George Johnston, 20, Co-Founder of Blinc
Have you won any tech awards?
I won the Global business competition in the UK and my university sent my team and I out to Virginia, USA. I was also awarded the Entrepreneur of the Year 2012 award at the University of Kent.
Why did you choose to take the avenue you’ve chosen?
I visualised this is what I wanted to do since I was young so knew where I was going. I’m quite goal orientated. I feel it’s important to visualize.
What are the benefits of doing what you do over a 9-5 office job?
When I was 15 I did an internship at Goldman Sachs and the whole experience left a bad taste in my mouth. There was no team spirit, I’d never seen before team members competing against each other. I’d rather work 12 hours a day with a team I love because we share a passion of achieving one common goal together. This is the start-up culture.
Not everyone can become an entrepreneur but there’s plenty that can who don’t get shown the opportunity. We’re not making the most of capitalism.
In I.T. lessons why is my cousin aged 10 still learning Excel and PowerPoint. Why isn’t he being given the tools of crafting like programming so he can mould his own passions and visions? It’s not even about teaching kids to program, it’s about making kids aware in school there’s actually been a technology revolution, it’s happened already and there’s more to come.
What more could be done to support young tech entrepreneurs?
Give them somewhere to land and make it an acceptable path to take whilst at school. I never saw it an option at my school’s careers day. I’ve done some lobbying with a local MP and they were one of two MP’s that shared the vision of entrepreneurship amongst hundreds of other MPs who simply laughed at them. This resonates with my old Economics tutor laughing at me, it’s ripe to be changed and I want to be a part of that change.
What do you think about the statement that “it’s a young man’s game?” re: tech entrepreneurship?
I disagree. It’s only a young mans game because you need to be truly independent to make it in a start up. By the time you’re older you have other responsibilities like family. A job in Goldman Sachs provides infinite perks of the job that it’s hard to walk away from, unless you’re made redundant.
To be successful in this game you truly need no hooks in you, nothing holding you back and acting as an excuse. Older people can do it; they’re just less likely too. It’s a real shame because age also brings experience and some more of that in East London would be nice.
What are the most exciting tech developments across the world for you?
I want to see the concept of tech city become global. This movement as it spreads is very exciting. I love the collision between 3D printing and online education too. How we can make ‘true’ innovators and product visionaries in their bedrooms sipping cocoa and in their pyjamas. Human beings are most creative between aged 3-9, let’s unlock that rather than letting them watch teletubbies.
Who is the most inspirational person in London’s tech scene and why?
Rytis from Yplan. He’s design centric and I believe it’s all about the User experience. You can repackage any product in a new beautiful way and it will sell. He’s super smart and I interviewed him at Flagons Den in February. He personifies humbleness that I love. As soon as you believe you’ve made it you have nothing left to aim for.
And the global tech scene?
Elon Musk. He’s owning everything. He will be a pioneer in space commercialization just like the rail industry leaders of the 18th century and I love him for it.
What is your advice for young people getting into London’s tech ecosystem?
Total immersion and momentum. Always keep the momentum going. As a start-up CEO you need to be a leader. You can’t know everything so you need to motivate a great, skilled group of people that can. Comparative advantage and specialisation. Keep their momentum going as much as yours.
Richard Branson’s a great example. He created a religion and a culture for which his team wanted to be a part of. Create your religion, your message your ‘WHY.’ It’s never about what you’re doing, always about why. E.g. At apple events, Apple fans clap and cheer before they even see the new products come out on stage. They believe. Make every one of your users believe.