David Richards MBE

Commander
DISC Type : D

Co-Founder & Managing Partner at Yorkshire AI Labs LLP

Sheffield, England, United Kingdom

Overview

David Richards MBE is the Co-Founder of Yorkshire AI Labs, dedicated to funding and scaling early-stage AI companies outside of London. With a 30-year career spanning Silicon Valley and the UK, he is a technology entrepreneur focused on rebuilding Britains innovation ecosystem. People often describe him as having great strategic vision, enthusiasm, and a capacity for ferocious hard work.

Outside of his ventures, David is a committed philanthropist, co-founding the Laptops for Kids campaign and serving as a trustee for the David and Jane Richards Family Foundation. He actively shapes public discourse on technologys impact as a columnist for the Yorkshire Post and as the host of The Digital Forge Podcast.

Unique fact: Through Yorkshire AI Labs, he launched an AI-native law firm, LEXcelerate, designed to automate 90% of administrative work in property transactions.

Personality Overview

Very Quick

Candid & Clear

Risk-Taker

They are not always relationship oriented.  They respond well to strong and respectful communication. They take a lot of pride in personal achievements.

Topics They Care About

Applied AI
Focuses on investing in AI companies that solve real-world problems in sectors like manufacturing, law, and healthcare, rather than general-purpose AI.
Regional Economic Growth
His mission is to democratise venture capital and foster innovation in the North of England, believing talent is everywhere but opportunity is not.
Closing the Opportunity Gap
Through his work with the Social Mobility Commission and philanthropic efforts, he is passionate about ensuring a person's starting point in life doesn't limit their potential.

Media Appearances

David has no verified media appearances

Work History

1-2024
Co-Founder & Managing Partner at Yorkshire AI Labs LLP
11-2025
Executive Chair at Yorkshire AI PLC
1-2025
Economic Growth and Investment Group @ The Social Mobility Commission at Cabinet Office
2-2025
Columnist at Yorkshire Post
9-2025
Host - The Digital Forge Podcast at The Digital Forge Po

Education

1990 - 1994
BSc. (Hons) from The University of Huddersfield
1-2023 - 1-2023
PhD (Honorary) from The University of Sheffield

More Information

Social Presence :

Prographics :

Exp : 19 Location : Sheffield, England, United Kingdom Job Level : Leadership Designation : Co-Founder & Managing Partner at Yorkshire AI Labs LLP
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Insights For Selling To David

During A Call Or A Meeting

DO's

  • Make sure that you circle back fast on any action items, it wins their trust
  • Help them weigh the risks by sharing objective proof points without becoming too analytical
  • Objectively showcase the impact that your product creates

DONT's

  • Do not back off when challenged, respond with a confident, objective answer instead
  • Do not spend too much time focusing on product tech or features
  • Don’t focus on process and rules, give the impression of being a ‘gets it done’ person

When Cold Calling

When Writing An Email

While Negotiating & Closing

    The secret to closing fast with David is

  • Confidence in impact is paramount to them, followed by a sense of achievement and ROI.
  • Will you ever get a clear answer from David

  • If they are not convinced, they will have no hesitation in telling you the same.

Insights For Deal Planning

    How fast (or slow) will David move?

  • They can reach decisions fairly quickly if they are convinced.
  • Can David take some risk or not?

  • They don’t mind risks but can be quite binary about them.

You And David

Personality Compatibility


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