I was speaking at the Names Not Numbers conference a few weeks ago and on the bill with me was Vinay Gupta. When I heard him speak, I knew I had to get him on the show.

Vinay works with Ethereum and Consensus, two of the pioneer companies in blockchain tech.  He’s also expert in virtual reality as well as – get this – a state failure specialist. 

As far Blockchain is concerned, "2016 is the year of the prototype", he says. "Apps that use blockchain tech by 2017 will be as commonplace as email."

What is really going to hit hard this year is virtual reality. The enormous investments that have been made will finally hit the markets this year.

"Christmas 2016 is going to be the virtual reality Christmas. Everybody is going to end up with VR gear."

Vinay Gupta - The future of virtual reality

This week's guest is Nick Wheeler, co-founder of the iconic Jermyn Street shirt brand, Charles Tyrwhitt. Nick's thoughts are if you want to be taken seriously, you need to look the part - and he's been enabling people to do that since setting up the company in 1986.

In this conversation, Nick describes the lessons he's learned from coming back from bankruptcy (twice) to establish a fashion house whose lines are desired around the world - and why he believes running your own business is like having an additional child in the family.

Nick Wheeler - The business of looking good

This week's guest is Dave Birch, the director of innovation at Consult Hyperion, a company which advises corporations on payment technology, and a man therefore expertly placed to speak to the issues around a cashless society.  

How close are we to living in a world without physical money?  How secure are these contactless payments?  And although it's undoubtedly convenient to use our iPhones at the checkout, what are the wider ramifications of these innovations? 

Listen to the full conversation to find out

Dave Birch - The evolution of money

This week's guest is Alec Ross, a technology policy expert who was Hilary Clinton's senior advisor for innovation duration of her term as Secretary of State, and author of a new book called Industries of the Future.

In this fascinating conversation - touching on the importance of coding, robotics and what we can do with a greater understanding of our own genetic coding - Ross outlines the advances and obstacles that will arise in business and everyday life over the next decade.  

Ross states that "land was the raw material of the agricultural age, iron was the raw material of the industrial age, and data is the raw material of this information age.  Those who own the data are the people who are creating the industries of the future".

Do you agree?  Listen to the full interview to make up your own mind

Alec Ross - The future of work

Great guests, strong opinions and fascinating talk on all things Virgin - from business to pleasure. Screw it, let's chew on it. Dominic Frisby is host. Don't forget to subscribe.

More on Dominic here: https://www.virgin.com/author/dominic-frisby

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