A round-up of venture capital in the IT sector across Europe, a comparison with the rest of the world, and policy implications.

http://www.libraryhouse.net/publications/downloads/Microsoft_Report-Venture_Capital.pdf

this should all make interesting discussion at tomorrow’s Tuttle.
Might be a good idea to carry on the conversations about it at cafe.phreadz.com

I love the word ‘hub’ related to the web. It’s so old school

Can’t say much more and uni’s are ponderous beasts, but also are perhaps the *only* way a London science park would get funding. As Matt has pointed out, private investors are likely to be wary for a number of reasons.

Watch this space. Actually, don’t. Check back in a year or two. That’s likely to sound disappointing and defeatist, but then, if that’s how long it takes for something with a sustainable funding model, then so much the better.

Everybody who’s been along on a Friday and has foolishly asked for the history will confirm that I always include Mike’s part in my retelling of our creation story – the flashmob idea in February was a catalyst for getting as far as we have done.

I still want something simple. I want a space where people interested in web stuff can hang out and work in. I don’t understand why lines have to be drawn between users, media and technology startups – my prejudice is that most startups could do with a lot more exposure to customers and help from professional communicators. Certainly the tech folk who come along seem to get as much out of it as anyone.

I’m going to carry on pushing and expanding and enhancing what we do – that’s why I’ve always talked about the Tuttle as a prototype. And I’m happy to do anything I can to support this hub idea – I still think we’re playing the same game.

Anyway, back to the issue. You can bet anything Mike’s planning to help get tech start-ups together is for absolutely the right reasons and in no way disrespecting of the various ‘hubs’ that already exist.

I am happy to see Alberto Nadelli’s comment above, because 22@BCN in Barcelona is an important model to look at in many ways – I have followed that since early 2001, and it works. Not perfect, but some great energy, lots of urban renewal, new startups and an actual economic classification of ‘knowledge industries’ all combined were and are a radical step that also was, and still is regenerating a run-down part of the city – formerly a heavily industrial area.

Only time, people and money are needed for such ideas to succeed. Count me in as one of the people who can give some time to this idea.

If something like the ecosystem that let Skimbit exist could be extended and offered to other young companies, wow – we would really be onto something!

To start, what about a clone of StartUpSchool with one company per city in the UK (up to say 30)? Add in some experts to help things along and try getting a few companies out of it. There is something to be said for simply getting a bunch of interested, smart people in a room and trying to create something.

I’m not a huge fan of it being in London (mainly coz everything else is) but i am a fan it the idea. We need to reach higher then being web consultancies (which is why i keep hacking and not joining one!).

Frankly I think the Tuttle Club is nice, but I am talking about something bigger here. And I am VERY focused on true tech startups, not consultancies, designers, agencies and the like. They are a “nice to have” but frankly I have written about this industry for 13 years now and these business come and go. What I want to see is something like TechHub help give birth to a massive Internet company like Skype / Last.fm etc. That’s my ideal. I can dream can’t I? Or has English cynicism overtaken us all yet again?

Plus, I am also extremely disappointed in the kind of attitude that says “Yawn, seen it all before, we’ve already got this going on in [insert other UK city here]“. After 13 years I am astounded that a single post on this issue on this blog elicits the sudden realisation that London – through which regularly pass some of the most talented people on the planet – has rarely (bar the half-heartedly named “Digital Ditch” (Shoreditch) in the late ’90s) had a definable, internationally recognised cluster of tech companies, and I am sick of no-one paying attention to this fact. Listen people, I speak to startups EVERYDAY. They like the idea. And frankly, if it turns out to be “Silicon Rondabout” or whatever (a concept created BY A STARTUP, Dopplr, which broke in the media *on the same day* as my TechHub post) then fine. But this definable, recognised cluster is important for the future.

You should check out The Hub: http://www.the-hub.net/home.html – a hub for social entrepreneurs and social businesses – they have a great and replicable model, which could be looked at.

Location-wise, I think, for the reasons Mike outlines in the original post , London would work, the only challenge (beyond the cost of living) could be London’s size, the Valley also works because it is clustered around universities, established companies etc. beyond just startups and that uniquness is complex to replicate.

On funding, in theory agree with Paul (Walsh), in practice, I think it really depends, espeically if in the context of public-private partnership : look at is 22@ in Barcelona (gov. money was also used and it seems to work) http://www.22barcelona.com/index.php?lang=en