FEATURE
Croydon Tech Hub For most people, East Croydon is the station on the way to or from Gatwick Airport. It probably doesn’t immediately strike one as a centre of digital innovation. Yet, in the past few years since the London riots of 2011, Croydon has reinvented itself as a tech hub to rival Silicon Roundabout. The riots of 2011 rocketed Croydon to
not just those in the tech bubble. From
organisation determined to improve
international attention for all the wrong
the very start, there was an emphasis
and energise the local area through a
reasons. Images of the burnt out bus in
of inclusivity and education.
combination of innovation, enthusiasm
Croydon and riot police clashing with
and entrepreneurship.
violent protesters traumatised the local
One of the ironies of the Croydon
community and painted a picture to
riots and the effect it has had in
Currently the Croydon Tech City
the outside world of deprivation and
developing a tech community in
community is made up of more than
bitter inequality in an outer London
Croydon is that the riots were to some
400 entrepreneurs as well as savvy
suburb cut off from the success and
extent driven by technology. Multiple
angel and Venture Capital investors.
growth of much of the rest of London.
reports at the time commented on the
Croydon Tech City hold a monthly
importance of Twitter and Blackberry
gathering at which local startups and
But rather than reinforcing this sense
Messenger in helping organisers co-
success stories (of which there are
of chaos and allowing perception to
ordinate protests. Yet, it was tech
a fair few such as Karisma Kidz who
drive reality, the local community
entrepreneurs who lead the drive to
won startup of the year 2014 as
with the support of the council fought
create the Croydon startup hub. The
judged by Tech City News) share
back.
heart of Croydon’s startup is Croydon
their tips and experiences and seek
Tech City.
feedback and support from the rest of
Entrepreneurs
(who
might
otherwise have been attracted to the bright lights of Shoreditch’s Silicon
the community.
Roundabout) instead sought to create
Croydon Tech City is a community
a community of entrepreneurs in the
of software and app developers,
The local council have also been
heart of Croydon.
creatives, investors and founders of
extremely activist in supporting the
tech start-ups. Based in the heart of
startup community and offer support
The aims of this community were
the town centre, they offer a high
both in the form of grants and financial
broader though than simply creating
tech co-working space, meeting and
support. Alongside the work of
a startup hub for local entrepreneurs.
seminar rooms, a friendly bar and
the council, Develop Croydon is a
The council wanted to ensure that
most importantly a vibrant and tech-
network of local businesses aimed at
the development of a technology hub
centred community. Like its forbears
promoting Croydon’s regeneration
benefitted the whole community and
in Shoreditch, Croydon Tech City is an
and investment opportunities.
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