i've done a lot to try and improve the startup ecosystem in london, but the issue is more fundamental: investors are too risk adverse.
i left london to come to sf and *immediately* raised a pre-seed.
the same company, the same founder. in london no one would bet on me. in sf, in just 4 weeks i raised from multiple unicorn founders and a vc fund.
2 months later? got into yc.
the difference? investors in sf back the FOUNDER. in fact, when
@fdotinc first invested they literally said "we don't know if we like your idea or space, but we know that you'll work it out."
can you IMAGINE a uk fund saying that?
all it took is one investor seeing our potential and taking a chance on us.
none of this would have happened if i stayed in london.
i hope that changes soon, for the sake of the incredible london founders i meet regularly.
in fact, someone just give me $500k and i'll return the fund many times over, investing in all the under-appreciated london talent.
only somewhat kidding.
anyway, back to building.