Russell Davies

a16z Podcast | London Calling for Tech Done in a Different Way

Martha Lane Fox, Russell Davies, Michael Copeland

Martha Lane Fox and Russell Davies critique the UK's tech sector for replicating exclusionary "old establishment" models and Silicon Valley's reliance on the VC "unicorn" trap, warning that these trends threaten economic viability by ignoring 800,000 unemployed women and 20% of the population lacking digital skills. To counter these risks, Fox's new entity Dot Everyone aims to launch matchmaking events and corporate retraining programs to fill 600,000 unfilled tech jobs while advocating for a shift away from white-male-dominated paradigms. The speakers argue that addressing privacy, digital inclusion, and constitutional protections over the next 25 years is essential to prevent a divided society and ensure sustainable growth through in-house development rather than outsourcing.