Jan 2, 2019 · 41m · a16z
a16z Podcast | London Calling for Tech Done in a Different Way
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gold bands on the timeline = statements, start to end. Hover to read, click to jump. CC turns on captions
In this London-recorded episode of the a16z podcast, host Michael Copeland talks with Martha Lane Fox and Russell Davies about building a distinct UK technology ecosystem that prioritizes digital inclusion, gender diversity, open government data, and public value over Silicon Valley paradigms.
How this conversation actually went
Every chapter scored 0–10 on four independent dynamics. Hover any point for the reasoning behind the score. How this is scored →
The host as informed peer 3.0 Guest teaching 3.5 Guest disagreement 2.3 The host pushing back 1.3
speaking balance: gold is the host, purple is the guest (3 minute bins)
Sharpest disagreement ▶ 11:55 Martha rejecting host's premise on universal tech adoption
When host Michael Copeland claims everyone's lives have been transformed by tech, Martha immediately cuts in with 'Not everyone's' and forcefully cites statistics on digital exclusion.
Hardest push from the host ▶ 26:25 Host pointing out cloud storage flaw in Martha's USB grave mockupHost Michael Copeland directly challenges Martha's visual concept of a future skeleton buried with a USB stick, arguing that cloud computing renders physical storage mockups inaccurate.
Biggest teaching moment ▶ 11:55 Martha educating host on UK digital exclusion statsMartha corrects the host's broad assertion by providing specific stats showing nearly 20% of UK adults lack basic digital skills or access.
The host holds their own ▶ 19:40 Host displaying detailed knowledge of Tom Coates' backgroundHost Michael Copeland demonstrates clear industry expertise by accurately detailing Tom Coates' history heading Yahoo's skunkworks team and his personal blog.
the scores for every segment, with the reasoning behind each
| Chapter | Topic | The host as informed peer | Guest teaching | Guest disagreement | The host pushing back | Why |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Addressing Gender Imbalance and Launching Dot Everyone | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | The host introduces Martha Lane Fox and asks about her public criticism of gender imbalance in the tech industry. Martha explains the historical context of women in early UK computing and outlines her Dot Everyone initiative to train unemployed women for tech jobs. | |
| Silicon Valley Blind Spots and UK Digital Vision | 3 | 4 | 3 | 1 | The host cites the Microsoft antitrust case to prompt a discussion on Silicon Valley's blind spots. Davies and Lane Fox criticize Silicon Valley's focus on VCs, unicorns, and ignoring public sector needs. | |
| Cultural Transformation and Digital Inclusion Strategies | 2 | 7 | 4 | 2 | When the host asserts that everyone's personal life has been transformed by technology, Martha sharply interrupts to reject the premise. She cites data showing nearly 20% of UK adults lack basic online capability, schooling the host on digital exclusion. | |
| Applying Technology in Local Communities and Manufacturing | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | The host asks how tech is applied in local UK manufacturing and communities. Davies explains how social media mislead large organizations into thinking they had mastered digital. | |
| Internet of Things Design and Open Data Leadership | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | The host shows strong background knowledge by citing Tom Coates' work leading Yahoo's skunkworks lab and his blog. Davies and Lane Fox discuss IoT multi-user permissions and UK leadership in open data. | |
| Healthcare Bureaucracy and the UK Digital Skills Shortage | 3 | 5 | 3 | 1 | The host suggests healthcare data in the US suffers due to privatization, but Martha reframes the issue by pointing out that public NHS bureaucracy poses equal barriers in the UK. | |
| Mobilizing Women Warriors in the Digital Age | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | Martha describes her warrior women campaign and a mocked-up skeleton grave containing a USB stick. The host playfully pushes back by noting that cloud storage makes physical USB graves obsolete. | |
| Critiquing Buzzwords and Defining Alternative Success Models | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | The host brings up industry buzzwords like 'unicorn' and 'big data'. Martha and Russell argue against measuring success purely by VC valuations rather than social impact. | |
| Rapid-Fire Discussion on Gig Economy, Drones, and MOOCs | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | In a rapid-fire round, the host correctly identifies the main flaw in MOOCs regarding low completion rates. Martha and Russell share thoughts on drones and the gig economy. | |
| Wearable Technology Advances and Data Privacy Concerns | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 | The host brings up CCTV ubiquity in London to spark a debate on privacy. Russell and Martha note that UK citizens lack constitutional privacy protections and warn of legislative overreach. | |
| Pop Culture Banter and Building Tech for the Future | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | After brief pop-culture banter, Martha warns of long-term risks if the UK fails to close the digital skills gap and address economic dislocation. |
Statements from this episode (23)
Lane Fox: Modern tech sector replicates old establishment's exclusionary dynamics
“There's a whole new establishment that's been created, and I would argue it's a new establishment that has replicated the old establishment to a degree that those of us that were quite early into the dot-com boom and then bust here in the UK are properly surpr…”
Lane Fox: Dot Everyone aims to make UK top tech destination for women
“We are going to make the UK one of the best places to work as a woman in technology in the world, as one of our first landmark projects, and watch this space for how we plan to start.”
Lane Fox: UK has 800,000 unemployed women and 600,000 open tech jobs
“The second thing we're going to do is we're going to work with some corporates to think about how we could encourage the currently 800,000 unemployed women in this country to become part of the 600,000 jobs that we need to fill in the tech sector.”
Davies: Diverse tech models will outcompete wealthy white male tech
“A more diverse vision of technology will outcompete a white male rich version of technology.”
Davies: DOJ antitrust prosecution derailed Microsoft for years
“Arguably, I think it derailed them for years, possibly derailed them until now, to some extent.”
Lane Fox: Major tech platforms won't solve humanity's biggest problems
“The total kind of techno-utapen vision that the tech platforms will sort out all the biggest challenges that we face, and I'm not convinced by that.”
Lane Fox: No country has executed a comprehensive national digital vision
“You've had South Korea do a huge and incredible job on infrastructure. You've had Estonia do a huge and incredible job on government services online. You've had Singapore do an amazing job in smart cities. You've had Canada actually do some interesting stuff i…”
Davies: Large enterprises must build in-house digital capabilities
“If digital is going to get widely adopted and transform the economy in the UK and that kind of thing, large organizations are going to have to get it, right, you know. They're not all going to be replaced by an app, and that means they have to learn how to do …”
Lane Fox: Nearly 20% of UK adults lack basic digital access
“Do four things online that we know are the kind of most basic benefits to being on the internet, and that, that's nearly 20% of the adult population.”
Davies: Social media gave corporations false confidence in digital mastery
“Partly because I think one of the things the social media revolution did is fool large organizations into thinking that they understood digital.”
Davies: Most interesting IoT thinking happens in UK and Europe
“I think a lot of the most interesting thinking, and not yet turned into commercial propositions around Internet of Things stuff, is happening in the UK and in Europe or happening actually by Brits in San Francisco.”
Davies: Multi-user permissions will be the main IoT challenge
“How do you control multiple connected devices in your home when you need multiple layers of permission and ownership And that, and those are going to be the big problems.”
Lane Fox: UK and Europe can lead globally in open data
“So I would say open data is another area where I think the UK and all Europe could be Continue to be a world leader.”
Davies: Top UK healthcare leaders lack knowledge to utilize health data
“Part of the reason that hasn't happened is, is simply that the people at the top of all these organizations don't know how to do it.”
Lane Fox: UK suffers profound skill shortages in data science
“We've got profound gaps in data scientists, profound gaps in all levels of the skills chain.”
Lane Fox: Becoming a competent software engineer takes 6 to 18 months
“We know that it takes them anywhere between six weeks and 18 months to get to be a relatively good either software engineer or architect or whatever.”
Lane Fox: Startup valuation does not equal social or commercial impact
“Valuation does not equal impact. It doesn't even equal, it might equal maybe some commercial impact, although that's arguable, but it certainly doesn't necessarily, not necessarily equal social impact.”
Davies: Alternative models beyond Silicon Valley capitalism will emerge from software
“I definitely believe that software will eat the world. It's just it won't necessarily crap out kind of rabidly free market kind of Silicon Valley cronyism. You know, there will be other models that will emerge from networks and software and those kinds of thin…”
Davies: Foreign tech hubs cannot simply replicate Stanford and defense funding
“We can't just replicate the effect of, you know, decades of defense funding and Stanford.”
Lane Fox: UK gig economy is limited to rich pockets like London
“It is, I would say, but it is doing in very, very small pockets. So central London, big tick, and I live in central London, and I'm lucky I'm rich, so big tick for me, but to Russell's point, If you're living anywhere that doesn't have broadband, which is quit…”
Davies: Data privacy will be the biggest issue of the next decade
“The biggest issue of the next 10 years. Easily. Easily.”