‘Esports is the UK’s missed opportunity’, says billionaire investor Tej Kohli
Billionaire technology investor and philanthropist Tej Kohli has warned that the United Kingdom is at risk of falling behind in the race to shape the global future economy. Speaking on the latest episode of the UKTN Podcast, Tej Kohli shared a stark assessment of the country's approach to emerging industries, calling for urgent action to support transformative sectors such as esports, artificial general intelligence, biotechnology and quantum computing.
Kohli, known for his future-focused investments, argued that Britain must adopt a bolder strategy if it is to lead in the technologies that will define the next fifty years. From esports arenas to quantum laboratories, he called for government, investors and educators to work together to reimagine the UK's role in the global innovation landscape.
Why Tej Kohli believes esports is a strategic priority for Britain
Kohli cited the recent League of Legends World Championship Final at London's O2 Arena as an example of esports' immense potential. The sold-out event attracted almost 15,000 fans and injected £12 million into the local economy, underlining the cultural and economic value of the industry.
“Esports is not just entertainment,” said Kohli. “It is a serious global industry, one that is growing at more than 20 per cent per year and capturing the attention of a whole generation.”
Despite global revenues for esports expected to exceed $4.3 billion in 2025, the UK generated just $187 million from the sector last year. Kohli warned that the country is trailing far behind leaders like the United States, China and South Korea.
He urged the government to introduce targeted incentives, including tax relief for esports businesses, streamlined visas for international players and investment in grassroots development to build domestic talent.
“This is a generational opportunity,” Kohli said. “With over 80 per cent of esports viewers aged between 13 and 34, we are looking at a cultural movement with lasting economic impact. The UK cannot afford to treat this as a passing trend.”
Why the obsession with narrow AI could limit future innovation
Kohli also criticised the current focus on narrow artificial intelligence, warning that an overemphasis on short-term AI tools could come at the expense of more transformative breakthroughs.
“Today’s AI can be impressive, but it is fundamentally incremental,” he said. “We are investing billions into tools that generate text or images, while underfunding technologies that could redefine our civilisation.”
He highlighted artificial general intelligence, or AGI, as a key area deserving greater attention. Unlike narrow AI, AGI would be capable of learning and reasoning across different tasks without being explicitly programmed. Kohli described AGI as the next major leap forward, one that could unlock breakthroughs in science, education and medicine.
“AGI is the true frontier,” he said. “We already have the computational infrastructure developing rapidly, such as the Grace Hopper Superchip. What we need now is the vision and funding to match.”
Kohli also stressed the importance of advanced biotechnology and quantum computing. From CRISPR gene editing to personalised medicine, biotechnology is already reshaping healthcare, while quantum computing could enable solutions to previously impossible problems across drug discovery, logistics and energy.
“These technologies are not science fiction,” he said. “They are happening now, but they are being overshadowed by the noise around short-term AI. That needs to change.”
Why UK policy is holding back innovation and entrepreneurship
In addition to technological issues, Kohli pointed to structural and policy problems that are undermining the UK's innovation economy. He highlighted the loss of over 500,000 small businesses in the past five years, as well as recent tax increases, including the scrapping of non-domiciled status, as evidence that the UK is becoming a more difficult place to innovate.
“We are punishing the very people who take risks, create jobs and build the future,” said Kohli. “Entrepreneurship should be celebrated and supported, not strangled by red tape and short-sighted tax policies.”
Kohli called for a complete rethink of how the UK supports innovators. He proposed simplified visa processes to attract global talent, capital gains tax relief for technology investors, and entrepreneurial training programmes at universities to foster a culture of ambition and experimentation.
“We need to create an environment where people can build boldly,” he said. “Other countries are moving fast. If we do not adapt, we will be left behind.”
Tej Kohli’s vision for a future-ready Britain
Kohli concluded the interview with a call to action for a more ambitious national innovation strategy. His proposals include:
-
Investment in esports through tax incentives, infrastructure funding and youth development
-
A rebalancing of funding across emerging technologies including AGI, biotechnology and quantum computing
-
Pro-entrepreneurship policies that reward innovation and attract global talent
“Britain still has the potential to lead,” Kohli said. “But we must think long term. True progress does not come from chasing trends. It comes from committing to the hard problems, the deep technologies and the bold ideas.”
As global competition intensifies and new industries emerge, Kohli’s message is clear: if the UK wants to be a true technology superpower, it must act with urgency, foresight and courage.
Adrian Jennings is a writer for Comment Central.
