Yesterday we released a new report: Tech Startup Manifesto 2022.

To save the incoming Prime Minister the trouble of rereading all our reports, we’ve put together a pithy paper with our friends at Coadec to explain what tech startups will need in order to flourish.

Many of the policies will be familiar to regular readers. It covers access to capital, access to talent, start-up friendly regulation, and fostering innovation. You can read the detailed list here, which includes policies like reforming the pension charge cap, opening up the public sector to startups, and experimenting with funding mechanisms.

The key ambition for this report is to explain what the next Prime Minister should prioritise specifically for tech startups. To be clear, it isn’t a manifesto for every business type, size and stage. Nor is it exhaustive. But we think that these policies will be critical for supporting tech startups.

Dom Hallas and I have written about the report in CapX, to cover some of the key policies. And I want to draw attention to one area of the article and report where we are calling for more of the same: the UK must continue its consistent and stout defence of the value of digital free trade, as reflected in the recent Singapore Digital Economy Agreement:

“This matters when across the world we’re seeing a wave of digital protectionism, often couched in the language of ‘digital sovereignty’. Whether it’s in Europe via the French Cloud Doctrine, or new digital localisation requirements in emerging economies such as Nigeria and Vietnam, a leading global tech market leader such as the UK has much to lose in exports from a swing towards more closed digital markets.”

Crossing the Floor
Following our submission to Labour’s Startup Review, we’re in discussions about hosting a few roundtables with the panel. These may cover lots of different areas, including supporting scaling of private businesses to the highest level (including listing), and issues around diversity.

Please let us know if these interest you. We’re particularly keen to hear from entrepreneurs and experts who have insights on what the government can do to help scale businesses to the utmost.

Was Nice Dumitriu
Our Research Director, Sam Dumitriu, is leaving The Entrepreneurs Network. The quality of the research under his leadership is testament to his talent. Just check out his reports on elite immigrant founders with Amelia Stewart, drones with Anton Howes, and most recently on reforming the High Potential Individual visa with Jason Sockin. Read more of his greatest hits here.

Everyone who has worked for us has gone on to achieve more incredible things. Watch this space for announcements on what he’s up to next, and keep in touch with Sam by following him on Twitter, subscribing to his Substack and connecting with him on LinkedIn.

We all wish him the very best.