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Want to deliver a boost to startups? Free the Postcode Address File 

Freeing the Postcode Address File could boost UK tech startups
Image credit: chrisdorney / Shutterstock.com

The platonic ideal of a tech business is that founders identify a problem, or a new way to do something, and then they set to work to make it a reality – usually with a lot of late nights and takeaway pizzas as a crucial part of the process.

The best part is that if you build something better than what came before, then it can be a catalyst for explosive growth. That’s great for not just the founders’ wallets, but also innovation and growth in the wider economy.

One of my favourite examples of this sort of innovation is CityMapper, the travel planning app. Founded way back in 2011, the company quickly carved out a niche by mashing together London’s real-time transit data to figure out your journey options – and wrapping it all together into a more attractive and informative package than the behemoth that is Google Maps....