>> "This is a critical reason why most tech startups in the UK go absolutely nowhere. You can’t legislate against it. It’s built straight into the culture."<p>[Citation needed]<p>This piece is fairly short on evidence+numbers, and overloaded with sweeping generalizations.<p>>> " If you’re starting a new tech business, the only place — the ONLY place — you should be is Silicon Valley."<p>If you need to schmooze VC/need to work for a big company for a while so you can schmooze their M&A department/etc, then probably Silicon Valley is the best bet.<p>But if you just want to build a tech company that makes money, it doesn't much matter where you are.<p>>> "That is a traffic warden putting a parking ticket on the Bugatti. That is also a crowd cheering on the traffic warden. Why? Well it’s because each of the people watching will never, ever, ever have the capacity to even think about buying an £800,000 Bugatti. They know it. They know their place. Why should someone else be allowed to be successful enough to blow almost a million quid on a car? Yeah. Fluck’em! Rich B’stards!"<p>They're cheering because the car is probably in the way.<p>Jeez what a stupid 'article'. The author just comes across as someone who has failed and is blaming it all squarely on the 'culture' rather than any fault of his own.<p>And FWIW, flying out for a couple of days every 3 months is hardly a big deal. If the US had universal healthcare I think it'd be more appealing.<p>(Caveat): I don't really care about 'the scene'. I just sit in my office, do my own thing. I don't really need a 'tech scene', I've got one online :/
The best part of leaving the UK was escaping the cycle of negativity. Sure this guy is warped by it and comes across really badly, but it's insanely helpful being able to say I'm working on a startup and have people be understanding and supportive. If you don't believe me about the attitude of some British people, check out this Guardian article and the comments:<p><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/jul/10/not-safe-for-work-internet-london" rel="nofollow">http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/jul/10/not-safe-fo...</a><p>I tried to make sense of it all myself here:<p><a href="http://petewarden.typepad.com/searchbrowser/2009/07/you-cant-fail-if-you-dont-try-or-why-i-left-the-uk.html" rel="nofollow">http://petewarden.typepad.com/searchbrowser/2009/07/you-cant...</a>
He nailed it. It's written in an abrasive tone that's sure to attract negative reactions, but the array of positive comments left so far show an undercurrent of support (and I've had plenty of positive retweets and responses on Twitter after mentioning it). Nonetheless, it's the patriotic right of some to believe everything is fine and dandy here.<p>I've always played it by being based in the UK (because I haven't been able to move to the US, maybe in a few years) but having 90%+ of my customer base in the US (I even took angel investment from the US, like the article's author). That way I enjoy the UK's tax system and I can live here legally, but I enjoy a customer base with a clue (try selling Internet services or advertising in the UK - ha ha ha). Works for now-ish but the startup visa could be a big help.<p>(In retrospect, maybe I should edit my post to say this guy is totally wrong to stop getting downvoted by the handful of patriotic Brits who remain :-) By jove, humbug to the US, chaps, the UK is splendid!)
> In the UK, entrepreneurs try too. The first thing that happens is they become social outcasts. They’re labeled, with a bit of a laugh, ‘delboys’<p>what is this nonsense. (If anything I find high correlation between entrepreneurs and getting laid.)