Ben Charlton

One reason there aren’t more huge UK Tech Companies is simple: Most UK investors start by asking “how do you avoid downside?” while US investors ask “how big could this be if everything goes right?” We tried to build @Firstbase in the UK “Leading” voices told me I was "too ambitious" “Can’t be done from here” “Someone in the US will do it” So I moved to the US and did it But That mentality sticks. It’s why there are so few UK founders who other UK founders can emulate or learn from. US investors being in London is progress. More UK founders building VC backed startups helps. But it’s belief that is it possible – and proof points that show people it is – and ambition. On ambition, the lack of proof points lead to early acquisitions in the $200M-$2B range. We moved @Firstbase to the US the week after we were told we were too ambitious. I have a bunch of EU friends who would tell the same story. We wanted to build our company in the UK – We couldn’t We moved our company to the US because it was the only way it would survive

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No matter if DeepSeek spent 5 million, 100 or 1billion - LLMs become better while becoming cheaper. Cheaper to build and cheaper to run. DeepSeek is another massive step towards the commodisation of LLMs. As margins squeeze for the LLMs, they will seek margin within AI applications, hence they build their own agents, computer use etc. It is what they differentiate themselves from other LLMs. So to build a business that has a moat, you have to find an industry specific AI application with a non-public dataset, maybe even an offline data set. Something not even DeepSeek has access to. And then you can do magical things, AI applications for the real world. That help offline businesses (=90% of businesses) do better. The great thing is: you can build this from anywhere. Even outside the US and China. Even in the EU. (and yes we still have to undo the AI Act urgently so that we can create global AI application winners, just regulate high risk AI but leave the rest unregulated. Ursula von der Leyen & Henna Virkkunen & Thierry Breton & Margrethe Vestager, European Commission ) https://lnkd.in/drwA-Jnp

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The truth about exits... ...that's what we heard at last night's Rebel Meetups by Rebellious Co thanks to James Courtney, Rachel Murphy, and Alex Price. 3 agencies and 1 tech exit between them. At least 135 staff across them all. Different times, different circumstances but a lot of similarities too. After over a decade of running events for a sector-agnostic audience and hearing multiple times questions from the uninitiated about how diverse industries won't garner advice for all, it always feels like retribution when I'm proven right that the common denominators and transferrable skills are applicable across more than just one area of business. So what did we learn that *everyone* can use? + Build an exitable business from day one + Include strong margins in your model (and push them) + Even the earliest partners can be acquirers + Be open and aligned with cofounders + Negotiate with power – desperation doesn't do [good] deals + Know not just what you want but what you *don't* want + Think about what you'll do after + why Some of this can seem obvious to most, but to the aspiring founders in the room was able to not only unlock some insights they didn't have yet but also will put them in good stead for building things that exit themselves. A brilliant event had by all and a great crowd of interesting people across the room building all kinds of businesses. An author, a tea company, hospitality, AI for elderly care, an author, and many more. We even had someone fly from Dublin to attend(!!!!!) and someone stopping in from the Isle of Man on their way to Berlin too. WILD. Turns out ideas and opportunities shouldn't be limited by geography... who knew?! 👀 As far as exits in the community go... In Alex and James' case, I've known them since day-zero of their businesses and they're amazing examples of people from in & around the Rebellious Co who have exited via acquisition in the last year. There are at least 3 other founders who have done the same in the last 6 months. It's clear: we grow founders who grow AND exit. And we've got thousands more founders with the same potential. Why aren't you accessing them yet? DM me about partnership opportunities...

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Could we see another BOOM in the startup market this year? Possibly... I've been told by 3 separate scale-up Head of Talent types that they're now being approached almost daily by US based startups to relocate and lead huge hiring sprees in 2025. They said the last time this happened was at the end of 2020, and we ALL know what happened next. I still think Australia's market will be somewhat limited by our current interest rates (although they *may* drop a touch this year) - but make no mistake - if the US startup space starts another growth race, our market WILL feel it. Remember, last time the US startup space boomed, our borders were closed, and our talent couldn't leave. This time - Australia's talent can become the world's talent. If you DON'T have a plan that allows you to hire in a competitive startup talent market, your startup WILL NOT compete.

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I get about 1 inbound a week from non-technical founders asking for advice. It's fascinating because I'm no expert (and absolutely unqualified), but I see a pattern. People seriously underestimate the power they have and the skills that are in demand for founders right now. Everything's getting flipped on its head. What used to be the moat - technical output - is shifting. We're now focusing on human-centric skills that many non-technical founders naturally possess. The landscape is changing, and your "soft skills" might actually be your competitive advantage. Don't underestimate these in the value you bring to the table. The amazing Georgie Healy and I talking AI on "In the blink of AI" DayOne.fm - We’re for founders and startup operators episode linked below. PS. a family member (who was forced to listen) said to me "you said democratised a lot" 🤡 so if you listen you have the option to make it a drinking game and take a shot.

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The UK is quietly throttling its early-stage startup ecosystem. - There’s no shortage of talented founders. - No shortage of great ideas. - And no shortage of capital. But there is a total lack of movement. In the last 12 months, I’ve seen maybe two or three raises that moved quickly. Everything else is stalled—or dead. The ecosystem is paralysed by pessimism— mostly driven by noise from government, media, and markets. Nobody’s spending. Nobody’s investing. And innovation is suffering. Here’s the stat that sums it up: UK startups raised just $3.9B in Q1 2024—the lowest quarterly total since Q2 2020. SEIS and EIS are still in place. Shining lights? 🔦 - Accelerators like Antler are still moving. - Fuel Ventures 🚀 deserve real credit for staying active. But the rest? It’s quiet. Too quiet. And yet—there’s an opportunity. UK startups are cheap. Especially in USD terms. For US investors, the combination of currency strength, founder quality chould be a gift. We’re working on building that bridge. But right now, the UK needs movement. More conviction. Less fear. If you're building or investing in early-stage UK startups—let’s talk. #startups #venturecapital #UKtech #SEIS #EIS #founders #innovation

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🚀 Think You're "Too Late" to Build a SaaS Startup? Think Again. 📈 In 2025, we’re seeing a surge of founders proving that age isn’t a limitation—it’s actually a competitive edge. Real-world examples include: 🔹 Martin Port -launched Build Concierge, an AI-driven home services platform, at age 62. He's aiming for a £1 billion valuation by 70. 🔹 Paul Smith -created KinNect, a communication platform enhancing connection in senior living communities—recognized in the 2025 Age Tech Big Idea Contest. 🔹 Kevin Duschl - a finalist in the same contest, launched Smart NightLight, a motion-sensing SaaS-enabled device to support family caregivers. ⚾ These aren't just stories—they're bona fide "home-run" launches. Here’s the reality: 50+ founders bring: 👉 Operational wisdom 👉 Deep networks 👉 Real-world insight 👉 Grit built over decades 🥇 All these factors actually create an unfair advantage when launching a tech or SaaS company later in life. ✨ Data backs it up: Entrepreneurs over 50 are twice as likely to succeed as those under 35. (Harvard Business Review) 🤔 So, whether you’re 48 or 58 or 68—if you have the conviction, energy, and a clear customer problem to solve...then chances are, you’re right on time…. 📊 Key Metrics & Insights on Older Tech Founders 1. Average Age of Successful Tech Founders A comprehensive study by MIT Sloan revealed that the average age of founders in high-tech sectors is approximately 43.2 years, with those leading patenting firms averaging 44.6 years. This challenges the stereotype that tech entrepreneurship is dominated by the young. ​Per MIT Sloan 2. Success Rates Increase with Age Research indicates that founders in their 50s are 2.5 times more likely to build high-growth startups compared to those in their mid-20s. This suggests that experience and maturity can significantly enhance entrepreneurial success. ​Per WIRED 3. SaaS Founder Age Trends Data from SaaStr shows that the average age of SaaS founders at the time of founding is 39 years for enterprise SaaS companies. This underscores that many successful SaaS ventures are initiated by individuals with substantial industry experience. ​Per SaaStr 4. Emphasis on Founder Experience by PwC PwC's founder-focused services highlight the importance of experience, stating that their ecosystem of specialists is designed to support founders who bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to their ventures. ​Per PwC 5. Andersen Consulting's Support for Experienced Entrepreneurs Andersen Consulting emphasizes the value of seasoned professionals by integrating innovative business strategies with digital transformation, offering tailored services that leverage the extensive experience of older entrepreneurs. ​Andersen #SaaS #StartupJourney #TechFounders #AI #GrowthMindset #Entrepreneurship #FoundersOver50 #NoLimits #AgeIsAnAsset #RevenueOrchestration #SalesAutomation Amplify AI

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Most founders don’t hire the wrong exec on purpose. They just don’t realise it until they’re back doing the job themselves. I’ve placed CROs, COOs, and Country Leaders for founders across Australia and the US. I’ve also replaced the ones who were brought in too early—or for the wrong reasons. In this short piece, I share what I’ve learned helping founders get it right the first time: – Why polish beats proof in early interviews – Why “Head of Growth” often means “everything but sales” – Why inbound candidates are rarely the answer Startups don’t die from lack of capital. They die from the wrong exec hire. #startups #executivesearch #founders #saas #growthhiring 👉 Read the full post:

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VC's can be incredibly "invaluable" at times... The influence of VC funding is a massive contributing factor to the flawed GTM approaches of many SaaS companies. I see this daily with misaligned incentives and short-term focus. They still prioritise growth-at-all-costs over sustainable business, often pushing their investments to scale quickly to justify high valuations and secure the next funding round, which can lead to inefficient or poorly thought-out GTM strategies. Or overfunding them which masks weakness and props up fundamentally flawed businesses. All this does, is delay the need to refine GTM processes. And the worst one of all, they pressure them to follow outdated B2B playbooks. Heavy reliance on outbound sales, MQL (marketing qualified lead) funnels, and siloed marketing/sales teams. I spoke to one company yesterday who has 46 SDRs.. 46! VCs, drawing from past successes to push founders to adopt these legacy tactics even when they’re misaligned with modern buyer behavior or market conditions is a problem It leads to stifling innovation in GTM, forcing companies into inefficient models that don’t reflect how customers actually buy today. Time for change #meetmagic #saas #GTM

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