Comments on: Web Mission launched to showcase UK startups in Silicon Valley http://eu.techcrunch.com/2008/02/08/web-mission-launched-to-showcase-uk-startups-in-silicon-valley/ Tracking European web and mobile start-ups Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:06:17 +0100 hourly 1 By: Paul Walsh http://eu.techcrunch.com/2008/02/08/web-mission-launched-to-showcase-uk-startups-in-silicon-valley/comment-page-1/#comment-115167 Paul Walsh Mon, 18 Feb 2008 23:01:25 +0000 http://uk.techcrunch.com/2008/02/08/web-mission-launched-to-showcase-uk-startups-in-silicon-valley/#comment-115167 @Dave Knight - I'm sorry, but OpenID, as much as I love it the concept, is a pain in the ass. I don't have an account and I refuse to use any site that 'mandates' it. I think it's great but I don't want to be forced into saving my details in one location. Not everyone agrees with it by the way... @Dave Knight – I’m sorry, but OpenID, as much as I love it the concept, is a pain in the ass. I don’t have an account and I refuse to use any site that ‘mandates’ it. I think it’s great but I don’t want to be forced into saving my details in one location. Not everyone agrees with it by the way…

]]> By: Mike Butcher http://eu.techcrunch.com/2008/02/08/web-mission-launched-to-showcase-uk-startups-in-silicon-valley/comment-page-1/#comment-110519 Mike Butcher Sun, 10 Feb 2008 12:25:18 +0000 http://uk.techcrunch.com/2008/02/08/web-mission-launched-to-showcase-uk-startups-in-silicon-valley/#comment-110519 Dave knight - all requests for openid on this site can be directed to Mike Arrington on editor@techcrunch.com Dave knight – all requests for openid on this site can be directed to Mike Arrington on editor@techcrunch.com

]]> By: Dave Knight http://eu.techcrunch.com/2008/02/08/web-mission-launched-to-showcase-uk-startups-in-silicon-valley/comment-page-1/#comment-110512 Dave Knight Sun, 10 Feb 2008 11:23:48 +0000 http://uk.techcrunch.com/2008/02/08/web-mission-launched-to-showcase-uk-startups-in-silicon-valley/#comment-110512 Mike a great decision based on someone's poor taste. But can you pls implement openid on this site asap to ensure people at least have to register somewhere in order to comment here. Mike a great decision based on someone’s poor taste. But can you pls implement openid on this site asap to ensure people at least have to register somewhere in order to comment here.

]]> By: Mike Butcher http://eu.techcrunch.com/2008/02/08/web-mission-launched-to-showcase-uk-startups-in-silicon-valley/comment-page-1/#comment-110509 Mike Butcher Sun, 10 Feb 2008 10:31:35 +0000 http://uk.techcrunch.com/2008/02/08/web-mission-launched-to-showcase-uk-startups-in-silicon-valley/#comment-110509 Please note: In the interests of disclosure I have just deleted an openly racist comment by someone calling themselves "Cool another pissup" (an anonymous commenter). Any existing commenters may have recieved this via email. They criticised the above initiative but went way, way over-board by referring to something they call the "London jewish VC mafia". This is clearly *totally* unacceptable, and not the kind of discourse I will tolerate on this blog's comments. Mike Butcher, Editor, TechCrunch UK & Ireland. Please note: In the interests of disclosure I have just deleted an openly racist comment by someone calling themselves “Cool another pissup” (an anonymous commenter). Any existing commenters may have recieved this via email. They criticised the above initiative but went way, way over-board by referring to something they call the “London jewish VC mafia”. This is clearly *totally* unacceptable, and not the kind of discourse I will tolerate on this blog’s comments. Mike Butcher, Editor, TechCrunch UK & Ireland.

]]> By: Deirdre Molloy http://eu.techcrunch.com/2008/02/08/web-mission-launched-to-showcase-uk-startups-in-silicon-valley/comment-page-1/#comment-110479 Deirdre Molloy Sat, 09 Feb 2008 20:52:14 +0000 http://uk.techcrunch.com/2008/02/08/web-mission-launched-to-showcase-uk-startups-in-silicon-valley/#comment-110479 @Dan Field / everyone - I would add that this is just one initiative from UKTI - and a very healthy one if it exposes UK start-ups to the vast experience that Silicon Valley offers and the longstanding innovation track-record that the region encompasses - and it should be judged in that context. In parallel, UKTI are also reaching out to UK digital businesses through a joint survey they're conducting with Chinwag (my employer) regarding their strategy for both promoting UK digital outfits overseas and attracting overseas investment into UK digital media. Rather than sitting in an ivory tower, they're actively looking to evolve their strategy based upon the feedback they gain through the survey which you can access and get more info on here: http://www.chinwag.com/ukti/survey It would be great if Dan and other TCUK readers could take part, as it's a genuinely exciting move on UKTI's part... plus folks who complete the survey can enter a competition for a iPod Touch 8GB. BTW, the deadline for the survey is this Friday 15th February. @Dan Field / everyone – I would add that this is just one initiative from UKTI – and a very healthy one if it exposes UK start-ups to the vast experience that Silicon Valley offers and the longstanding innovation track-record that the region encompasses – and it should be judged in that context.

In parallel, UKTI are also reaching out to UK digital businesses through a joint survey they’re conducting with Chinwag (my employer) regarding their strategy for both promoting UK digital outfits overseas and attracting overseas investment into UK digital media.

Rather than sitting in an ivory tower, they’re actively looking to evolve their strategy based upon the feedback they gain through the survey which you can access and get more info on here:
http://www.chinwag.com/ukti/survey

It would be great if Dan and other TCUK readers could take part, as it’s a genuinely exciting move on UKTI’s part… plus folks who complete the survey can enter a competition for a iPod Touch 8GB.

BTW, the deadline for the survey is this Friday 15th February.

]]> By: Manoj Ranaweera http://eu.techcrunch.com/2008/02/08/web-mission-launched-to-showcase-uk-startups-in-silicon-valley/comment-page-1/#comment-110408 Manoj Ranaweera Fri, 08 Feb 2008 16:45:14 +0000 http://uk.techcrunch.com/2008/02/08/web-mission-launched-to-showcase-uk-startups-in-silicon-valley/#comment-110408 I think this is a great initiative, and we would love to be part of this mission (need further understanding of costs, etc). UKTI, as far as I understand is keen to promote UK businesses to the rest of the world, part of this being supporting overseas trade missions. I buy-in to what Mike was saying. As a digital startup with no geographical boundary, it is vital for us to get a foot hold into the USA. At present, over 50% of our traffic is from the USA. Mike, I also took the liberty to get Sun Microsystems UK interested in this initiative. I am sure (you know who) will be in touch soon (with you and others). Best regards, Manoj I think this is a great initiative, and we would love to be part of this mission (need further understanding of costs, etc). UKTI, as far as I understand is keen to promote UK businesses to the rest of the world, part of this being supporting overseas trade missions. I buy-in to what Mike was saying. As a digital startup with no geographical boundary, it is vital for us to get a foot hold into the USA. At present, over 50% of our traffic is from the USA.

Mike, I also took the liberty to get Sun Microsystems UK interested in this initiative. I am sure (you know who) will be in touch soon (with you and others).

Best regards, Manoj

]]> By: Mike Butcher http://eu.techcrunch.com/2008/02/08/web-mission-launched-to-showcase-uk-startups-in-silicon-valley/comment-page-1/#comment-110404 Mike Butcher Fri, 08 Feb 2008 15:59:55 +0000 http://uk.techcrunch.com/2008/02/08/web-mission-launched-to-showcase-uk-startups-in-silicon-valley/#comment-110404 Dan - That's a question you should ask the organisers, like Oli Barrett. But from my experience it is quite hard - and usually requires quite a lot of cash - to attract experienced US players to the UK just to meet with startups, so this is a case of taking the mountain to meet Mohammed, because that's how it's going to 'get done'. Of course, there's a risk of a business being lured there, but I think that's a risk worth taking to expose some UK firms to the experience of the Valley and showcase firms - which may well lead to inward UK investment. Conversely, I know one startup who just went over there to explore a move and came back saying he hated it and, although got a lot from his trip, plans to stay put in the UK! Dan – That’s a question you should ask the organisers, like Oli Barrett. But from my experience it is quite hard – and usually requires quite a lot of cash – to attract experienced US players to the UK just to meet with startups, so this is a case of taking the mountain to meet Mohammed, because that’s how it’s going to ‘get done’. Of course, there’s a risk of a business being lured there, but I think that’s a risk worth taking to expose some UK firms to the experience of the Valley and showcase firms – which may well lead to inward UK investment. Conversely, I know one startup who just went over there to explore a move and came back saying he hated it and, although got a lot from his trip, plans to stay put in the UK!

]]> By: Dan Field http://eu.techcrunch.com/2008/02/08/web-mission-launched-to-showcase-uk-startups-in-silicon-valley/comment-page-1/#comment-110401 Dan Field Fri, 08 Feb 2008 15:30:14 +0000 http://uk.techcrunch.com/2008/02/08/web-mission-launched-to-showcase-uk-startups-in-silicon-valley/#comment-110401 Could be good... but shouldn't organisations like UK Trade Invest be concentrating on bringing the investment back here to the UK.. maybe bringing the right bods back here to London to meet with prospective businesses, showing the great facilities and skilled people we have? Connections with the US are great and are to be encouraged but isn't there a risk that this exercise may end up with the successful businesses leaving the UK? Could be good… but shouldn’t organisations like UK Trade Invest be concentrating on bringing the investment back here to the UK.. maybe bringing the right bods back here to London to meet with prospective businesses, showing the great facilities and skilled people we have?

Connections with the US are great and are to be encouraged but isn’t there a risk that this exercise may end up with the successful businesses leaving the UK?

]]> By: jamescoops http://eu.techcrunch.com/2008/02/08/web-mission-launched-to-showcase-uk-startups-in-silicon-valley/comment-page-1/#comment-110396 jamescoops Fri, 08 Feb 2008 14:51:55 +0000 http://uk.techcrunch.com/2008/02/08/web-mission-launched-to-showcase-uk-startups-in-silicon-valley/#comment-110396 >Polecat will be assessing the applicants’ sustainability impact. not sure what that's got to do with anything? >Polecat will be assessing the applicants’ sustainability impact.

not sure what that’s got to do with anything?

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