Jenson Artus appointed to Isle of Man Lead
TEKEX solidifies its presence in the Isle of Man with a new addition to the team; taking on the role of IOM Lead is Jenson Artus, founder and marketing director of MGS.
The backstory
Just eight months after Tekex first landed in the Isle of Man, we’re already approaching the third event, TEKEX IOM #03, due to take place on November 4th. In February, the launch event sparked interest for Jenson Artus, Isle of Man local and founder of MGS. He explained, “When I first understood what Tekex was looking to achieve, I immediately bought into the vision. What attracted me was the commercial thinking behind it. This isn't just another networking initiative. It's not about coffee and cake, or getting people into a room to exchange business cards; it's about connecting founders with investors, creating commercial relationships and, ultimately, generating real economic value.”
It’s fair to say that Jenson truly understands Tekex’s vision. He has been a real asset in solidifying the expansion to a third jurisdiction. “Jenson knows the Isle of Man inside out and isn’t afraid to ask the hard questions,” said Founder Ed Prow. “Having him lead Tekex on the Island means it’s driven by someone who lives it, not someone flying in from Jersey.”
Everyone behind Tekex emphasises the importance of having a permanent team member in each island; someone who knows the landscape, has first-hand understanding, and dedication to the mission. Jenson Artus possesses all of these qualities, making him the perfect candidate for the position of TEKEX Isle of Man Lead.
Why the Isle of Man was the right choice
Tekex's foundations lie in the Channel Islands. After a few years of growing in Jersey and Guernsey, learning, building, and listening, expanding the community into other Crown Dependencies was a logical next step.
Whilst the three islands share similarities, each has a unique structure and, historically, their business networks haven’t had a simple way to intertwine and benefit one another. On this, Jenson added, “The islands have established financial services sectors, significant private wealth and investors who understand the opportunities and challenges of operating in smaller jurisdictions. Yet the connectivity between our entrepreneurial and investment communities is still relatively limited.” Now, that lack of connection is no longer a problem.
The Isle of Man will see much more of Tekex over the next year. Ed Prow and the rest of the team intend to nurture the new connections, seize the opportunities that come with the expansion, and impact the Isle of Man as much as the other islands. We asked Ed to outline how he sees this development taking shape; he explained, “Next year is about depth, regular events and introductions that turn into real deals. In five years, I want Tekex to be the front door to innovation in the Crown Dependencies.”
Jenson spoke about the barriers entrepreneurs face, including a lack of startup and investment infrastructure, which has traditionally pushed people to the UK. But he suggested that the island should be paying attention to an opportunity much closer to home. “At a time when economic growth is such an important conversation for the Isle of Man, I think we should be taking opportunities like this very seriously.”
Where Jenson's passion stems from
"There are really two things that drive my involvement. The first is entrepreneurship. I founded MGS here on the Isle of Man - a strategic brand and marketing partner to corporate organisations across the UK and Crown Dependencies. It’s now a relatively successful company, and building the business has been the most rewarding thing that I have done.” Jenson brings his own personal experiences of the challenges founders face, specifically in the Isle of Man. Understanding the need for development from the perspective of founders entering the Tekex ecosystem has given him a greater appreciation for the difficulties of accessing the right relationships, expertise, and capital to support growth.
“I know how valuable the right introduction can be. Sometimes one conversation can fundamentally change the direction of a business. If Tekex can help create more of those opportunities for founders, that's something I want to be part of.”
The second key reason is the Isle of Man itself. “I'm incredibly proud to be building a business here, and I think we have a lot to be optimistic about. We have an established business community, considerable commercial expertise and some genuinely ambitious entrepreneurs. But I also think we need to challenge ourselves to look beyond the Island more often. We can't expect to grow our economy purely by circulating the same opportunities within the same relatively small community. We need new relationships, new businesses and new capital coming into the Island.” Tekex can make a meaningful contribution to the economy by helping Manx businesses secure investment and establish valuable international partnerships.
What this means for TEKEX
A high calibre of entrepreneurs and investors continue to come through the Tekex ecosystem, and we see businesses like what3words, Sibstar, iO-CO, for example, regularly attending the events as speakers and networkers. This type of involvement will only grow and encourage more incredible businesses to join, contribute to and benefit from the network.
Ed Prow declared this to be the moment that Tekex becomes a genuine ecosystem for the Crown Dependencies, not just a network for Jersey and Guernsey that visits. Jenson hopes Tekex will become an established part of the Isle of Man’s investment and entrepreneurial community, with meaningful participation from founders, angel investors, and established business leaders.
This appointment is confirmation that Tekex is not just here to stay; it’s here to thrive and evolve, positively impacting the community and economy.
Invest. Inspire. Impact.
Written by Scarlett Mauger
