Do Digital Or Dr Dolittle?


Posted by MalcolmEvans on Wednesday 14th of September 2011 | 1 Comment(s)

Digital’s sort of doing my head and I wonder if you can help me.

On the one hand there’s a sense that we are missing a trick and on the other a creeping realisation that we may be confusing chalk and cheese.

Is Digital so regimented that only the U.S. can do the big platforms, with Europe and the Israel and Australian pockets condemned to the add-on gizmos if they are lucky and, more realistically, the grunt and grind of routine web work?

I’ve been talking to some of the great and good of Digital in Manchester the last few days. And in their personal skills they are indeed great, and in their desire and matching actions to see the sector thrive, they are indeed seeking to do good.

But I’ve been asking a question which no-one can answer, least of all me: “Are we on the verge of economic breakthrough with Digital, or is Digital here more of a style movement than a serious commercial sector?”

Think about it -

Is it look good, or grow good companies good?

Is it a question of continuing to evolve the capability, ambition and precision of the sector, or is what we have now just about the best we are going to get?

Is it talking to the commercial world outside, or is there just a lot of talk to the knowing animals inside a world of secret magic?

- Come on all you Digitalisti; think up a “hot one” which you can build and which I can use and fund!

Malcolm Evans is a Manchester business funding activist.

Comments



Spontaniac's picture

I think we speak to the animals still.

I recently pitched my company business model and www.spontaniac.com to a CEO of a large enterprise vendor: not as a potential investor (he doesn't invest) but to get insight on how to raise capital as he secured a large sum a few years back. What struck me is something I have witnessed so many times: the attitude to entrepreneurs; the attitude to risk; and the attitude to do something new, is so different in the US than in the UK. He gave me a number of anecdotal examples where for example, the investor community will just take a chance on something new and if they see evidence it might work, they just invest large sums to create a market and blow out any possible competition. My experience in the UK is that the whole focus is on 'why it won't work'. For example, my business is focused on the emerging pervasive entertainment market. A number of other companies have set the trail, scvngr.com being one. They have raised $20m + in a couple of years and are now marketing heavily in the UK. We have a different focus, but these examples, and more, give us confidence we are in the right space. However, the potential UK investors I speak to focus on why it might not work and how the business plan needs to demonstrate x. y and z – often the advice contradicting the previous conversation. I am not naïve enough to assume they should just give me money - of course I need to demonstrate how they will get their return - but it is the attitude I find so disappointing. Passion and belief are as fundamental as a vision and robust business plan. Smaller companies like mine need support as we are trying to demonstrate innovation and want to create jobs and wealth in the region, but if the cultural environment and attitude is not right to foster such innovation then we are always going to be fighting an uphill battle.

As a footnote, the US CEO thought Spontaniac was ‘unique and exciting’ and suggested we move the company to the US!