This Week SVW Is In London And Cambridge
By Tom Foremski - July 5, 2009
This week I'll be in London and Cambridge as part of the Traveling Geeks tour. We'll be meeting with various UK companies and organizations.
I'm particularly interested in the startup culture here in the UK and how it differs from Silicon Valley. I'm always looking for what makes Silicon Valley different from anywhere else and why it is so difficult to create Silicon Valley-like regions around the world.
Clearly, to create a sustainable center of innovation it takes more than building a business park around a university and injecting some startup capital. The answer must lie in the culture of Silicon Valley. But can that culture be exported? Do regional innovation centers have unique cultures specific to their particular brand of innovation?
Maybe I can find out some answers during this trip.
Also, I'll be posting about some of the companies and personalities I meet during this trip. So please check back regularly. Also, you can follow my colleagues on the Traveling Geeks website and Twitter -- and if you get a chance, join us at some of the open evening events. Here is our agenda.
Here is a brief overview. We'll be at...
A NESTA-sponsored conference about moving forward in the new economy, a U.S./U.K. Speed Date with Seed Camp Winners and UK Leaders; eConsultancy Innovator's Open Discussion; the TechCrunch Europa Awards; University of Cambridge's Judge Business School Roundtable on Open Innovation; as well as meetings with Nokia Labs, Microsoft Labs, East of England International, Skype and others.
The blhttpoggers will also be speaking and participating at a Reboot Britain event and the Guardian's first Media Talk Live event, as well as organizing a TweetUp in central London on the evening of July 5, 2009, which is being sponsored by NESTA and The Conversation Group.
My Twitter is: http://twitter.com/tomforemski
My Friendfeed is: http://friendfeed.com/tomforemski
Twitter hashtag for the trip is #tg2009
Fellow Traveling Geeks:
Robert Scoble
Robert needs no introduction. He is a social media factory!
Blog: Scobleizer.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/scobleizer
Friendfeed: http://friendfeed.com/scobleizer
Craig Newmark
The Craig in Craigslist and a one-man support machine that rivals a dozen call centers.
Blog: cnewmark.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/craignewmark
Friendfeed: http://friendfeed.com/craignewmark
Sarah Lacy
Sarah is an editor at Techcrunch and a prolific writer and book author.
Blog: Sarahlacy.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/sarahcuda
Friendfeed: http://friendfeed.com/sarahcuda
Howard Rheingold
Howard used to edit the Whole Earth Review and is one of the leading thinkers of the digital age.
Blog: http://www.rheingold.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/hrheingold
Friendfeed: http://friendfeed.com/howardrheingold
Meghan Asha
Meghan is one of the micro-celebrity It girls from the East coast.
Blog: http://www.nonsociety.com/meghan
Twitter: http://twitter.com/meghanasha
Friendfeed: http://friendfeed.com/meghanasha
JD Lasica
JS works with non-profits helping them to use social media tools for social change.
Blogs: Socialmedia.biz & Socialbrite.org
Twitter: http://twitter.com/jdlasica
Friendfeed: http://friendfeed.com/jdlasica
Susan Bratton
Susan is co-founder and CEO of publisher Personal Life Media.
Blog: Dishymix.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/susanbratton
Friendfeed: http://friendfeed.com/susanbratton
Jeff Saperstein
Jeff is a co-founder of Traveling Geeks. He consults with large corporations on business strategy.
Website: Creatingregionalwealth.com
Blog on Israel: http://www.sapermktg.wordpress.com
Renee Blodgett
Public relations maven and co-founder of the Traveling Geeks.
Blog: http://www.downtheavenue.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/MagicSauceMedia
Friendfeed: http://friendfeed.com/reneeblodgett
Jim ("Sky") Schuyler
The CTO for the Dalai Lama.
Blog: Sky.dlfound.org
Twitter: http://twitter.com/jimsky7
Ayelet Noff
Aylef is based in Israel where she runs a marketing consultancy.
Blog: http://www.blonde20.com/blog/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/blonde20
FriendFeed: http://friendfeed.com/blonde20
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July 5, 2009 | Permalink | Comment | Subscribe to SVW
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Comments (2)
Having started my career for an Anglo-Dutch publisher in London and now working for a British start up in San Francisco, I have learned it's the Silicon Valley, American style "can do" attitude is a true driving force. I've found the mix of British realism and American idealism is a good blend. Keen to follow your trip. It looks like a rock star crew. If you fancy a nice pint of Greene King IPA, try the Eagle in Cambridge. It's where the WWII American pilots had pints before the invasion.
Posted: July 5, 2009 7:23 PM
As somebody who spends equal time between SV and the UK my take on the difference between the start-up cultures in the two locations is the openness and intrigue uniquely prevalent in SV.
Posted: July 6, 2009 8:19 AM