Oct 9The Nature of Networks that Support InnovationIn my research, based on my work, I used sociology to describe the social networks that support innovation. We see these specific networks in places where innovation thrives. They exist around the successful startup ecosystems, and in particular underpin startup accelerators. It turns out they are complex and clever, and…Social Network10 min readSocial Network10 min read
Aug 29Charging a startup 30% tax on its founder salaries is not how you turn the UK into a ‘Science Superpower’I have written before about how short term tax grabbing undermines tax incentives designed to support startups. Startups need to be at the heart of the government’s ambition for the UK to become a ‘science superpower’, the new Palo Alto, or the new Silicon Valley. …Startupş3 min readStartupş3 min read
Jul 3The Power of People on the EdgesFor innovation to happen, we need people on the edges of networks. They are the bridges; the weak ties that connect different networks and ecosystems together. It is these people over whom new information travels most effectively, and almost exclusively; sociologists define them as weak, bridging ties in social networks. …Social Network Analysis3 min readSocial Network Analysis3 min read
Jun 27Making Innovation Work in the UK — some solutionsMy evaluation of the support for innovation now is not that different from what I found 20 years ago, when I looked at this for the government. A lot needs to be done, and I will not cover all of it here. My ideas are shaped by what I’ve seen…9 min read9 min read
Jun 27Making Innovation Work in the UK — some problemsUK politicians of both parties are talking about how to boost innovation in the UK. We are in competition with Europe, America, and China. The UK has always punched above its weight in science, technology, and innovation, but it is also now a small country up against three superpowers. …5 min read5 min read
Apr 12Member-onlySolving the problem of accelerator metricsTwo popular metrics for startup accelerators are how much investment their startups have raised, and how many jobs they created. Both are reasonable metrics: a successful startup raises investment and employs people; the startup pays tax, and the people it hires pay tax, and this contributes to the economy. Bingo! …Startup8 min readStartup8 min read
Aug 13, 2022How the first European accelerators influenced what we do today, and my personal accelerator journeyIn the early 2000s, I was in the Balkans running an economic development program with the Soros Foundation. I was trying to find ways to bring together young entrepreneurs and future leaders, and to build supportive ecosystems around them. Back then (20 years ago!) we talked about ‘cross-sector dialogue’, networking…Startup8 min readStartup8 min read
Aug 4, 2022Member-onlyMapping the value in an acceleratorI was recently working with an accelerator team to define the funding proposal for their accelerator. This led to us mapping where the values lies in their program. Most people think of accelerators in a quite simple way: they form a cohort of startups, and the value for everyone else…Startup4 min readStartup4 min read
Apr 20, 2020Member-onlyHow we launched an accelerator during the lockdownOne of my jobs is advising on the design and execution of accelerators, based both on my own experience doing this, and on my research into accelerators. A project I’ve been working on is the design of a wellbeing accelerator at Sheffield Hallam University. The program is part of a…4 min read4 min read
Mar 19, 2020Member-onlyCovid-19: advice for startupsI spent the last few days on video calls with the startups I’m on the board of doing a risk assessment and general strategy session in light of Covid-19. It was interesting to hear input from the other board members and the founders, and, for those of us old enough…Startup4 min readStartup4 min read
