PLUGinLONDON: Driving the Change. Tech bubble's social responsability.

Spectres are haunting the tech bubble. Not long ago, tech entrepreneurs and their innovative companies were celebrated as luminaries of the bright, technology enabled future. Are these days over? A series of scandals and misjudgements have tripped over some of the best-known tech brands. The challenges troubling the sector are compounded by phenomena such as the spread of fake news and political misinformation, deep fakes and online hate, or regular reports of privacy abuses. And on top of it - we have recently awaken to a climate emergency, the tech bubble has not been doing much about so far.

Many tech companies now face serious questions whether they are doing enough to make the world a better place. Social responsibility and wider stakeholder benefits (as opposed to pure investor gains) are coming to the forefront of this debate.

“Technologies are said to be morally neutral until they are applied. It is only when we use them for good or for evil that they become good or evil.” (William Gibson)

However, many of the technologies that we were so excited about, appear to have brought a plethora of side effects that nobody has thought about.

Is a paradigm shift whereby sustainability and responsibility replace growth at all cost possible? Are we able to move fast and FIX things? Should the investors be held accountable for their investments’ social impact?

During our meetup, we will try to explore these and other questions. Join a host of investors, start-ups and fellow attendees in driving the change in the tech world.

6 PM Doors open and networking

6.15 PM Panel discussion with investors

Tom McGillycuddy, co-founder Tickr

7.15 PM Open pitch contest

(please e-mail jacek@weareplug.in ahead of the event with your slide deck if you would like to take part in the pitch contest)

7.45 PM Onwards; Networking workshop where attendees will be encouraged to work together and solve problems and challenges

Drinks and snacks courtesy of Reed Smith LLP