Successful startups; ‘what’s luck got to do with it?’ | Mark Payton | TEDxGlasgow

In this talk Mark will explore the concept of “patient capital”, an idea which he believes must be accepted if the UK is to become home to more successful start-ups. He’ll also explain what he thinks about gazelles, 800lb gorillas, and Unicorns and how, if they really want to, entrepreneurs can truly create their own luck.

A Type 1 Diabetes diagnosis is perhaps an unusual start to a career in tech. But for 15 year old Mark Payton, as he lay in a hospital bed with his grandparents arguing over the genetic heritage of his newly detected disease, a potential career in the military fell swiftly by the wayside and research into the science of “why me” took centre stage. After a degree in Biochemistry, a PhD in the molecular Immunology of Type 1 Diabetes and working with some of Oxford University’s most acclaimed researchers, Mark was fortunate enough to be part of a team that developed a predictive test for diabetes with his research leading to a start-up business that subsequently listed on the London Stock Exchange. More recently, Mark led a management buyout to form what is now Mercia Technologies PLC to invest in and support start-up businesses.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx