dream and ambition and then they think
dream and ambition and then they think
dream and ambition and then they think it’s too hard oh I can’t do this oh I’m
it’s too hard oh I can’t do this oh I’m
it’s too hard oh I can’t do this oh I’m too young those are things that I faced
too young those are things that I faced
too young those are things that I faced but I was lucky enough to be able to go
but I was lucky enough to be able to go
but I was lucky enough to be able to go past that and get around those
past that and get around those
past that and get around those limitations one example of someone I do
limitations one example of someone I do
limitations one example of someone I do know who their dreams have shrunk
know who their dreams have shrunk
know who their dreams have shrunk because of their research is a friend I
because of their research is a friend I
because of their research is a friend I had in Australia and her dream was
had in Australia and her dream was
had in Australia and her dream was always to go to university in the US and
always to go to university in the US and
always to go to university in the US and she started to research about doing SATs
she started to research about doing SATs
she started to research about doing SATs and stuff and the Australian exams she
and stuff and the Australian exams she
and stuff and the Australian exams she said were hard enough already
said were hard enough already
said were hard enough already and then soon that dream shrunk and she
and then soon that dream shrunk and she
and then soon that dream shrunk and she now goes to a university in Australia
now goes to a university in Australia
now goes to a university in Australia and but it’s not up for it’s not a
and but it’s not up for it’s not a
and but it’s not up for it’s not a problem to compromise but I think that I
problem to compromise but I think that I
problem to compromise but I think that I genuinely believe that if she pushed
genuinely believe that if she pushed
genuinely believe that if she pushed herself as hard as she could she could
herself as hard as she could she could
herself as hard as she could she could have gone to university in the US
have gone to university in the US
have gone to university in the US because a lot of people do and a lot of
because a lot of people do and a lot of
because a lot of people do and a lot of people can so she could have done that
people can so she could have done that
people can so she could have done that and that’s even though I’m only 15 I
and that’s even though I’m only 15 I
and that’s even though I’m only 15 I shouldn’t really give life lessons I
shouldn’t really give life lessons I
shouldn’t really give life lessons I think that as we grow older our sense of
think that as we grow older our sense of
think that as we grow older our sense of what we can do get smaller I mean when
what we can do get smaller I mean when
what we can do get smaller I mean when we’re only maybe seven or eight we might
we’re only maybe seven or eight we might
we’re only maybe seven or eight we might have the dream of going to space but
have the dream of going to space but
have the dream of going to space but when we get a lot older we
when we get a lot older we
when we get a lot older we think about paying off our mortgage and
think about paying off our mortgage and
think about paying off our mortgage and that’s a lot smaller ambition because I
that’s a lot smaller ambition because I
that’s a lot smaller ambition because I feel as we get older we see more of the
feel as we get older we see more of the
feel as we get older we see more of the world and more things come into our life
world and more things come into our life
world and more things come into our life which limits us so that’s why I think
which limits us so that’s why I think
which limits us so that’s why I think your childhood dreams are important
your childhood dreams are important
your childhood dreams are important because especially if you’re still young
because especially if you’re still young
because especially if you’re still young now like many of you are you can you
now like many of you are you can you
now like many of you are you can you still have the opportunity in chance to
still have the opportunity in chance to
still have the opportunity in chance to actually go and do it but the older you
actually go and do it but the older you
actually go and do it but the older you get the more things come into your life
get the more things come into your life
get the more things come into your life I feel and more responsibilities you
I feel and more responsibilities you
I feel and more responsibilities you have but dreams don’t necessarily always
have but dreams don’t necessarily always
have but dreams don’t necessarily always shrink as you get older I mean I make
shrink as you get older I mean I make
shrink as you get older I mean I make getting order more of sound like a very
getting order more of sound like a very
getting order more of sound like a very bad thing
bad thing
bad thing but one example I’ve had in my career
but one example I’ve had in my career
but one example I’ve had in my career being an entrepreneur is sometimes for
being an entrepreneur is sometimes for
being an entrepreneur is sometimes for dreams to get bigger so last summer I
dreams to get bigger so last summer I
dreams to get bigger so last summer I hosted a conference as said in the
hosted a conference as said in the
hosted a conference as said in the introduction and we had 120 teen
introduction and we had 120 teen
introduction and we had 120 teen entrepreneurs like myself from across
entrepreneurs like myself from across
entrepreneurs like myself from across the country to come together in London
the country to come together in London
the country to come together in London to get them to network meet each other
to get them to network meet each other
to get them to network meet each other learn from some other teen entrepreneurs
learn from some other teen entrepreneurs
learn from some other teen entrepreneurs it was a great success I mean originally
it was a great success I mean originally
it was a great success I mean originally the plan was only to have around 50 in
the plan was only to have around 50 in
the plan was only to have around 50 in one room but we expanded that and now in
one room but we expanded that and now in
one room but we expanded that and now in 2017 were having conferences of around
2017 were having conferences of around
2017 were having conferences of around 300 people across the world so my dream
300 people across the world so my dream
300 people across the world so my dream of connecting people I myself and
of connecting people I myself and
of connecting people I myself and bringing them together has only expanded
bringing them together has only expanded
bringing them together has only expanded with time so I think especially with
with time so I think especially with
with time so I think especially with your dreams it’s the research stage that
slows people down but there’s also
slows people down but there’s also important not to be too ambitious
important not to be too ambitious
important not to be too ambitious because I say don’t let don’t let
because I say don’t let don’t let
because I say don’t let don’t let knowledge bring you down like people I
knowledge bring you down like people I
knowledge bring you down like people I as I said often get stopped by the
as I said often get stopped by the
as I said often get stopped by the research stage and when you look into
research stage and when you look into
research stage and when you look into something they think it’s too hard but
something they think it’s too hard but
something they think it’s too hard but it’s also important not to be too
it’s also important not to be too
it’s also important not to be too ambitious and that’s something I’ve
ambitious and that’s something I’ve
ambitious and that’s something I’ve experienced myself because you need a
experienced myself because you need a
experienced myself because you need a balance like anything in life to move
balance like anything in life to move
balance like anything in life to move forward so if you have too much ambition
forward so if you have too much ambition
forward so if you have too much ambition you’ll dream I feel can be too much to
you’ll dream I feel can be too much to
you’ll dream I feel can be too much to manage but if you have too much
manage but if you have too much
manage but if you have too much compromise and let too many things get
compromise and let too many things get
compromise and let too many things get in the way of your dream then it’ll
in the way of your dream then it’ll
in the way of your dream then it’ll become too small and you wonder and
become too small and you wonder and
become too small and you wonder and there is a bit like how you need protein
there is a bit like how you need protein
there is a bit like how you need protein in your diet
in your diet
in your diet you can’t have too much or when you need
you can’t have too much or when you need
you can’t have too much or when you need sugars in your diet too but you don’t
sugars in your diet too but you don’t
sugars in your diet too but you don’t need too much but you can’t have too
need too much but you can’t have too
need too much but you can’t have too little curiosity is another thing I
little curiosity is another thing I
little curiosity is another thing I believe which is important to achieving
believe which is important to achieving
believe which is important to achieving your childhood dreams when we’re young
your childhood dreams when we’re young
your childhood dreams when we’re young we’re so curious into certain things we
we’re so curious into certain things we
we’re so curious into certain things we try new things but as we get older we
try new things but as we get older we
try new things but as we get older we gain more knowledge and the curiosity
gain more knowledge and the curiosity
gain more knowledge and the curiosity declines one time I was too curious was
declines one time I was too curious was
declines one time I was too curious was when I was creating I guess an app for
when I was creating I guess an app for
when I was creating I guess an app for the charity and although it would came
the charity and although it would came
the charity and although it would came out a success when I saw this
out a success when I saw this
out a success when I saw this partnership I was like yes this is going
partnership I was like yes this is going
partnership I was like yes this is going to be big but when I actually came round
to be big but when I actually came round
to be big but when I actually came round to doing it we had a lot of issues for
to doing it we had a lot of issues for
to doing it we had a lot of issues for example one of our team members he left
example one of our team members he left
example one of our team members he left our team randomly vanished into thin air
our team randomly vanished into thin air
our team randomly vanished into thin air one week before he was supposed to
one week before he was supposed to
one week before he was supposed to launch the app and we were all panicking
launch the app and we were all panicking
launch the app and we were all panicking and that’s all was the problem with our
and that’s all was the problem with our
and that’s all was the problem with our team because I’d never met any of these
team because I’d never met any of these
team because I’d never met any of these people in person you know they can just
people in person you know they can just
people in person you know they can just vanish not pick up the phone so and then
vanish not pick up the phone so and then
vanish not pick up the phone so and then we one week before we didn’t have the
we one week before we didn’t have the
we one week before we didn’t have the out ready and it was launching in their
out ready and it was launching in their
out ready and it was launching in their houses of parliment that’s quite big and
houses of parliment that’s quite big and
houses of parliment that’s quite big and [Music]
[Music]
[Music] luckily we managed to get someone to
luckily we managed to get someone to
luckily we managed to get someone to sort out but that’s when I was too
sort out but that’s when I was too
sort out but that’s when I was too curious and I took on too many projects
curious and I took on too many projects
curious and I took on too many projects at the same time and I was over
at the same time and I was over
at the same time and I was over ambitious but that led me to some
ambitious but that led me to some
ambitious but that led me to some problems but one time I didn’t gain
problems but one time I didn’t gain
problems but one time I didn’t gain enough knowledge on what I was doing
enough knowledge on what I was doing
enough knowledge on what I was doing either again knowledge and curiosity
either again knowledge and curiosity
either again knowledge and curiosity related and I hired someone to be our
related and I hired someone to be our
related and I hired someone to be our head of operations and many people have
head of operations and many people have
head of operations and many people have the same dreams I mean I’m sure many
the same dreams I mean I’m sure many
the same dreams I mean I’m sure many people want to be Prime Minister or go
people want to be Prime Minister or go
people want to be Prime Minister or go to space I mean lots of people want to
to space I mean lots of people want to
to space I mean lots of people want to do that right and same with being an
do that right and same with being an
do that right and same with being an entrepreneur lots of people wanted to go
entrepreneur lots of people wanted to go
entrepreneur lots of people wanted to go into business lots of people wanted to
into business lots of people wanted to
into business lots of people wanted to have their own startup in their bedroom
have their own startup in their bedroom
have their own startup in their bedroom which makes 12 million pounds by selling
which makes 12 million pounds by selling
which makes 12 million pounds by selling it a company the next day many people
it a company the next day many people
it a company the next day many people want that when they came to when this
want that when they came to when this
want that when they came to when this guy came to my company he saw something
guy came to my company he saw something
guy came to my company he saw something what I didn’t have and I
what I didn’t have and I
what I didn’t have and I one of my personal strength is in
one of my personal strength is in
one of my personal strength is in recruiting I mean I’m very good at just
recruiting I mean I’m very good at just
recruiting I mean I’m very good at just messaging students across the world and
messaging students across the world and
messaging students across the world and being able to say hey do you want to
being able to say hey do you want to
being able to say hey do you want to join my startup do you want to work with
join my startup do you want to work with
join my startup do you want to work with us to like create something awesome and
us to like create something awesome and
us to like create something awesome and many of them say yes and but some some
many of them say yes and but some some
many of them say yes and but some some some other entrepreneurs are not as good
some other entrepreneurs are not as good
some other entrepreneurs are not as good just doing doing that so one guy joined
just doing doing that so one guy joined
just doing doing that so one guy joined and his aim was to do the same thing we
and his aim was to do the same thing we
and his aim was to do the same thing we were doing and he tried to persuade many
were doing and he tried to persuade many
were doing and he tried to persuade many developers to leave our team and that’s
developers to leave our team and that’s
developers to leave our team and that’s one time where I didn’t follow my
one time where I didn’t follow my
one time where I didn’t follow my knowledge correctly I I let hit I didn’t
knowledge correctly I I let hit I didn’t
knowledge correctly I I let hit I didn’t research him interview him properly and
research him interview him properly and
research him interview him properly and he took all he always destroyed my
he took all he always destroyed my
he took all he always destroyed my startup so that’s one time when I think
startup so that’s one time when I think
startup so that’s one time when I think is important to make sure you gain
is important to make sure you gain
is important to make sure you gain knowledge beforehand so another aspect
knowledge beforehand so another aspect
knowledge beforehand so another aspect that I’ve worked on all my dreams has
that I’ve worked on all my dreams has
that I’ve worked on all my dreams has come out of actually following them so
come out of actually following them so
come out of actually following them so when I started to learn to code it was
when I started to learn to code it was
when I started to learn to code it was very hard
very hard
very hard I was Dodd going over many different
I was Dodd going over many different
I was Dodd going over many different websites there were no clubs near me and
websites there were no clubs near me and
websites there were no clubs near me and it was very hard to find one that was
it was very hard to find one that was
it was very hard to find one that was suited to me because many were suited
suited to me because many were suited
suited to me because many were suited towards more adult audience or to people
towards more adult audience or to people
towards more adult audience or to people who had already started to learn to code
who had already started to learn to code
who had already started to learn to code so it was very hard for me and I decided
so it was very hard for me and I decided
so it was very hard for me and I decided on my own company to create my own
on my own company to create my own
on my own company to create my own platform that can allow people to sort
platform that can allow people to sort
platform that can allow people to sort of learn anything really so we took the
of learn anything really so we took the
of learn anything really so we took the model of allowing community
model of allowing community
model of allowing community collaboration and we tried to put the
collaboration and we tried to put the
collaboration and we tried to put the classroom online so our latest product
classroom online so our latest product
classroom online so our latest product aims to sort of create a live classroom
aims to sort of create a live classroom
aims to sort of create a live classroom and anyone can teach on it and anyone
and anyone can teach on it and anyone
and anyone can teach on it and anyone can learn and we hope we can create a
can learn and we hope we can create a
can learn and we hope we can create a new sector in EdTech
new sector in EdTech
new sector in EdTech by doing that so that’s the latest thing
by doing that so that’s the latest thing
by doing that so that’s the latest thing we’re working on
and yeah knowledge is much easier to get
and yeah knowledge is much easier to get then curiosity and when we’re young
then curiosity and when we’re young
then curiosity and when we’re young curiosity can come out of anything
curiosity can come out of anything
curiosity can come out of anything so if you’re most met most of us in the
so if you’re most met most of us in the
so if you’re most met most of us in the audience now young or not a future ahead
audience now young or not a future ahead
audience now young or not a future ahead of us utilize your curiosity now to go
of us utilize your curiosity now to go
of us utilize your curiosity now to go into many paths and I think that you
into many paths and I think that you
into many paths and I think that you shouldn’t let too many other external
shouldn’t let too many other external
shouldn’t let too many other external conditions affect your ability to grow
conditions affect your ability to grow
conditions affect your ability to grow to the best that you can be and finally
to the best that you can be and finally
to the best that you can be and finally I guess you need a balance between
I guess you need a balance between
I guess you need a balance between curiosity and knowledge and you also
curiosity and knowledge and you also
curiosity and knowledge and you also need a balance between ambition and
need a balance between ambition and
need a balance between ambition and compromise and amongst all of that you
compromise and amongst all of that you
compromise and amongst all of that you need some hope involved too because if
need some hope involved too because if
need some hope involved too because if you don’t have hope when following your
you don’t have hope when following your
you don’t have hope when following your dreams then I don’t think you’ll get
dreams then I don’t think you’ll get
dreams then I don’t think you’ll get very far and you should use the dreams
very far and you should use the dreams
very far and you should use the dreams you have had had in the past and the
you have had had in the past and the
you have had had in the past and the present especially the ones you’ve had
present especially the ones you’ve had
present especially the ones you’ve had when you were much younger because those
when you were much younger because those
when you were much younger because those often reveal much about you even though
often reveal much about you even though
often reveal much about you even though sometimes some people say you order I
sometimes some people say you order I
sometimes some people say you order I think sometimes when you were young too
think sometimes when you were young too
think sometimes when you were young too it helps you to learn who you are I use
it helps you to learn who you are I use
it helps you to learn who you are I use those to create your own dream in the
those to create your own dream in the
those to create your own dream in the future so yeah thank you
future so yeah thank you
future so yeah thank you [Applause]
”
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