Founders of AI businesses feature prominently in BusinessCloud’s Founder 250 list, which celebrates 250 of the country’s best founder-led and founder-influenced businesses. RSM UK is the headline sponsor, alongside law firm CG, property specialist OBI and investor Mercia Ventures. Sir Demis Hassabis, founder of Isomorphic Labs and best known as founder and CEO of Google DeepMind, is included; in 2024, he was awarded a knighthood for services to artificial intelligence. Brothers Nick and Richard Mealey founded Connex One in 2013, now rebranded as ConnexAI; in 2022, the company raised £93m in a Series C funding round. Brothers Tobie and Morgan Hitchcock founded SurrealDB in 2021/22; earlier this year, SurrealDB raised $23m in a Series A extension, bringing total investment to $44m. Caroline Grey and Jonathan Horn founded Treefera in 2022, which empowers organisations to fortify supply chains through first-mile visibility. To qualify, companies must have a significant UK presence, be cash-generative, and have been founded no later than 2024. A second ‘Ones to Watch’ list will be published later in the year.