Steven Drost - The Tech Ecosystem Graphic Equalizer (and What is "Tech Scaler"?) (Turing Fest 2022)

CodeBase was recently announced as Scotland’s first Tech Scaler. But what is Tech Scaler?

Steven’s presentation sets out to answer this question by, firstly, looking at tech ecosystems in general and then, secondly, explaining the new specific role Tech Scaler is aiming to play for the local ecosystem.

Head to www.turingfest.com to find out more about Europe's best cross-functional tech conference.

Transcript

1. Steven Drost, July 2022 “What is Tech Scaler?” or The Tech Ecosystem Graphic Equalizer What is Tech Scaler? How can it impact the ecosystem?
2. - Brief introduction to CodeBase - Very brief introduction to me - Quick zoom out for context: what is a tech ecosystem? - What is a tech ecosystem? - Who defines what a tech ecosystem is? - Who are the components, and how do they see the world? - Metaphor time: the Graphic Equalizer - Different examples of settings globally - The current Scottish tech ecosystem setting - Tech Scaler - What does this mean for the Scottish Tech ecosystem? - Some final thoughts Index
3. Founded in 2014 Largest tech incubator in the UK 8x growth in 5 years 3 locations - Edinburgh, Stirling, Aberdeen 100+ tenant companies 3000+ net new jobs created $4.8bil+ invested into tenant companies Education programmes and mentorship delivered to 100s of startups CodeBase
4. 3 x founder 1 successful exit and 1 failure CodeBase CSO for 6 years Strategy Partnerships Startups Ecosystems Corporate transformation About me
5. Three stages: 1) “Ecosystem” coined and de fi ned by British botanists Roy Clapham and Arthur Tansley in the 1930s: “The whole system,… including not only the organism-complex, but also the whole complex of physical factors forming what we call the environment.” 2) “Predators and Prey: A New Ecology of Competition” HBR 1993, James F Moore “Every business ecosystem develops in four distinct stages: birth, expansion, leadership, and self-renewal…” 3) Many, many de fi nitions that all involve the word “network”. “What is a Technology Ecosystem?” Joe O’Callaghan, Vation Ventures “An ecosystem is a community of complex networks of interconnected organisms or systems.” What is a Tech Ecosystem?
6. Three stages in heightened abstraction: 1) Seeing things in context, not isolation 2) Looking for patterns in business in order to be more competitive (biological analogies , e.g. competition, death, birth, …) 3) Showing that context and patterns form a complex network that can help all fl ourish (including new focal points e.g. ethics, diversity, green initiatives, inclusivity and social impact) What is a Tech Ecosystem?
7. Components - Who names things?
8. What is a Tech Ecosystem? - Component examples Paul Graham, 2006 “How To Be Silicon Valley” (Rich nerd) “I think you only need two kinds of people to create a technology hub: rich people and nerds.”
9. What is a Tech Ecosystem? - Component examples Joe Darko, 2019 (Developer Outreach, Snap!, Meta, Microsoft)
10. What is a Tech Ecosystem? - Component examples Joe O’Callaghan, 2022 (VC) End Customers Solution Providers Distributors Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) Emerging Technologies Venture Capital Firms
11. (1) Startups (2) The State (3) Academia (4) Agencies (5) Big Corp (6) Investors What is a Tech Ecosystem? Each component sees the world very differently! Just consider: - personal agency levels - timeframes - income, bonus, equity, exit, pensions - risk pro fi les - revenue quanta - founders vs. employee mentality
12. The Graphic Equalizer
13. The Tech Ecosystem Graphic Equalizer + - + - Startups Academia State Agencies Big Corp Investors
14. The Tech Ecosystem Graphic Equalizer + - + - Startups Academia State Agencies Big Corp Investors
16. The Tech Ecosystem Graphic Equalizer + - + - Startups Academia State Agencies Big Corp Investors
18. The Tech Ecosystem Graphic Equalizer + - + - Startups Academia State Agencies Big Corp Investors
20. (1) Education (2) Place (3) Community What is Tech Scaler?
21. (1) Education Online startup basics Startup 101 Startup 102 Mentorship Reforge Bridge programmes What is Tech Scaler? - Education
22. What is Tech Scaler? - Reforge
23. (2) Place 7 of fl ine locations and online What is Tech Scaler? - Place
24. (3) Community Meetups Slack channels Mighty Networks Events Outward looking global connections What is Tech Scaler? - Community
25. The Tech Ecosystem Graphic Equalizer + - + - Startups Academia State Agencies Big Corp Investors
26. What is Tech Scaler? - Final thoughts
27. What is Tech Scaler? - Final thoughts