Anthony Francis, 25, Founder of Peek
What types of jobs are your friends doing?
Many of my friends are founders of there own companies.
Why did you choose to take the avenue you’ve chosen?
I started working at NACUE to earn extra cash to build & promote my startup.
How did you hear about Tech City?
After working on one of my ventures. Entrepreneurship became a viable career path after co-founding and being the president of my university entrepreneurship society, two year ago.
What’s your opinion of London’s Tech City/Silicon Roundabout?
It’s a great way to stimulate personal & economic growth. It’s inspirational to see such forward thinking ideas.
How does attending networking events e.g. the Drinkabout, help you?
It’s a chance to meet knew people, network, share knowledge, raises my personal profile and meet people who share & resolved similar startup problems.
What more could be done to support young tech entrepreneurs?
There should be a louder voice to get the word out about Tech City. The government should be reaching out to local communities, schools & colleges to prepare the next generation of entrepreneurs.The value is in the network. If someone is introduced to a network they gain the benefits of knowledge sharing & best practice. Schemes I know of are: National Association of College & University Entrepreneurs Karios Society.
What are presently the most exciting parts about Tech City?
Meeting awesome people, hearing about crazy deals and support of the network.
What are the most exciting tech developments across the world for you?
Collaborative Consumption – Companies like Task Rabbit, Airbnb, Zip Car and leading future on how people collaborate in the world.
Who is the most inspirational person in London’s tech scene and why?
Benjamin Southworth – He’s an awesome and humble guy. I really admired him for what he has achieved with Silicon Drinkabout & Tech City. The ability to bring people together from different backgrounds is commendable and I’m also itching to see what he’s doing next.
And the global tech scene and why?
Joel Gasgoine Founder & CEO of Buffer – Joel avoids all the hype from the tech scene and delivers on his startup time and time again. I’ve known Joel since the early days of Buffer App and he has great ability to cancel out the noise in the early tech scene and knows how to priorities what is important for Buffer App.
What is your advice for young people getting into London’s tech ecosystem?
Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, put yourself out there, read books & be bullish. As Steve Jobs put it -“Stay hungry stay foolish”.
What are your plans for the next year?
Launch Peek in the Tech City area. Having every person in the tech city community using Peek as their main mobile app to meet new people in the local area.