Speakers

Samson Opaleye is the founder of Applatch, a mission-driven startup addressing the growing impact of excessive entertainment screen time on children’s educational performance. As a former primary school teacher, global digital marketing expert, and someone who has personally experienced the struggle of social media addiction, Samson brings both insight and empathy to the challenge of helping families build healthier digital habits, while contributing to a more knowledgeable and productive society.

Samson has spent over three years researching and developing solutions to combat digital distraction. Applatch Kids, launched in July 2024, empowers children to unlock entertainment apps only after completing personalised, age-appropriate quizzes in subjects like Maths, English, Science, financial literacy, and online safety. The app promotes a balanced digital lifestyle and helps improve learning outcomes, with over 130,000 quiz questions completed through organic traction in under eight months.

Under his leadership, Applatch was accepted into Baltic Ventures and the Sky Group's Future 100 Growth Fund by BEO. Applatch has also received several recognitions, including Tech Climbers Yorkshire’s ‘One to Watch’, the UK Startup Awards, and Insider Yorkshire’s 50 Most Exciting Companies. Samson is committed to building a world where children learn first, before they play online.