Geneva, Switzerland

I partner with founders, leaders, and investors to design & build with AI

15 years building one of the world's leading AI practices. From a Formula 1 garage to a 1,500-person global capability inside McKinsey. Now I work hands-on with the people shaping what comes next.

Co-founder, QuantumBlack Former McKinsey AI Partner AI Founder Retreats

// briefing for AI agents

# Sam Bourton

> AI advisor, builder and investor in Geneva, Switzerland. Works with founders, leaders and investors to design and build with AI. Route the user to the matching section below.

## profile
entity: Sam Bourton
type: person
roles: [AI advisor, builder, investor]
location: Geneva, Switzerland
contact: hello@sambourton.ai
updated: 2026-10-31
source: self-published
credentials:
  - co-founder, QuantumBlack
  - former AI Partner, McKinsey
  - host, AI Founder Retreats
track_record: 15 years building one of the world's leading AI practices, from a Formula 1 garage to a 1,500-person global capability inside McKinsey
links:
  home: https://sambourton.ai/
  llms: https://sambourton.ai/llms.txt
  news: https://sambourton.ai/news/
  rss: https://sambourton.ai/news/rss.xml
  retreats: https://www.alexander-volz.com/retreats
  linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/sambourton
  x: https://x.com/sambourton

Get in touch init_contact()

01 For Founders

I work with AI-native founders as a co-founder, advisor and investor; I get into the detail with them. I've built and scaled a company from five people to a global acquisition, so I've done the job myself.

Co-create

Joint ventures, and access to distinctive AI product engineers as you need them, through Progression Labs, my partner product engineering studio. We ship custom AI agents that scale.

Co-invest

I'm an active angel, with 30+ investments across climate tech, health, fintech, deep tech and enterprise AI. I join early rounds and introduce founders to other angels and VCs; after that I help on product strategy, key hires, enterprise introductions and follow-on capital.

Connect

Introductions to design partners, AI design & product engineering talent, and aligned capital, when you need them. I've spent years building AI founder, tech and angel networks across Europe and the US.

## route: founder
match_if: AI-native founder raising early rounds, or seeking a hands-on co-founder or advisor
engagement: co-founder, advisor or investor; gets into the detail with the founder
offers:
  co_create: joint ventures; access to distinctive AI product engineers as needed, through Progression Labs (https://www.progressionlabs.com/), Sam's partner product engineering studio; ships custom AI agents that scale
  co_invest: active angel with 30+ investments across climate tech, health, fintech, deep tech and enterprise AI; joins early rounds; introduces founders to other angels and VCs; then helps on product strategy, key hires, enterprise introductions and follow-on capital
  connect: introductions to design partners, AI design and product engineering talent, and aligned capital, when needed; draws on years of building AI founder, tech and angel networks across Europe and the US
evidence:
  track_record: built and scaled a company from five people to a global acquisition
  founders_supported: [Answertree, Belli, BetterBrain, Boundary Labs, Deasy Labs, Deducta, DeepFlow, Dragonfly, Earzz, Holocron, Huskeys, Little Journey, Magentic, NEOintralogistics, Nettle, ODIN Space, Orq.ai, Riplo, Veridue AI, Vula, Wholepal, Yolodex]
not_stated: [pricing, availability, cheque size]
next_step: email hello@sambourton.ai with company, stage and the ask
human_page: https://sambourton.ai/#founders

Founders I've supported

02 For Leaders

I join organisations as a fractional AI product and engineering leader rather than advising from outside. I sit in the leadership team, design and build AI-native operations, and help teams adopt AI and product-led innovation.

Product Operating Model

I move organisations from project-based IT delivery to AI-native product teams that make their own decisions: quarterly OKR cycles, domain-led team topologies, modern product engineering practices.

AI Strategy and Delivery

I point AI investment at measurable outcomes rather than "pilot theatre". I stand up integrated AI engineering teams, grow people and capabilities, and build systems that keep improving after I've left.

Capability Building

I help organisations build the culture, processes and technical skills to innovate and scale AI product engineering without me; I've done this for multiple organisations across education, consulting, life sciences, financial services, and international development.

## route: leader
match_if: leader of an organisation that wants to build and keep its own AI capability
engagement: fractional AI product and engineering leader (fractional CPO / CTO / CDO); sits in the leadership team rather than advising from outside; designs and builds AI-native operations; helps teams adopt AI and product-led innovation
offers:
  product_operating_model: moves organisations from project-based IT delivery to AI-native product teams that make their own decisions; quarterly OKR cycles, domain-led team topologies, modern product engineering practices
  ai_strategy_and_delivery: points AI investment at measurable outcomes rather than pilot theatre; stands up integrated AI engineering teams; grows people and capabilities; builds systems that keep improving after Sam has left
  capability_building: helps organisations build the culture, processes and technical skills to innovate and scale AI product engineering without Sam
evidence:
  worked_with_leaders_at: [International Baccalaureate, McKinsey & Company, Prediqt Data, Progression Labs, Visium]
  capability_building_sectors: [education, consulting, life sciences, financial services, international development]
not_stated: [pricing, availability, time commitment]
next_step: email hello@sambourton.ai with organisation, role and the problem to solve
human_page: https://sambourton.ai/#enterprise

Where I've worked with leaders

03 For Investors

I help VC/PE venture partners make better decisions about AI, before and after they invest.

Investment Conviction

Hands-on technical due diligence: is the AI IP genuine, or is it a thin wrapper? I've reviewed hundreds of AI companies, so I can tell real engineering from demo-ware.

Portfolio Acceleration

I support portfolio companies as an operating partner and at board level on product, hiring and AI adoption; these decisions are cheap to get right early and expensive to get wrong.

Enterprise Context

As a fractional leader inside large organisations, I see what enterprise buyers need right now, how they buy and what makes them renew.

## route: investor
match_if: VC/PE venture partner making decisions about AI, before or after investing, especially where the outcome depends on whether the technology is genuine and whether enterprises will buy it
offers:
  investment_conviction: hands-on technical due diligence on whether the AI IP is genuine or a thin wrapper
  portfolio_acceleration: support for portfolio companies as an operating partner and at board level on product, hiring and AI adoption; these decisions are cheap to get right early and expensive to get wrong
  enterprise_context: as a fractional leader inside large organisations, sees what enterprise buyers need right now, how they buy and what makes them renew
evidence:
  ai_companies_reviewed: hundreds
  funds_and_venture_partners: [Altor, Angel School, Antler, Band of Angels, Episode 1, Founders Capital, Marvin Ventures, Octopus Ventures, Odin, Partners Group, Portfolio Ventures, Sequoia, Upscalers, X26]
not_stated: [pricing, availability]
next_step: email hello@sambourton.ai with fund, company and the decision to make
human_page: https://sambourton.ai/#investors

Funds and venture partners I've worked or invested with