the what, where, why & how about life from natives who know

As we set out to conquer the world we will be bringing you the Native perspective from all over the globe. Let the games begin ...

London & Partner's

Bridge the Tech Gap Event at Soho House! OCTOBER 4

London & Partners, formerly known as Think London, is hosting an exciting panel discussion and networking event on Tuesday, October 4th in New York City. New York Natives own Camilla Webster will be moderating the panel which includes companies such as GILT Groupe, CISCO and BOXEE. This can't-miss event, 'Bridging the Tech Gap' will give you valuable information on how to take your company global by capitalizing on international business opportunities in EMEA. Currently the UK's booming technology sector is worth $184 billion, the largest technology market in Europe, and London boasts the largest concentration of companies with roughly 40% of UK IT business based there.

Join the conversation on Twitter at #Bridge_the_Gap or follow London & Partners at @L_Pbusiness.

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To help us inaugurate the new site and to introduce London Natives, we have asked Bindi Karia, VC/Emerging Business Lead of BizSpark, Microsoft Ltd to speak with us about technology and tech investment in London. 

What follows is a dialogue about London's Silicon Roundabout (the center of East London's tech city) and Britain's start-up community from the queen of tech start-ups!

Bindi Karia    

VC/Emerging Business Lead of BizSpark, Microsoft Ltd.   

Why is London the place to invest now if you're a tech company or an investor looking for new opportunities?

One of the more important things to look for when investing in any company is talent. Right now, Silicon Roundabout in East London is rapidly becoming the hub for that technology talent, with hundreds of start-ups having made it their home over the last couple of years. London used to be known primarily as a launching pad for US start-ups looking to reach the European market. But the support network here is now of sufficient quality for the ecosystem to grow organically.  Hubs form for geographical reasons. Businesses and investors need to base themselves in close proximity to critical skills. London has a particularly strong mix: Soho’s advertising and creative companies; Silicon Roundabout’s burgeoning pool of IT workers and entrepreneurs, and finance and law professionals based in the City and Mayfair. The existence of Silicon Roundabout is living proof that London has all the necessary ingredients entrepreneurs need to take their start-ups to the next level. It’s a virtuous circle that attracts more and more start-ups – and therefore investors -  to the area.

How does your work intersect with the growth proposition?

As the lead for Microsoft’s BizSpark UKprogramme, my role is to connect the dots amongst the start-up community, investors and the wider entrepreneurial ecosystem, as well as within Microsoft and our various product groups / sales teams. Through BizSpark, the company helps early stage start-ups with access to technology, expertise and advocacy.  We can help to introduce them to the right people and enable them to establish credibility among potential customers, a crucial point when you’re only a five-person company. Start-ups stimulate economic growth. And BizSpark is part of that ecosystem which aids in facilitating that growth.

What should companies think about when bringing their business to London?

I think it’s important to think of the start-up scene as European. Thanks to its strong entrepreneurial network and diverse skills, London is an attractive base for businesses and investors. But the market opportunities in digital exist on a pan-European level. Start-ups shouldn’t ask themselves ‘why should I come to London?’ but ‘what is my European strategy?’