Startup London: Inspirational Stories From The Most Creative Entrepreneurs In Europe's Startup Capital

Startup London tells the inspiring stories of London’s most creative entrepreneurs. Published by Hoxton Mini Press with words from Islington-based writer Christina Hopkinson and photos from east London photographer Rick Pushinsky, the beautifully-documented guide offers a rare take on entrepreneurship, more focused on people and their stories more than balance sheets and business plans.

More than 200,000 startups launch in London every year.

And ‘it’s not hard to see why,’ writes Christina Hopkinson, author of Startup London. ‘The city has the entertainment industry of Los Angeles, the technical hub of San Francisco and the financial and creative services of New York rolled into one thriving mass. In London’s living rooms and kitchens, under railway arches, in industrial parks and converted warehouses, people are dreaming up, planning, starting and actually running their own businesses.’

Startup London, focused on the smaller, more visually creative enterprises rather than the bigger, more abstract tech companies, tells the stories of 30 of the most creative.

Describing the creation of the book ‘as bicycling around bits of London meeting inspiring people’, Hopkinson takes readers on a journey from King’s Cross to New Cross, bringing together businesses from digital apps to distilleries.

Reflective of the diversity of London’s creative talent, the book profiles small businesses ranging from startups building robotic arms (Automata) to delivering flowers by bicycle (Petalon), and from creating shared workspaces for startups (Second Home) to making jars of award-winning peanut butter (Pip & Nut).

Florence Kennedy, founder of Clapton-based flower delivery service Petalon

Taking into view a broader understanding of entrepreneurship than the oft-profiled, venture-backed male techies that define the Silicon Valley image of startup culture, the book exemplifies the spirit of London’s entrepreneurship.

Photographed in their workshops, the pages range from awe-inspiringly young 20-somethings in skinny jeans to grey-haired over 50s, from accidental entrepreneurs to those inspired by the goal of entrepreneurship as much as the product they’ve created.

United only by an ambition to change the way we eat, shop, play and view the world, the passionate entrepreneurs behind these businesses reveal the truths and challenges that they’ve experienced first-hand, and share their key advice with readers.

Complete with a small ‘Tips and Advice’ booklet by business writer Rebecca Burn-Callander dedicated to the must-have info to start your own business, Startup London is an inspirational guide for anyone dreaming of starting up, whether it be in London or beyond.

Startup London is published by Hoxton Mini Press, £28.00. Available from www.hoxtonminipress.com.

About the author

Claire Lancaster

Tech & Entrepreneurship Editor

English-American, Claire has lived and worked in the U.S., South America, Europe and the UK. As Culture Trip’s tech and entrepreneurship editor she covers the European startup scene and issues ranging from Internet privacy to the intersection of the web with civil society, journalism, public policy and art. Claire holds a master’s in international journalism from City University, London and has contributed to outlets including Monocle, NPR, Public Radio International and the BBC World Service. When not writing or travelling, she can be found searching for London's best brunch spot or playing with her cat, Diana Ross.