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Daniel Korski<\/a>, former adviser to the ex-British Prime Minister David Cameron, has joined forces with venture investor Alexander de Carvalho<\/a> to launch Public.io<\/a>, a new venture to support technology startups aiming to work more deeply with the UK\u2019s public services. Their first programme, GovStart<\/a>, opens for applications today.<\/p>\n Public is being has been backed by a number of high-profile investors including Robin Klein, Ned Cranborne, Jon Moulton, David Meller, Theodore Agnew, Mark Austen, and Stefan Gleaner. It also has a number of corporate partners including AWS, Mischon and PWC.<\/p>\n The move comes after Korski was criticised in the press<\/a> for controversially lobbying \u2018on behalf of Uber\u2019 in London while an aide to Cameron. He denies the allegations.<\/p>\n Korski says he\u2019s decided to embark on this new venture after realising that while new technologies are transforming the lives of consumers, their experiences of the state is falling behind because government is so slow to act. This is his first public move since leaving government, after helping to run the Stronger In campaign during the UK\u2019s EU Referendum.<\/p>\n \u201cDuring my time in No. 10, I saw first-hand how much money was wasted on large IT contracts. Getting more start-ups to solve public problems will make a real difference by allowing new technologies into the public sector to deliver better, cheaper and more easy-to-use public services,\u201d he told TechCrunch in an exclusive interview.<\/p>\n De Carvalho added: \u201cThe UK should be aiming to be the centre of a new GovTech industry. We have the market, both centrally and locally, the technologies, the finance and most importantly, the engineering and entrepreneurial talent to establish ourselves as the pioneers of this emerging sector. As governments everywhere digitize their services, we should strive to become the go-to place for new companies with government-focused technologies.\u201d<\/p>\n The new GovStart programme will aim to help start-ups over a six-month period understand how they can engage with, sell into and \u2018transform\u2019 public services. Run by Mark Lazar, formerly at TechStars, the programme is billed as \u2018the first of its kind globally\u2019. Key team members include Caroline Makepeace, formerly of BEIS and TechCity; Justine Desmond, formerly at Osborne & Partners; and Theo Blackwell, a leading digital practitioner.<\/p>\n Its Advisory Board includes a number of policy-makers, technologists and procurement experts and investors who will help steer GovStart and support the companies in the programme. It includes:<\/p>\n In reply to the questions about his role in the affair surrounding Uber\u2019s lobbying, Korski said: \u201cFirst, I didn\u2019t lobby for Uber, despite what the Daily Mail says. I\u2019ve rejected the allegation on the record. And the email correspondence that\u2019s been FOIed shows that I replied to TFL\u2019s suggestion of a discussion, suggested further regulatory changes and had a view on the direction of travel of the regulations \u2013 but that\u2019s it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd to be clear: I\u2019ve never been paid by Uber, didn\u2019t speak to them during TfL\u2019s regulatory process and haven\u2019t worked with them since,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Korski also said his proposal is purely to help startups understand the public sector, give business advice and provide support and capital. But there will be \u201cno lobbying\u201d.<\/p>\n He said: \u201cWhat we are proposing to do is give the smallest firms a chance. And in so doing bring down the cost of government and improve public services. The larger vendors have armies of lobbyists, cash to burn and are content to charge through the nose. We are hoping to give governments everywhere access to cheaper and better alternatives.\u201d<\/p>\n Whatever the case, Korski\u2019s understating of how government works, and deep contacts in both government and the tech business community would likely be a big fillip to tech startups looking to engage with the UK government and the public sector at a time when it is more or less completely preoccupied with Brexit negotiations.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\n
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Daniel Korski, former adviser to the ex-British Prime Minister David Cameron, has joined forces with venture investor Alexander de Carvalho to launch Public.io, a new venture to support technology startups aiming to work more deeply with the UK’s public services. Their first programme, GovStart, opens for applications today.
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