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Ask YC: are you a UK-based hacker, or working on a startup in the UK?

26 points| dood | 18 years ago | reply

I'm suprised how few UK startups and hackers I've seen here. Where are you, and what are you working on? Or have you all moved to the valley?

68 comments

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[+] ian|18 years ago|reply
Hi, ian here from Songkick (YC summer '07 batch). We're based in East London. If you're UK based get in touch - can introduce you to other hackers in the UK doing/interested in start-ups. We'll organise some drinks soon. You can reach us at founders at songkick dot com.
[+] dood|18 years ago|reply
Huh, I hadn't seen Songkick before, it looks great! I had the same frustration with finding shows from bands I like, and wanted to make something similar. I'm sure it'll be a hit if you get the data and some half-decent recommendations.
[+] gordonguthrie|18 years ago|reply
Ian

Gordon from Project Playfair (now hypernumbers.com) - we met at Seedcamp...

We have an alpha SDK out at the moment - we should show it to you before I head back to Scotland in a couple of weeks...

Just used Songkick - stuck in an obscure artiste and it turns out he's playing in Edinburgh 2 weeks after I get home - you seem to be serving some tasty dogfood there son...

Drop us a line at gordon blah-blah hypernumbers.com

Gordon

[+] kul|18 years ago|reply
There are several UK startups funded by YC, so we exist! Auctomatic, Sitepass, Songkick and a few in the new batch.

Visas are difficult but otherwise I'd recommend moving to the Valley, or at least visiting.

How about getting together at this?

http://www.sbs.ox.ac.uk/events/Silicon+Valley+Comes+to+Oxfor...

Myself and Harjeet will be there.

[+] tpatke|18 years ago|reply
To be honest. That event just doesn't interest me at all. The speakers are not going to say anything that is not already on the web. ...and if they do, it will be on the web the day after.

I want to meet hackers. The best way to do that is probably over coffee. Not in the context of someone delivering a speech.

[+] dood|18 years ago|reply
I read about that event somewhere, but isn't it for Oxford students only?
[+] immad|18 years ago|reply
Clickpass not Sitepass! :P
[+] Prabaker|18 years ago|reply
I am just starting out and trying to get a couple of start-ups off the ground. I am based in Leeds (http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&q=leeds&oe=UTF-8...) and my current concern is about finding talent in the north. Everything I have read so far - including most of the stuff on YC News - suggests that I will have to go down south to London or Cambridge, or up-sticks and move to 'the valley'. However, recent networking events have introduced me to local talent and so things are looking more optimistic.
[+] drofnil|18 years ago|reply
A hacker who lives in the north (in the countryside between leeds and york), and commutes weekly to London on contracts. There is talent in the north, you just have to be quick to snap it up, coz the first place we all look for work is in the biggest and best paying market, which of course is London.
[+] tpatke|18 years ago|reply
In London. Working on collaboration software.

If anyone has the leadership ability to organize a meetup - I would be very interested.

http://www.jettask.com/

[+] ian|18 years ago|reply
We'll do it. Hit us with your emails: founders at songkick dot com.
[+] inovica|18 years ago|reply
Hi. We're here - based in Newcastle. Existing business, however we've two startups underway that are being run by two independent teams. I'm trying to oversee them and help where needed as at 37 years old I get too tired for all-nighters!! Just as a note though, I often go out to San Jose etc to meet up with people
[+] dereference|18 years ago|reply
I'm in Southampton, Hampshire. Currently hacking away at a web app which has something to do with online storage. In the progress of registering the company.

Will be hopefully moving to Cambridge at some point (that is if I don't run out of money entirely).

[+] tpatke|18 years ago|reply
I am working with online storage as well. I see it as a smaller part of a bigger system. Get in touch - it would be good to swap stories.
[+] pierrefar|18 years ago|reply
In Cambridge incubating an idea. Cambridge is a great place for entrepreneurship.
[+] axod|18 years ago|reply
Cambridge does seem to have a lot going for it with the science park etc (I'm based not too far away in Ipswich).

Would be interested how other peoples experiences have been regarding getting funding though (I haven't got that far yet).

[+] vikram|18 years ago|reply
I'm in London, working on a journey planner. Keen to meet hackers in the UK. Drop me a line at enginedriver at telltrains dot com

BTW, my site is www.telltrains.com

[+] moomerman|18 years ago|reply
I'm working for 'social betworking' starup http://www.bragster.com/ in East London. I'm originally from the North West and often keep an eye out for jobs back there but they usually pay ridiculously low amounts so all the hackers congregate in or around London. Also there are loads of opportunities to network around London which are all but non-existent in the North.
[+] NickSmith|18 years ago|reply
In Sheffield, South Yorkshire.

Two of us working on a web service that should make blogging more 'two-way' and social, as opposed to the rather one-way broadcast activity than it is at present. Hopefully it will help web-surfing be a far richer reading experience and encourage higher quality Internet conversations.

[+] louisadekoya|18 years ago|reply
I am in the U.K - Milton Keynes, which is less than an hour from London. I dabble but I am no hacker by any means. I do however design software for a living and I am looking for a hacker co-founder for a startup. So if anyone is interested, do get in touch - initially by reply here and we'll take it from there.
[+] vikram|18 years ago|reply
I am looking for a co-founder. drop me a line at enginedriver at telltrains dot com
[+] whyleyc|18 years ago|reply
I'm one of the co-founder's of Zamzar which has been live for about a year now. (http://www.zamzar.com)

I'm based in Southampton and interested in the meetup that the Songkick guys are mooting - you could always post the details on Hacker News ?

[+] SamanthaG|18 years ago|reply
Hi, I don't think I'm a hacker (unfortunately I'm a lawyer) in Birmingham UK, but may be looking for any interested hackers to collaborate with me in overhauling the provision of legal services to people via a personal startup. If anyone wants to share any ideas or comment,I'd be grateful.
[+] jhm198|18 years ago|reply
Hi, I'm in Central London currently working on a start-up part-time and looking to pursue it full-time from early next year. I would be really interested in meeting hackers to share ideas, if you guys at Songkick organise something count me in.
[+] JohnN|18 years ago|reply
I'm in london, working on a citizen journalism site (www.scribblesheet.co.uk)
[+] vide0star|18 years ago|reply
Hi, we're two American hackers in London starting a betting exchange to take on Betfair. Would love to meet up with hackers/startups in [email protected]