“I would suspect that (Skype) could have achieved more if it had been an independent company” said Danny Rimer, a partner at Index Ventures” in the Financial Times 29th August (Skype’s first decade reflects a trail of missed opportunity).
We asked six leading entrepreneurs how critical was independence to success?
Shahar Waiser
Founder
www.gettaxi.co.uk
“In order to introduce a new service which makes an impact in a global market, you have to think in a different space. Once you have achieved your own USP, it is imperative that you regularly update it in order to stay well ahead of the curve, and indeed the competition. Although it is crucial to respect all of the relevant feedback which financial controllers such as stockholders advise; ultimately, without your own voice you can’t take your vision to the finish line.”
In years to come I think Silicon Valley and San Francisco will be viewed as the laboratory of the information age but much of the real world growth of tech will be driven from other locations. There has been no letup in the rapid expansion of technology startups in San Francisco since the end of 2010. The vibrancy of this innovation economy is alive and well. What is newer however is the engagement of corporations into the ecosystem and this could be London’s greatest opportunity.
“David Rowan’s article perfectly sums up both the potential and the risks of a “big data” world. Knowledge is power and big data increases that power.
