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OPUS at Davos: Access, Insight, Opportunity

January 31, 2025

The World Economic Forum at Davos is where global decisions get made—and OPUS founders were in the rooms that mattered. From private sessions with industry leaders to high-level discussions on AI, investment, and leadership, the OPUS delegation gained rare access to the conversations shaping the future.


Key Takeaways from The World Economic Forum at Davos 2025


🔹 AI is moving faster than expected. At Goals House, Pearson and ServiceNow made it clear: businesses that integrate AI now will lead, while those that hesitate will fall behind. The best advice? Experiment, automate, and rethink how you work.

🔹 Davos is about deals, not just discussions. OPUS founder James Gozney (Aslan) landed a Sky News feature after securing a major seed round led by Notion Capital. Across the week, the investment landscape was clear—Europe must push harder to compete with the U.S. and Asia in funding and scaling innovation.

🔹 The best conversations aren’t always on stage. From an impromptu session on the floor of a shopping centre with The Female Quotient to an intimate Mastercard roundtable, the standout moments happened in unexpected places. The takeaway? Be in the right spaces, not just the big ones.

🔹 Founders need to play bigger. At a private KPMG gathering, business leaders asked the tough questions: What bold moves is the UK making? With global competition intensifying, ambitious founders must drive change, not wait for it.

🔹 Geopolitics is shaping business strategy. With Trump’s return dominating discussions, business leaders debated the implications—lighter regulation in the U.S., shifting global trade relations, and a call for Europe to move faster on innovation and investment. Founders who understand these shifts will be ahead of the curve.

🔹 Mental resilience is a business advantage. At Lightspeed HQ, Project Healthy Minds led a candid conversation on the pressures founders face. The key insight? Prioritising mental clarity is just as critical as securing funding—because the best decisions come from the sharpest minds.


OPUS: A Community Built on Access

Access is everything, and OPUS ensures our members get it. Davos is just one part of our year-round programming designed to put founders in the right rooms, with the right people, at the right time. Whether it’s securing investment, navigating market shifts, or gaining insights that change the way you build, OPUS is about making the inaccessible, accessible—and turning connections into opportunities.

Until next year.


Meet the Delegation:

Anuscha Iqbal – CEO & Co-Founder, Qanooni; Former Co-Founder, Spotii

Cameron Shaw – Multi-Exit Founder with ventures in airspace, biotech, property, and tech


Gemma Kroon – Head of Programming and Experiences, OPUS

Giuliano Celle – Finance Executive, Investor, Entrepreneur

Derek Urben – Founder, Imperium; Former Investor, Left Lane; Ex-CFO, Coinigy

Jordan Relfe MRICS – Co-Founder, LifeProven ESG Property Company

Jordan Buck – Co-Founder & President, Cadro

Janine Subgang – Founder, Bizzed AI

James Gozney – Founder & CEO, Aslan

Kevin Kilty – CEO & Founder, Hubpay

Lauren Tack (née Stewart) – Strategic Accounts Advisor, Celonis; Angel Investor

Oli Strong – Managing Director, OPUS

Ken Donald – Exited Co-Founder & Former COO, Snoop

Kate Horsley – CEO, Chai Digital

Tamara Samman – Chief Strategy and Growth Officer, CMCS

Sam Ewuosho FRSA – Founder, The Next Lighthouse

Sam Tidswell-Norrish  – Chair & Founder, OPUS

Niama El Bassunie, CFA – Managing Partner, Baobab Network; Founder, WaystoCap

Nick Eastwood – Chief of Staff, The Chief of Staff Association