On 8 July 2021, four inspirational speakers took part in a panel exploring the startup journey within the creative industries, from graduate enterprise through to successful business leadership.
![Speakers from the Future Art Futures event on 8 July 2021 Speakers from the Future Art Futures event on 8 July 2021](https://www.ucl.ac.uk/art-futures/sites/art_futures/files/styles/large_image/public/events/future-art-futures-event-8-july-21.png?itok=CifXhbPh)
Overview
During this online event, the speakers shared reflections on the entrepreneurial journey, lessons learnt and guidance for those with ambitions to start their own business journey within the creative industries.
The panel
The panel was chaired by Jo Townsend, Principal Partnerships Manager (Creative sectors), UCL Innovation & Enterprise, and co-founder of UCL Art Futures.
The speakers were:
- Vishal Kumar, Co-founder and CEO, Alice Camera
- Sneha Shah, CEO, Curaty
- Olga, Kravchenko, CEO, Musemio
- Bernadine Bröcker Wieder, CEO, Vastari
Watch a recording of the event
About the Speakers
Jo Townshend
Principal Partnerships Manager (Creative sectors), UCL Innovation & Enterprise, and co-founder of UCL Art Futures
Jo’s work sits at the interface of academic research and industry. She's responsible for identifying and developing strategic partnerships, specialising in facilitating multi-disciplinary and interdisciplinary collaborations with the performing, production and visual arts, museums, galleries and business.
Vishal Kumar
Cultural Data Scientist and CEO and Co-founder of Alice Camera
Vishal is a cultural data scientist with extensive experience managing data science, AI and 5G projects in the cultural and creative industries. He's a researcher at The Bartlett Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis (CASA) at UCL and consultants for several governments and international organisations. In 2019 Vishal co-founded the Alice Camera, a computational photography start-up building a novel AI camera for content creators.
Sneha Shah
CEO, Curaty
Sneha is the founder and CEO of Curaty, a research-driven company connecting art with business, using machine learning and computer vision technologies. Since its inception a year ago, Curaty has been recognised as an industry leader by the UK's Creative Industry's Council by being named in their "100 Ones to Watch" 2020. Sneha is a public advocate for equity for artists and the benefits of art, and has been invited to lead workshops and talks at institutions such as London Business School.
Olga Kravchenko
CEO, Musemio
Olga is CEO of Musemio, an immersive learning platform that allows children to adventure on immersive quests featuring co-created narrative content from partner institutions around the world. She’s on a mission to make arts, culture and history accessible for every child. As a young leader, she has shown an exceptional capacity to build a scalable business solution underpinned by her expertise in the immersive technologies and cultural sector.
Bernadine Bröcker Wieder
CEO, Vastari
Bernadine is a well published and prominent thought leader in the art and tech community. She co-founded Vastari in 2012 and has been shaping Vastari's strategic direction, investor portfolio and industry advocacy ever since. Coming from the commercial art world, Bernadine holds a track record of successful entrepreneurial activities. Amongst others, Bernadine helped establish Trinity House, an Impressionist and Modern gallery in London in 2010.