UK Startups Lacking AI Expertise at Board Level

TL;DR: Only 32% of UK startups have AI expertise on their boards, lagging behind 40% of FTSE 350 tech companies. The gap correlates with significant revenue differences: FTSE 350 tech firms with AI expertise average £6.8bn revenue versus £953m for those without. However, 32% of companies plan to address this within 12 months.

UK startups and scaleups face a critical skills gap at the executive level regarding artificial intelligence, according to a new Think & Grow report. Whilst AI capabilities increasingly determine competitive advantage, board-level expertise lags behind larger tech companies.

The Expertise Gap

The report reveals that only 32% of UK startups currently have AI expertise on their boards, compared to 40% of FTSE 350 tech companies. This gap appears even more pronounced when examining revenue correlation: FTSE 350 tech firms with board-level AI specialists average £6.8bn in revenue, compared to £953m for those without such expertise—a £5.8bn difference.

The divide extends across company sizes. Fifty per cent of scaleups exceeding £50m revenue have appointed AI experts to their boards, compared to just 15% of smaller firms. This suggests that companies recognise the strategic value of AI expertise as they scale, but often too late to maximise competitive positioning.

Growth Implications

“Companies without AI expertise on their boards risk losing ground to competitors and stifling growth,” stated Jonathan Jeffries, Think & Grow co-founder. He emphasised that many funded companies struggle to maximise growth potential due to missing board expertise, not just in AI but across critical domains.

The challenge isn’t merely about understanding AI technology—it’s about strategic deployment, risk assessment, and identifying opportunities where AI can drive meaningful business value. Without board-level expertise, companies risk implementing AI reactively rather than strategically, potentially wasting resources on solutions that don’t address core business challenges.

Looking Forward

Despite the current gap, 32% of companies plan to add AI specialists to their boards within the next 12 months, suggesting growing recognition of this strategic deficit. This timeline indicates awareness is increasing, though questions remain about whether the pace of change matches the speed at which AI capabilities are evolving.

For UK startups competing in an increasingly AI-enabled marketplace, board-level expertise represents more than technical knowledge—it’s a strategic necessity for informed decision-making, competitive positioning, and sustainable growth. The companies moving quickest to address this gap may secure lasting advantages whilst others catch up.

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