From CAROLYN HAYMAN
Your editorial suggested that Britain’s universities are ‘jam-packed
full of bright ideas’ but that venture capitalists are too overworked and
lacking in understanding of science and technology to do much to help the
ideas escape the ivory towers.
It is true that there will never be enough capital to fund all the bright
ideas that seek funding. But this is very largely because most bright ideas
are just that – they are not the basis for an independent and successful
business. Where there is the germ of a real business, and a scientific entrepreneur
with the tenacity and ingenuity to make something of it, there is certainly
money to match it – and a hard core of increasingly experienced venture
capitalists willing to work as partners in the process. Don’t write off
the whole sector simply because we’ve learned some lessons and become more
discriminating – in the long run this should help, not hinder, the creation
of viable technology based businesses.
Carolyn Hayman Korda & Company London EC1
