Meet the Innovators: Sam Armondi, Co-Founder and MD at Thought Quarter (software development)
Building upon the success of our Supercharging UK Tech and Innovation campaign, techUK is continuing to explore new ways to build an innovation ecosystem that will benefit people, society, economy and the planet.
The Meet the Innovators series aims to celebrate the work of members in promoting a healthy UK innovation ecosystem.
Can you tell me about Thought Quarter? What does it do and who does it work with to achieve this?
We’re proud to be the tech partner of changemakers. We fuel their missions by combining strategy, design, and software development. Together, we create a better world.
What is a specific, tangible example of Thought Quarter promoting a healthy UK innovation ecosystem? Which of the ingredients of innovation does it provide? (enabling, accelerating or applying innovation)
We enable innovation through the ‘Discovery’ part of our process. This often includes user research, data analysis, and solution framing so we can understand the real challenge we’re aiming to address. We come up with various “how might we” scenarios and validate those against available data.
Our client, Livin, approached us with a brief to help them drive digital adoption amongst older, less “digitally-savvy” users. Through user research we discovered that the real barriers for adoption weren’t technical or digital, so no amount of change was going to resolve their challenges and deliver the brief.
Instead, we reframed the brief to better serve the needs of other demographics. This included making online rent payments more accessible, improving property rental journeys, and giving internal teams increased control over individual content topics. Over the project lifetime, the completed work resulted in Livin receiving a net benefit of over £2m.
We accelerate innovation using design sprints to rapidly prototype solutions. For example, we’re currently supporting a client, along with UKRI, to develop a prototype of a B2B high-end architecture product. Rapid prototyping is particularly favourable with changemakers as it allows them to road test a functional prototype with users. From there, we can collect learnings which inform the final product. By accelerating innovation, we reduce costs and set a solid foundation for the growth of the product.
We apply innovation by leveraging our software development skills to implement next-generation technology that helps our clients change the world. For example, one of our clients is using machine learning to pre-empt faults in low-carbon heating installations. The data is collected using IoT technology, analysed using ML and AI, and upcoming faults can be fixed before they become apparent.
And what is your role in this?
As Managing Director, I’m the initial interface between ambitious individuals and our services. My work varies, but typically I support them to identify the challenge they’re looking to address, discuss potential approaches, and advise which of our services is most suitable. It’s my job to provide clarity in the early stages of our partnership.
What challenges has Thought Quarter's work addressed and how has it addressed them?
Because we’re an agency, we’re extremely fortunate that we get to address lots of different challenges across a range of high-impact areas including clean energy, housing, community volunteering, energy efficiency, and the circular economy.
Throughout all our work, the recurring challenge we address is digital inclusivity. To us, inclusivity means creating digital products and services that can be used by anyone, on any device, in any setting.
I’m passionate about this because I believe digital inequality is one of the key blockers on our “tech for a better world” mission – unless everyone can use it, how can we achieve our goals?
To address that challenge consistently, we’ve invested a lot of time, effort, and money in building a user-centric design approach that understands the needs of users, captures the best way of addressing those needs, and delivers functional and beautiful interfaces.
What’s your long-term vision for the sector or ecosystem? What else is needed to achieve the UK’s vision of becoming a Science and Tech superpower?
I would like to see the tech sector become much more accessible to people from all walks of life. Although a lot of progress has been made, I’m hopeful that in the next 10 years every child will be able to learn coding in primary school, advance their skills in secondary schools, and see software development and associated disciplines as a career choice that is open to them if they want to pursue it.
How has your techUK membership enabled you to achieve this? What have you enjoyed, valued or learned during the process?
I’ve really enjoyed the events where very broad stakeholder groups have come together including industry, infrastructure, and government. The openness to discussion from all participants has been really refreshing.
Finally, what one piece of advice would you give to other techUK member companies looking to promote a healthy innovation ecosystem?
Lead, don’t follow. It’s easy to sit back and complain about talent shortages, skill availability, market maturity, a lack of funding, and so on. Instead, make a new way. Train young people, find new markets, evolve your business model. You don’t need someone to path the way, be a changemaker.
techUK members can feature in this series!
Are you interested in showcasing how your company is leading on innovation and promoting a healthy UK innovation ecosystem?
techUK member companies are eligible to participate in this series, completely free of charge!
Episodes are promoted extensively throughout the year to thousands of stakeholders across the UK's technology sector (including tech companies, VCs, policy officials, and ministers) via techUK's monthly newsletters, website pages, and social channels.
Please contact [email protected] to feature in this series or enquire about techUK membership.
This series is hosted & produced by:
Rory Daniels
Senior Programme Manager, Emerging Technologies
Rory Daniels
Senior Programme Manager, Emerging Technologies
Rory joined techUK in June 2023 after three years in the Civil Service on its Fast Stream leadership development programme.
During this time, Rory worked on the Government's response to Covid-19 (NHS Test & Trace), school funding strategy (Department for Education) and international climate and nature policy (Cabinet Office). He also tackled the social care crisis whilst on secondment to techUK's Health and Social Care programme in 2022.
Before this, Rory worked in the House of Commons and House of Lords alongside completing degrees in Political Economy and Global Politics.
Today, Rory leads techUK's emerging technologies activity across everything from immersive, web3, AI and robotics to space, gaming & metaverse.
This involves co-running techUK's flagship Innovation campaign, managing four series (including the 'Meet the Innovators' interview series), and launching 4-6-month 'sprint campaigns' on transformative technologies and sectors.
Programme Assistant, Technology and Innovation, techUK
Harriet Allen
Programme Assistant, Technology and Innovation, techUK
Tania Teixeira
Social Media and Content Manager, techUK
Tania Teixeira
Social Media and Content Manager, techUK
Tania joined the Marketing and Communications team at techUK as a Social Media and Content Manager in July 2022.
Prior to techUK, Tania worked at early-stage tech start-ups (both art-tech and fintech). With a creative educational background (BA in Fine Arts and MA in Writing), Tania developed the core skills to grow expertise in content creation across various formats. Tania is passionate about organic growth and community building and she will help build and expand techUK’s incredible community of thought leaders.
Outside work hours, Tania loves to be around nature and animals, discovering new food and enjoying music events.
The UK is home to emerging technologies that have the power to revolutionise entire industries. From quantum to semiconductors; from gaming to the New Space Economy, they all have the unique opportunity to help prepare for what comes next.
techUK members lead the development of these technologies. Together we are working with Government and other stakeholders to address tech innovation priorities and build an innovation ecosystem that will benefit people, society, economy and the planet - and unleash the UK as a global leader in tech and innovation.
For more information, or to get in touch, please visit our Innovation Hub and click ‘contact us’.
techUK's sprint campaigns explore how emerging and transformative technologies are developed, applied and commercialised across the UK's innovation ecosystem.
Activity includes workshops, roundtables, panel discussions, networking sessions, Summits, and flagship reports (setting out recommendations for Government and industry).
Each campaign runs for 4-6 months and features regular collaborations with programmes across techUK.
techUK's latest sprint campaign is on Robotic & Automation technologies. Find out how to get involved by clicking here.
Running from September to November 2023, this campaign explored how the UK can lead on the development, application and commercialisation of space technologies, bring more non-space companies into the sector, and ultimately realise the benefits of the New Space Economy.
These technologies include AI, quantum, lasers, robotics & automation, advanced propulsion and materials, and semiconductors.
Activity has taken the form of roundtables, panel discussions, networking sessions, Summits, thought leadership pieces, policy recommendations, and a report. The report, containing member case studies and policy recommendations, was launched in March 2024 at Satellite Applications Catapult's Harwell campus.
Get in touch below to find out more about techUK's ongoing work in this area.
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Rory joined techUK in June 2023 after three years in the Civil Service on its Fast Stream leadership development programme.
During this time, Rory worked on the Government's response to Covid-19 (NHS Test & Trace), school funding strategy (Department for Education) and international climate and nature policy (Cabinet Office). He also tackled the social care crisis whilst on secondment to techUK's Health and Social Care programme in 2022.
Before this, Rory worked in the House of Commons and House of Lords alongside completing degrees in Political Economy and Global Politics.
Today, Rory leads techUK's emerging technologies activity across everything from immersive, web3, AI and robotics to space, gaming & metaverse.
This involves co-running techUK's flagship Innovation campaign, managing four series (including the 'Meet the Innovators' interview series), and launching 4-6-month 'sprint campaigns' on transformative technologies and sectors.
Running from January to May 2024, this sprint campaign explored how the UK can lead on the development, application and commercialisation of the technologies set to underpin the Gaming & Esports sector of the future.
These include AI, augmented / virtual / mixed / extended reality, haptics, cloud & edge computing, semiconductors, and advanced connectivity (5/6G).
Activity took the form of roundtables, panel discussions, networking sessions, Summits, and thought leadership pieces. A report featuring member case studies and policy recommendations was launched at The National Videogame Museum in November 2024.
Get in touch below to find out more about techUK's future plans in this space.
This features 8 future tech trends, case studies, and recommendations for Government to make future leadership in gaming and Esports technologies a reality.
This webinar explored the gaming industry of tomorrow and asked what steps businesses can take to lead in the development, commercialisation, application and adoption of the key emerging technologies that will underpin it.
This webinar explored the key technologies behind the future of Esports in the UK and asked what more the UK can do to lead on their development and application.
Rory joined techUK in June 2023 after three years in the Civil Service on its Fast Stream leadership development programme.
During this time, Rory worked on the Government's response to Covid-19 (NHS Test & Trace), school funding strategy (Department for Education) and international climate and nature policy (Cabinet Office). He also tackled the social care crisis whilst on secondment to techUK's Health and Social Care programme in 2022.
Before this, Rory worked in the House of Commons and House of Lords alongside completing degrees in Political Economy and Global Politics.
Today, Rory leads techUK's emerging technologies activity across everything from immersive, web3, AI and robotics to space, gaming & metaverse.
This involves co-running techUK's flagship Innovation campaign, managing four series (including the 'Meet the Innovators' interview series), and launching 4-6-month 'sprint campaigns' on transformative technologies and sectors.
Running from July to December 2024, this campaign explored how the UK can lead on the development, application and commercialisation of web3 and immersive technologies.
These include blockchain, smart contracts, digital assets, augmented / virtual / mixed / extended reality, spatial computing, haptics and holograms.
Activity took the form of roundtables, workshops, panel discussions, networking sessions, tech demos, Summits, thought leadership pieces, policy recommendations, and a report (to be launched in 2025).
Get in touch below to find out more about techUK's future plans in this space.
This features 8 future tech trends, case studies, and recommendations for Government to make future leadership in gaming and Esports technologies a reality.
Rory joined techUK in June 2023 after three years in the Civil Service on its Fast Stream leadership development programme.
During this time, Rory worked on the Government's response to Covid-19 (NHS Test & Trace), school funding strategy (Department for Education) and international climate and nature policy (Cabinet Office). He also tackled the social care crisis whilst on secondment to techUK's Health and Social Care programme in 2022.
Before this, Rory worked in the House of Commons and House of Lords alongside completing degrees in Political Economy and Global Politics.
Today, Rory leads techUK's emerging technologies activity across everything from immersive, web3, AI and robotics to space, gaming & metaverse.
This involves co-running techUK's flagship Innovation campaign, managing four series (including the 'Meet the Innovators' interview series), and launching 4-6-month 'sprint campaigns' on transformative technologies and sectors.
Our annual Campaign Weeks enable techUK members to explore how the UK can lead on the development and application of emerging and transformative technologies.
Members do this by contributing blogs or vlogs, speaking at events, and highlighting examples of best practice within the UK's tech sector.
During this week we will be bringing you news, views and insights from the technology sector on what Quantum Commercialisation will mean to the UK’s society and economy. you can read more below #QuantumUK
#UnleashInnovation - techUK's Technology and Innovation programme is excited to host its innovation campaign week, as part of the Unleashing Innovation campaign, from 13-17 May.
#SuperchargeUKTech - techUK's Technology and Innovation programme is excited to have hosted its innovation campaign week, as part of the Supercharging Innovation campaign, between 18-22 September.
