Greater Things Appoints Crypto Payments Pioneer as CEO to Build the UK’s AI-Led Innovation Engine

Greater Things Limited today announces the appointment of Oliver von Landsberg-Sadie as Chief Executive Officer. Oliver, who founded and led the growth of UK-headquartered BCB Group, one of the world’s leading regulated payments and banking infrastructure providers for the crypto industry, joins Greater Things with a clear ambition: to harness the power of AI-led mass innovation as a practical engine for UK economic growth.

At a time when the UK risks falling behind in global technology competitiveness, Greater Things is positioning itself as a platform for building companies at scale, faster and more inclusively, anchored in the regions rather than concentrated in a small number of global tech hubs.

Founder Jof Walters will take on the role of Chief Operating Officer, focusing on venture delivery, programme execution, and operational scale.

From Financial Infrastructure to National Innovation Infrastructure

At BCB Group, Oliver founded and scaled a business that became a cornerstone of UK/Europe’s digital asset ecosystem, providing regulated payment and banking infrastructure to some of the world’s most demanding technology and financial institutions. His leadership combined deep regulatory understanding with the ability to scale complex technology businesses in high-growth, high-scrutiny environments.

Now, Oliver brings that experience to a new challenge: building the infrastructure for innovation itself.

Greater Things operates a highly scaled venture studio, delivering programmes in partnership with regional government, universities, and corporate sponsors. Through these programmes, Greater Things invests in and builds early-stage technology businesses, providing AI-driven product development, commercial support, and structured pathways to product-market fit.

Critically, the model is designed to scale innovation capacity, not just individual companies.

AI, Talent, and Regional Growth at Scale

Greater Things sources its development capability by upskilling young people from local communities, turning untapped regional talent into high-performing AI and software teams. These teams build real products for real businesses, creating a cost-effective, capital-efficient, and highly focused model for venture creation and regional redevelopment.

With successful programmes already delivered in Scotland and the Midlands, and a portfolio of more than 70 fledgling businesses, the platform is proven. Oliver’s mandate is to scale it nationally and internationally, with a target valuation of £100 million within three years.

A Commercial Model With a Social Mission

Growth at Greater Things is explicitly tied to impact. The company has built a reputation for market-leading inclusivity, with programmes designed to support underserved founders and communities that have historically been excluded from technology and venture capital ecosystems.

Under Oliver’s leadership, Greater Things intends to scale both its commercial outcomes and its social mission, demonstrating that inclusive innovation is not a trade-off, but a competitive advantage.

Leadership Commentary

Oliver von Landsberg-Sadie, CEO of Greater Things, said:

“The UK does not have a shortage of ideas. It has a shortage of scalable systems for turning ideas into companies, and companies into economic impact. Greater Things has built a model that combines AI, venture creation, and regional talent at scale. My focus is on turning that model into national innovation infrastructure — one that helps the UK compete, grow, and lead rather than drift out of relevance.”

Jof Walters, Founder and COO of Greater Things, said:

“Greater Things was created to prove that you can build serious technology businesses outside the usual centres of power, while delivering real social and economic value. Oliver has built and scaled critical infrastructure in one of the most demanding technology sectors in the world. His decision to join Greater Things is a statement of intent — about growth, ambition, and the role AI must play in the UK’s future.”