Prime Minister Theresa May has signed the paperwork needed to trigger Article 50. The road to Brexit has begun and Britain has two years to put its affairs in order before leaving the European Union. Ahead of today's landmark event, WIRED asked nine tech leaders how going it alone could affect UK startups, and where do we go from here.
Founder, Doteveryone
"It's hard to be certain about the final outcome of all the negotiations or what hard Brexit really means, but one thing I think it will certainly change is the broad access to European talent that the tech sector currently enjoys and needs. Read more: On the anniversary of the EU vote, here are eight ways Brexit has hit science, tech and design
I'm always frustrated, though, when I'm asked what the government should do to make sure tech continues to grow. The tech sector has been vocal in demanding things it needs but far less helpful in thinking how it can help the UK more broadly in a post-Brexit world. 'Ask not what the country can do for you but what you can do for your country.'
"Communicating a clear vision of the future to reassure all the component parts of an organisation is vital - that's as true for the Prime Minister as it is for the founder of a small startup. But the UK has more focus, understanding, ideas and activity in tech than at any time I can remember - and I've been doing this for an embarrassingly long time! If we can channel this energy to continue building a vibrant sector and a modern, connected country, we can flourish."
Founder, Raspberry Pi Foundation
"I suspect a hard Brexit will mean very little for UK tech. If a company makes a compelling product, it will still find a market in Europe after Brexit, just as it finds a market in the US today. The US is our largest market, followed by the UK and Germany. Most of the technical standards affecting electronic products are harmonised between the US and the EU, and tariffs are low, so we expect to be able to export to Germany post-Brexit as easily as we export to the US today.
"We will need to simplify the immigration process for engineers, but that's already a problem for more than 80 per cent of engineers who aren't EU citizens. I have an Australian citizen working for me, and getting his visa last year was like pulling teeth. If you're Australian, or Chinese, or Indian - or, post-Brexit, French - and have a computer science or electrical engineering degree, you should be able to walk into a British Consulate and pick up a work permit. If the government uses the opportunity to rationalise immigration policy then we could end up in a better situation than we are in today.
"Overall, I'm positive: we have the engineering talent, we have the business talent and we have the finance to build global players. Even before 2016's currency movements dropped my manufacturing costs through the floor, it cost me a dollar less to build a Raspberry Pi in South Wales than it did in Shenzhen. The UK: the once and future king of global manufacturing."
Co-founder, TransferWise
"Talk of hard or soft Brexit is pretty meaningless. What matters is what the government does to ensure a positive future for the UK economy. That's not just about the deals they negotiate with Europe or even with other countries; it's about what policies they put in place to make the UK a world leader. Right now the uncertainty and inaction is harmful to the tech sector - the country needs to be moving forward, not standing still. For us at TransferWise, once we know what will happen to passporting rights we will take action as needed. In the meantime, the government can listen to the sector to understand what the barriers are to growth. We all know, for example, that being able to attract and keep the world's best talent is essential.
"As an entrepreneur, I'm naturally optimistic. This could be an opportunity for the UK to create a better environment for entrepreneurship and innovation. Countries and cities around the world understand they need to compete to attract businesses and people. Hopefully, the UK will set the standard rather than play catch-up."
Head of Google Campus, London
"Brexit has changed very little on the ground for our community (who come from more than 160 countries). They're being entrepreneurial and focusing on today's opportunities, rather than tomorrow's changes. The UK is really well positioned, in terms of global thinking, time zones and heritage, to be an international tech hub. Previously, startups rarely thought about policy and its impact on their businesses until they had to. Now, I'm seeing earlier-stage companies develop a stronger interest in European regulation."
General partner, LocalGlobe
"The key question is: will we have freedom of movement? The sector needs reassurance that those Europeans residing in the UK will be able to continue to live and work here. If there are to be restrictions placed on movement, we need visas and grants of permanent residency.
"Great entrepreneurs build in challenging times - look at the number of successful startups established in the post-financial crisis. Where others see gloom, they see opportunity."
Co-founder, Founders Factory
"If we assume hard Brexit means a closed Brexit - in other words, less immigration and less access to the EU - it clearly weakens the UK's competitive position in Europe. We've seen France make a big pitch for technologists recently and a lot of people talk about Amsterdam, Berlin and Scandinavian cities like Stockholm as alternatives. So, unless a hard Brexit is well managed, it will be a threat to UK tech. Read more: What Theresa May's Brexit plans could mean for you, your data and your privacy
"It doesn't necessarily mean it's a disaster, but it's definitely a threat. The government needs to prioritise the tech industry in this country. UK tech doesn't have a very strong voice in government at the moment.
"One thing the government could do to help is make skilled migration easier. Another is making people want to come here in the first place. That is a marketing and brand challenge, and it is especially difficult when a lot of the rhetoric has been about Britain reverting to an island nation.
"However, tech remains one of the best growth industries and will continue to be where the smartest, brightest people want to work. The momentum of the global tech industries won't stop. The bigger issues are then going to be about how to cope with the potential monopolies, unfairness and inequalities that will surface."
Director, Station F
"I'm saddened by Brexit and I think a lot of the European tech community is. It's an international community that thrives on international talent, business and relationships. Brexit is, for many, a step backwards. I've heard of UK-based companies that have been unable to secure funding and organisations moving teams overseas or no longer hiring European nationals. This will impact the international potential of UK tech. Even if there are solutions to remedy these effects, they will not be put into place right away. Also, I think the value of sterling has impacted a number of startups doing business internationally.
"We are starting to see companies looking outside of the UK for development, especially foreign institutions looking to set up in Europe. They are now looking at Paris, Berlin and Amsterdam. Many UK startups applying for our programme said that Brexit was a factor in their application. So we are seeing it have an impact on the number of businesses interested in coming to Station F - which, for us at least, is very positive."
CEO, BlaBlaCar
"Not everyone welcomed Brexit, but there are plenty of reasons to feel positive. For one, the European tech scene continues to thrive. The number of billion-dollar European startups is steadily increasing, and investors continue to be attracted to tech companies from the region. Startups are agile and operate on a different timeline to policymakers - it will take years to negotiate the UK's exit from the EU, which could mean many lifetimes for the average tech company.
"With its combination of creativity, international talent and access to capital, London remains a friendly environment for tech startups. It is still a relatively easy place to start a business, and I'm sure it will continue to be a leading city for innovation, regardless of Brexit. That said, we should keep our eyes on emerging tech hubs such as Munich, Zürich and Lisbon - they will be the ones to watch in the future."
Chief digital officer, Co-operative Group
"Brexit will bring challenges and opportunities for UK tech, as it will for all other sectors. The risks of leaving the single market currently mean a potential for skills leaving the country. Some highly skilled people will no doubt be thinking very carefully about their location and what it means for their future prospects.
"Of course, there is also opportunity. Brexit could open up innovation in the UK and avoid the statist approach, which has sometimes constrained the EU's approach to emergent markets. At Co-op Digital we're thinking about the impact on contracts, sourcing locations of the supply chain, logistics implications, financial risks for suppliers receiving EU grants or funding, currency fluctuations and activities reliant on EU labour, to name a few.
"But we're not losing sight of our ultimate purpose. With that in mind, we've called on the government to give reassurance to those EU nationals in the UK who are our neighbours, friends and colleagues. It's unacceptable to play politics with people's lives."
This article is taken from the upcoming May issue of WIRED Magazine. Subscribe here.
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
