According to the organization, apps are expected to create over 3 million jobs in the next 5 years; and its SVC2UK Appathon contest aimed to inspire a new generation of British entrepreneurs. Three 14-year-old girls from Notre Dame High School in Greenock, Scotland and four Cambridge University students won a trip to Silicon Valley to learn about entrepreneurship.
“Back in Britain a lot of people are scared to make the leap and do their own thing…(they’re) scared of not doing well” Ellie Wilkie, age 14
I had the opportunity to meet and interview the young entrepreneurs as they toured LinkedIn and Google. Ellie Wilkie was a natural leader and spoke confidently for her two Scottish colleagues. Each one of them was energized and inspired by their time in Silicon Valley and eager to take some of the “can-do” Silicon Valley attitude back with them to the UK.
Here are highlights of our conversation (comments have been edited for length and clarity):
van Diggelen: How does entrepreneurship in the UK compare to Silicon Valley?
Ellie Wilkie: Back in Britain a lot of people are scared to make the leap and do their own thing. Here…you do internships which aren’t as readily available back home. Out here, it’s much more put into the school curriculum…and lots of people learn about it from a much younger age, especially if you live in the Bay Area with all the major tech companies around. It’s good to see – as a young person – all these young people doing so well. Back home it’s not so publicized about how boys and girls can do so well… in companies like this and how exciting they can be.
van Diggelen: What are entrepreneurs in the UK scared of?
Ellie Wilkie: Scared of not doing well. Taking that leap and it doesn’t work…well (if you don’t try)… You’re never going to know are you? In (UK) companies, bosses and CEOs and managers of companies seem very intimidating and I’m not really wanting to go and speak to them, whereas here it’s much more: everybody’s the same and everybody’s much more approachable.
van Diggelen: Do you feel Silicon Valley’s open (less hierarchical) culture helps?
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Ellie Wilkie: Definitely, it’s much more: everyone can do this. Whereas back home it’s a very specialized thing … Lots of people feel that they couldn’t do something like that.
At Facebook, no one has an office, everyone is the same and everyone’s voice is listened to, so there’s no scary going up to your boss and saying, is this OK? …
…it’s just a very cooperative environment. I was really surprised at how laid back everyone is. They really enjoy what they do, compared to lots of people back home who don’t necessarily enjoy what they’re doing …everyone out here, they’ve got a real passion for what they do, they love it.
van Diggelen: What will you tell your friends back in Greenock?
Ellie Wilkie: Seeing women in tech, college students from around here doing so well and having a real input…Women saying “we felt we had a real worth in the company ” They got to make decisions and got to be involved in the actual design processes. Even at such a young age they can be so involved and so vocal in what they do.
van Diggelen: What are you inspired to do after visiting all these companies (Facebook, Tesla, LinkedIn, Box and Google)?
Ellie Wilkie: I’d like to be out here working for any one of the companies. They’re all incredible. I’ve always had an interest in technology but seeing people actually doing well and have a passion for it has cemented in my mind I can see myself doing this. This is what I want.
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“Here (in Silicon Valley), ‘NO’ is not really in their vocabulary…they get stuff done” Benjamin Moss
I also spoke with Benjamin Moss, who’s completing a Master’s in Aerospace Engineering at Cambridge University
van Diggelen: What surprised you most about how business is done here in Silicon Valley?
Benjamin Moss: Here, ‘NO’ is not really in their vocabulary…they get stuff done. They’re extremely ambitious and if something is required to achieve these ambitions then nothing really stands in their way.
There’s quite a bit of risk aversion in the UK in the way there isn’t here. People in the UK have a lot of pride and they don’t want to look silly, so if they come up with an idea and it doesn’t work, then they’re very concerned about having looked silly.
Whereas in Silicon Valley, coming up with an idea and it not working and your moving on and learning from that experience is positive.
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Read more Fresh Dialogues stories about Entrepreneurship in Silicon Valley, and beyond
Lena Wilsonhas been described as one of the most powerful women in Scotland. She’s CEO of both Scottish Enterpriseand Scottish Development International, two publicly funded organizations focused on stimulating sustainable growth in Scotland. The country has an ambitious target to provide 50% of its energy from renewable sources by 2020.
I caught up with Lena on a recent trip to Scotland and discussed her role as “Scotland’s chief salesperson.” She explained the political will for its energy targets and described the green strategy: focus on a low carbon future and leverage Scotland’s natural advantages: 25% of Europe’s wind and wave power potential, cool climate; infrastructure and research strengths.
On Scotland’s value proposition
“Scotland has moved significantly up the value chain. It isn’t about cheap assembly plants anymore…Scotland has natural assets, talent, a business infrastructure and science base that can make it the most competitive business location for R & D.”
“It’s not so much about the money, it’s about the kudos of winning the prize; the recognition from the global marine energy industry.” Paul O’Brien, Scottish Development International
The interview was recorded on February 19, 2009 in Scotland. To listen to the full interview, click here
Last month, during a lecture trip to Scotland, I sat down for tea at Scottish Development Internationalin Glasgow with Paul O’Brien, senior executive of Renewable Energy Development. We discussed how Scotland is leveraging its expertise and natural resources in the renewable energy sector. Claiming up to 25% of Europe’s offshore wind, wave and tidal energy potential, Paul is bullish about Scotland’s energy future. We discussed (in very strong Scottish accents):
The Beatrice Wind Farm Project: the largest offshore wind turbines deployed in the world (5 megawatts) and why the project’s success could be a turning pointfor wind energy in Scotland.
The Crown Estates announcement on February 16th of ten new sites for offshore wind that have the capacity to deliver 6.4 Gigawatts of power.
Scotland’s use of oil rig technologyfor the first time ever to develop new wind power opportunities in over 45 meters of deep water.
Scotland’s bullish clean energy targets: 31% of electricity from renewables by 2011 and 50% by 2020. (Paul claims they are close to achieving the former and may well surpass the latter by 2020)
On wind turbines in 45 meter depths, over 12 miles offshore
“By overcoming the depth issue, we’ve opened up a hellavalot more of the North Sea to development.”
On selling Scotland as an energy efficient location for server farms.
“We have tremendous weather here (mostly cold ALL the time). That could save you money just by siting your server farm in Scotland.”
On the concept of using renewable energy to power low-cost coastal data centers for Google etc.
” If we can prove to the world it can be done here, we’ll see more and more of such projects…when you’re on a coastal site, there is the opportunity to use sea water for the cooling. ”
The interview was recorded at Scottish Development International in Glasgow, Scotland on Thursday February 19, 2009
Just back from a whistle-stop trip to Scotland where I was invited by Michael Clouser, at the University of Edinburgh, to give a series of seminars to students and entrepreneurs. These included:
The state of Clean and Green Tech in Silicon Valley – why green tech is still hot, VC opportunities, greening your business, vampire energy, and best green business practices
Drinking the Kool Aid in Silicon Valley– highlights from ten years of interviews, including midas touch Frank Addante; a brief history of Silicon Valley and its ecosystem; its spectacular successes (Google) and failures ( Webvan); what are the lessons for entrepreneurs? Got some cool feedback on this one and delighted to see the turnout exceeded expectations by 3 or 4 times.
Excellent to get a tour of the new Informatics Forum Buildingwhich houses 500 researchers in artificial intelligence, computer science etc. with Dr. Steve Ewing. Amid the gloom in the British economy which has been hit hard by the distastrous performance of the Royal Bank of Scotland (largest corporate loss in UK history last year) and others in the financial sector, there were glimmers of hope among the students and entrepreneurs I met.
One earnest young student, by the name of Ali Eslami approached me after a seminar and explained his hot new idea. Aware that he and all his friends are wasting precious time on Facebook etc. when they should be studying, he’s come up with a cool application: keepmeout. Register those sites you’re addicted to, and it will ping you if you go there too often. Sounds like it might be a useful tool for many of us type A’s here in Silicon Valley.
Another hopeful sign came at my Green Tech masterclass which assembled a group of Scotland-based eco-entrepreneurs, along with two editors from entrepedia , the university’s wiki for entrepreneurs. We had Patrick Hickey from nipht.coman eco-lighting and biolumanescent mushroom (!) developer; Christine Gupta of GuptaPartnership who’s making a name for herself with her blog, MyGreenWheels; David Lawson of EcoMove, Martin Jones of Tantallon Systems, and Alan Blunt, a startup consultant.
After some grumbling about Scottish Enterprise, there was general agreement that the organization is now getting its ducks in a row and is ready to support and nurture early stage startups to full commercialization.
One such startup is led by David Tonery, of Oxy-Gen Combustion, developing a low emission engine he claims offers over 20% increased energy efficiency. He’s received $180K+ in funding from Scottish Enterprise and later this year, is headed to Silicon Valley to do the VC circuit. Smart young guy, from a family of entrepreneurs, and with enthusiastic support from former Scottish Enterprise veteran, John Finlay, I am optimistic he’ll succeed.
One recurring question I faced during Q&A was the issue of “someone stealing my idea.” Despite reassurances from me and others in the room, I fear this cultural gap and reluctance to “go for it” may mean some bright ideas hatched in Scotland don’t see the light of day.
After two days in sunny Edinburgh, I took the train to Glasgow to visit with Paul O’brien of Scottish Development International, a guru of the clean energy sector, who regaled me with all the impressive achievements Scotland has been making in wind, wave and tidal power. He’s bullish that Scotland will be producing 50% of its energy through sustainable means by 2020. More on this in next week’s blog.
I also heard a whisper that Mayor Gavin Newsomis paying the savvy Scots a visit this week to explore opportunities for capturing some of that strong tidal action under Golden Gate Bridge. Wish I could have stayed a few more days to show him round my fair city. Ah…another time Gavin.
van Diggelen: What are entrepreneurs in the UK scared of?
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