S2 Episode 17: Off-the-shelf AI and Accelerated Impact, with Eric Topham of The Data Analysis Bureau

This is conversation number 8 with a business in the 2021 cohort of the ‘AI for Social Impact Programme’ – which is a partnership between Social Tech Trust and Microsoft for Startups. who are supporting purpose driven ventures using technology to make a positive impact on people’s lives.  

This week the theme is Data, and how data science and machine learning are being harnessed by innovators to make a massive positive impact. The effective collection and use of data is at the heart of so much technology-driven enterprise that is transforming our lives for the better in numerous sectors. None more so than in healthcare and life sciences, and in sustainability and cleantech. 

My guest is Eric Topham, CEO of The Data Analysis Bureau (T-DAB?), which was launched in 2017 to help maximise the impact of data science by making it far more accessible to disruptive, forward-looking businesses that recognise the potential value of data and AI-driven solutions. Eric and his co-founders have built a team of data specialists who will fast track the delivery of data and AI solutions for customers – with a particular emphasis on manufacturing & sustainability and social & health care. And they are also developing and supporting a growing community and network of data scientists to further advance the field and maximise the collective impact. 

Eric studied at Cambridge and Imperial College before gaining a phD in Zoology from Oxford University and starting out his career as a data scientist in public health in 2015.