TEKEX IoM 2

In 2013, entrepreneur Chris Sheldrick divided the entire world into three-metre squares and gave each a three-word name.

Dismissed by plenty of people early on, what3words is now embedded into emergency services across the world, used by the UN in disaster zones and built into the navigation systems of major car manufacturers. what3words now operates in over 190 countries and more than 60 languages.

Chris Sheldrick will be telling his incredible story as the headline speaker at TEKEX IoM 2, taking place at Santander Work Café, Douglas, Isle of Man on Thursday 7 May, from 5pm to 8:30pm.

The event returns following a sell-out debut in February, which brought more than 150 founders, investors and operators on the island together and quickly reached capacity, with demand for a second event forming almost immediately.

TEKEX is part of a wider network across the Crown Dependencies, connecting founders, capital and expertise across Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. To date, it has delivered more than 30 events, engaged over 3,000 attendees and helped facilitate over £10 million in early-stage funding.

The Isle of Man event is part of a broader effort to strengthen that connection locally, bringing global operators into direct conversation with the Island’s growing business and innovation community.

Ed Prow, Founder of TEKEX, said: “Chris built something that genuinely changed how people navigate the world. That kind of thinking, practical, stubborn, quietly enormous in scale, is exactly what we want in the room.”

Chris Sheldrick added: “what3words was created to solve a real-world problem. We saw how difficult it was for people to communicate precise locations, and built something simple enough to be used anywhere, by anyone.

“I’m looking forward to being part of TEKEX and sharing how ideas move from concept into something that works at scale in the real world.”

Alongside Chris Sheldrick, the event will feature a strong line-up of Isle of Man entrepreneurs:

• Chris Lee, Founder of Own Homes, is focused on making home ownership more accessible through innovative property models.
• Guy Wood, Founder of Jobsearch.im, is building an AI-powered recruitment platform transforming how employers and candidates connect on the Island.

They are joined by:

• Richard Tavernor, Founder and CEO of Yoono, which is developing the intelligence layer behind modern financial decision-making
• Andrew Ferrari-Bradley, Founder of Fortunate Partners, who works at the intersection of capital, partnerships and growth, connecting investors with high-potential opportunities.

TEKEX IoM 2 continues to build on the momentum of its first event, with a focus on bringing the right people together and creating space for conversations that lead somewhere.