Driving Innovation: British Muslim Contributions to the Tech Sector

An increasing number of Muslim entrepreneurs and skilled workers are leaving their mark on the British technology sector, collectively advancing the state of the industry. In the process, they help attract significant investments, partnerships and opportunities, contributing to growth and innovation in the UK. The annual British Muslim Tech Fest that is held in London is a prime example, demonstrating the growing contribution of Muslims in this field.

The UK’s tech industry is touted as one of the top such industries by revenue, ranking third in the world after the US and China. It is now worth over £1 trillion. Over three million people are employed in the UK tech industry, which is home to 400 high growth companies, of which over 140 are unicorn companies (valued at one billion dollars or more). This strong growth has created income, investment, opportunities, and a reputation of the UK as a key hub for tech innovation.

The multicultural character of the UK has played a key role in this development, with British Muslims at the forefront of pushing innovation in the sector. A particularly young community, often with linguistic abilities and cultural understanding that helps forge links with global markets, the country’s Muslim community has left a significant mark on debates and practices in the British tech industry – and continues to do so. This aligns with the government’s recognition that the diversification of the tech sector carries with it significant benefits. It has encouraged people of a variety of backgrounds to consider a career in tech, with a view to bringing in diverse perspectives, skill sets and experiences aimed at further advancing the industry.  

Celebrating Innovation at The Muslim Tech Fest

One key place to learn about ongoing Muslim contributions to the British tech industry is the Muslim Tech Fest (MTF). First held at the Royal Science Institute in London in 2023, MTF has now grown to be a premier tech fest in the UK with over 1500 people who attended this year. Over 10% of attendees were international coming from countries as diverse as Australia, the UAE and the USA. The impetus for MTF came from the Muslamic Makers Hub, an initiative that has been mentoring Muslims in the tech industry since 2016, with a view to improve their skill sets, networks and presence in the field.   

MTF has facilitated the growth of several Muslim-run tech businesses that have made a positive difference to both society and the tech industry. For instance, the fest witnessed a pitch competition for upcoming businesses which was won by a startup that provided AI solutions for significantly cutting down grading time. The startup was awarded funding and mentorship as a means to provide long term support to the founders, encouraging them to continue their innovative work in the tech sector. 

While strolling through the exhibition halls in London, one couldn’t help but notice the remarkable diversity of attendees. The halls were filled with participants from all backgrounds, notably including women. Co-founded by a woman, Arfah Farooq, the fest witnessed a female participation rate of close to 40% (which is much more than the industry average at such events), thereby helping promote the work of women in an industry that remains largely male-dominated.

In addition to the main event of the MTF itself, their participants also set up fringe events at other tech events in the UK throughout the month of June. This engagement with the broader tech sector helped to connect Muslim tech founders and engineers from across the world with the UK’s broader tech eco-system. According to its founders, the MTF managed to attract official government investors from countries such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Scandinavian countries looking to invest into UK’s tech industry. All of these speak to the broad impact Muslims in tech sector make as part of the much wider contribution of £70billion that British Muslim communities make to the UK’s economy each year. 

Call for Action

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) should develop an engagement strategy aimed at representatives of Muslims in the tech industry. In addition to strengthening partnerships, sharing capacity, and co-creating opportunities, a key element of the strategy should be to provide information about grants and innovation funds. While diversification initiatives, such as funding provided by the DSIT for tech companies outside of London do exist, there is often a lack of awareness amongst the target groups.  The DSIT could set up information sessions at MTF, or at MTF’s associate organisations (such as Muslamic Makers) throughout the year, to help raise awareness about existing opportunities. 

There is an increasing awareness of the benefits of diversity in the tech sector with government organisations like Innovate UK specifically offering grants for women in tech. Government interventions aimed at strengthening British Muslim contributions to the tech sector could build on and expand these grants. 

In addition, the government already has a scheme (called the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme) that gives tax breaks to funders who invest money in new tech companies. If the government increased the amount of money that investors can put in tax-free (for example, from the current limit of £250,000 to £500,000 or even £1 million), it would encourage more investors to back young, innovative startups such as those represented at the MTF. This would give new tech businesses the funding they need to grow. While the government may not reap immediate benefits in the form of taxes, it would be able to benefit from a rising profile of tech companies and consequent increased investments from global sources. 

Each year, the MTF showcases the innovative work of Muslims in the UK who develop businesses that push the boundaries in the existing thinking and practice of the tech industry. Supporting such initiatives can help unlock new talent pools, address structural barriers in the sector, and enhance the UK’s global leadership in the tech sector nationally and internationally. 

Mohammed Sinan Siyech is a Lecturer in International Relations and South Asian Politics at the University of Wolverhampton. He was previously Senior Researcher at Equi.

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