Startups, AI, and the Future of Innovation: Key Takeaways from SXSW London

Recently at SXSW London, Amex Ventures’ Global Head, Matt Sueoka, opened the Startups track programming with a keynote focused on the next wave of global innovation and the role that the startup ecosystem in the UK, and Europe more broadly, can play.

With founders, investors, and ecosystem builders from across the UK and beyond in attendance, Matt highlighted the return of momentum to the venture space and the opportunities that generative and agentic AI can unlock.

“The best founders stay focused on solving real problems,” Matt shared. “And the best investors show up not just with capital, but as true partners.”

Key Takeaways from the Keynote:

• A new cycle of innovation is here
  • After a few tough years, capital is returning to early-stage startups, with $13.5B deployed across Europe and the UK in 2024. Much of this growth is being driven by real AI use cases in fintech, cybersecurity, healthcare, and infrastructure.
• Gen AI is transforming how startups are built
  • Founders are using AI to code, test, automate, and engage customers faster than ever. Many are doing this before raising a Series A, allowing small teams to scale more efficiently.
• Agentic AI introduces new challenges and opportunities
  • As AI technology continues to evolve, AI-powered products will no longer just be able to respond to commands, but they will also be able to act and transact on behalf of users. This shift will require new approaches to identity verification and digital payments that are seamless, secure and trustworthy.
• London is a true global crossroads for innovation
  • With access to capital, top-tier talent and global connectivity, London remains Europe’s top VC city with a vibrant startup ecosystem.

How Amex Ventures Is Investing in the Future

“Vinod Khosla recently asked, ‘When will we get the first billion-dollar revenue company with ten employees?’” Matt shared. “I think we’re closer than many people realize. Gen AI is becoming a powerful force multiplier—what used to take a team of ten can now be done by three. Early-stage companies are using Gen AI to write code, build prototypes, generate marketing content and analyze customer feedback—often before they’ve even raised a Series A.”

At Amex Ventures, we’re focused on backing startups across three critical areas in the Gen AI space:

• Safe and trustworthy AI deployment
• Enterprise efficiency and productivity
• Proprietary data-driven customer experiences

In addition to investing, we’re creating new pathways for startups to engage with American Express. This year, we launched a dedicated Gen AI startup partnership track within our broader startup support pilot program. This partnership track is run in collaboration with our Technology team, and it offers select startups the opportunity to pilot their solutions with American Express. Participants receive practical, actionable feedback and enterprise-level exposure along the way.

We’re always looking to meet visionary founders and partners across Europe and beyond. Reach out to us at amexventures@aexp.com if you’re building a product within enterprise software, fintech, commerce or consumer experiences (especially in travel, dining and entertainment).

Published Date June 5, 2025