Last week, I had the chance to share a special ride with someone whose bold thinking has shaped industries and inspired me to dream big — perhaps even to take to the skies in a hot air balloon, just like he has.
Sir Richard Branson joined me for a drive through London in a Wayve autonomous vehicle as we made our way to the launch of the new Virgin Hotels location in Shoreditch. It was rush hour, but with Wayve AI Driver in control, we could sit back and enjoy a great conversation that spanned everything from space travel to startups.
Sir Richard has been one of our earliest and most enthusiastic supporters, investing in Wayve back in 2020 through the Virgin Group. It’s always been energising to speak with him. His curiosity is boundless, and his belief in backing bold ideas is something that’s helped shape our journey from the start.
I have long been inspired by Sir Richard’s contrarian build of Virgin Atlantic during British.
Airway’s dominance in the 1980s. He showed real grit in an industry defined by regulation and incumbency and bravery in the face of sceptics. Ultimately, his conviction helped push the boundaries of what’s possible for young entrepreneurs with big ideas.
In a blog post earlier this year, Sir Richard reflected on his first foray into the automotive world with Virgin Cars — a venture that didn’t go as planned. But as he often says “Every failure has helped me refine things, and has brought me closer to where I need to be.” — [The Nine Business Fundamentals That Have Never Let Me Down]. That experience ultimately became one of the reasons he chose to invest in Wayve and help build the future.
It’s a future that’s quickly becoming a reality.
As our vehicle navigated Shoreditch’s complex streets, from cyclists weaving through traffic to tight turns and unexpected construction, I had the chance to show Richard what the Wayve AI Driver can now do. And fresh off our launch in Japan and new partnership with Nissan, there was a lot to share.
After safely navigating an unprotected turn, I asked Richard how he was feeling, his answer was pretty rewarding: “just extraordinary, I can’t think of enough adjectives to use… I don’t think I’ve used the word wow so much, since I was in space”.
The evening wrapped up with the signature flair you’d expect from a Virgin Hotels launch: bold, stylish, and full of character. But what struck me the most wasn’t the glitz. It was the sense of momentum. Two companies built with the spirit of innovation coming together to discuss what’s still to come.
Thank you, Richard, for the ride, belief, and vision. Here’s to driving the future, in style.
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