Whilst Shoreditch is better known for Hoxton Fins, emaciated male legs, and syphilis, it is fast developing as a digital hotspot. Matt Biddulph, former CTO of Dopplr, first nicknamed the area the “Silicon Roundabout” in 2008, referencing other tech businesses all within the close vicinity of Old Street Roundabout. The original list included 14 businesses from companies like our friends Poke, to Last.fm. But an investigation for this month’s issue of Wired UK, reveals a bigger picture with a profile of a further 70 tech firms all operating out of the area, which is helping to position London globally for tech innovation. Journalist Georgina Voss believes the growth of the hub is a result of, “the presence of tech and creative firms from the 80s; centrality; institutions like the BBC and the RCA; connections to San Francisco and Silicon Valley; and the dot-com boom and bust.” She also believes the East End community spirit is what makes this tech hub unique. “Unlike other tech hubs, there are no direct feeds into local universities – rather a culture of self-education and mutual support”.

Thanks to Neil Bennett for this story. Neil is half Scouse, half Welsh.

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