Oliver King-Smith
Oliver King-Smith is a technologist at heart—some people call him the “mad scientist” who’s always inventing in his lab. He admits that he likes that label. When he started out, he thought he wanted to climb the corporate ladder and become a big-shot CEO, just like those profiled in Forbes. But as he progressed, he found himself drawn to smaller organizations where he could tackle tough technical challenges head-on.
As an inventor with patents in areas like screen technology, chemical sensors, AI vision systems, and health applications, he thrives on the creative process of envisioning what’s never been built before. Becoming an entrepreneur has given him the freedom to pursue projects that genuinely fascinate him—some may not have panned out, but others have led to the creation of companies.
After feeling stifled by working for a large company, he decided it was time to strike out on his own and run his own show.
What were your early years like? Could you share a bit about your life before you began your entrepreneurial journey?
After completing my PhD, I began my career as an intern at a small company specializing in high-end statistical and visualization software. However, it wasn’t long before I rose through the ranks, joining the board of directors and playing a key role in selling the company to SPSS (now part of IBM). My next stop was Broderbund Software, where I became a senior executive at what was then the largest consumer software company. During this time, I grew increasingly frustrated with my lack of control in such a large organization, which ultimately led me to leave and pursue my entrepreneurial dreams.
Was there any turning point in your life that changed your journey? If so, what was it? Please tell us the backstory behind it.
The turning point came when I had founded two companies, one of which had some success while the other struggled. As I was figuring out what to do next, I took up some consulting work with a prominent Silicon Valley engineering design service company. One notable client was Toyota, with whom we were working on a project called BLAID (Blind Aid), a portable hardware visual aid.
During this time, a Russian team that maintained OpenVINO (now part of Intel) was attempting to differentiate between men’s and women’s bathroom signs using standard image processing techniques. It was then that I saw the remarkable results achieved by AlexNet, a pioneering neural network for image classification. Witnessing firsthand how well AI performed compared to traditional software methods left me amazed. We ran tests ourselves, confirming that things worked far better with AI.
That moment convinced me AI had reached an exciting level of maturity. I proposed starting an AI division at the engineering design service company I was consulting for, but my proposal was rejected—twice. Undeterred, I decided to start my third company, smartR AI, focused entirely on developing innovative AI technologies.
Everyone faces unique challenges when starting an entrepreneurial journey. The most valuable lessons often come from understanding how these challenges are managed. Could you share the difficulties you’ve encountered and the strategies you’ve used to cope with them?
I could write several books on what I’ve done wrong, but one key takeaway is not to be too hard on yourself when things go wrong—after all, I’ve survived so far. My first company was doing quite well in its early days, specializing in data collection for precision instruments and competing against products from Rockwell Automation and GE. We built this solution on the PalmPilot, a breakthrough handheld device at the time. Looking back, I learned that relying on someone else’s platform can be risky—when PalmPilot lost its market share, we had to pivot fast. Fortunately, I sold off our product before it was too late.
Another challenge has been focusing on sales and marketing. As an entrepreneur, these skills are crucial, but they don’t come naturally to me. I often find myself slipping back into R&D because that’s where I’m most comfortable. However, I’ve learned to push past my weaknesses, and that has led to some unexpected successes. For example, we recently rebranded one of our products from “myGPT” to SCOTi, Your Loyal Companion, complete with a cute dog logo. People remember the logo, and it makes the technology more approachable. SCOTi represents what I believe AI should be: a loyal tool that helps you accomplish more, rather than some dystopian threat.
What impact do you feel you have been able to create with your work so far, and how would you want to grow in the next few years?
Recently, we were approached by a consulting firm to provide insights on cancer treatment trends in the UK. They had access to a massive, disorganized database that was expected to take months to analyze. But with our AI solution, SCOTi Data Analyst, we processed the data in just three days and provided valuable insights about the NHS’s progress in treating certain types of cancer.
This experience showed me how AI can help deliver data-driven insights that positively impact people’s lives. In the next few years, I want to help large enterprises discover and map their data more comprehensively, enabling them to make informed decisions in sectors like healthcare, government, and engineering.
While AI may experience cycles of hype and skepticism, I’m convinced it’s a technology that will continue to advance what’s possible for decades to come.
Could you share with our aspiring young women entrepreneurs the changes you believe are important for the world, and how men can support these changes?
When starting a company, it’s essential to work on something you’re genuinely passionate about. If you need funding, lean into your credibility in that area. For women, there are often unique opportunities to address unmet needs that resonate with their experiences, which can be a strong driver for creating something impactful.
For example, conventional healthcare often neglects women’s specific needs. Apps like Bumble, which cater to women’s preferences in dating, show that there’s a wealth of opportunities beyond traditional industries. Women entrepreneurs should explore the many networking programs and resources available specifically to support them. Even introverts should attend meetups and engage with other entrepreneurs—you never know when a casual conversation could lead to a business opportunity.
Men can support women by inviting them to speak at conferences and events. At AI conferences in Scotland, we often manage a 50-50 split between male and female speakers, showing that balance is possible. At smartR AI, we hire interns and recent graduates, giving women a chance to gain hands-on experience in tech. We look for talent and passion, not just traditional credentials, and welcome people from diverse educational backgrounds.
These may seem like small steps, but they help create visibility and opportunities for new entrepreneurs. It’s critical to get your message out there, attract those first customers, and build momentum.
Your grit and determination are making a significant impact, serving as an inspiration for many aspiring entrepreneurs. What message would you like to share with our young women leaders and the audience reading this?
My wife has been working on her own project for three years now, and I’ve had a front-row seat to the ups and downs she faces. One crucial thing that helps during difficult times is finding someone who can offer support. I’ve been able to give her some advice, especially around marketing and promotion. For her, writing is the most important part of creating a great book, but it’s not what actually sells books. She’s pretty introverted, but she went to a big book fair in London and snagged a publishing deal simply by talking to people.
There’s an old joke that says, “To ship the product, you need to shoot the engineer.” It means you have to accept the best version of your work as it exists today, instead of aiming for perfection. You can always improve it later, but for now, focus on selling and promoting it. When you’re starting out, you’re the best salesperson for your project.