Thursday, May 24, 2012

What next for Dr Lynch?

It is no surprise that Mike Lynch and HP are parting company.


Hard to see how working for a US mega-corp was going to work for the founder of Autonomy having walked away with such an enormous cheque etc.


The big question is what's next for the UK's most successful technology entrepreneur? 


I don't know or have ever met Dr Lynch, so this is really just in the realm of speculation, but I would be surprised if he disappeared into the sunset following the exit from HP.


So what then are the options. In no particular order:

  • Lead a new start up from scratch
  • Use his wealth to invest in a series of tech companies, in the UK, or globally
  • Acquire minority or controlling stakes in existing companies that he believes he can transform
  • Join an existing VC or PE fund
  • Philanthropy and public service, either to advance the cause of technology, education or other
  • Some or all of the above!


There are not many truly global tech companies in the UK, and very few that have reached critical mass. In Mike Lynch the UK has someone who has seen this from "soup to nuts" and it would be great if he used this talent and experience to help others do the same.



As a direct consequence of the previous paragraph there is also a shortage of talented and experienced execs in the tech arena in the UK, which is part of the chicken and egg situation. 


Perhaps this is an area that Dr Lynch can apply his time and money to help nurture and promote the importance of growing the talent pool and its importance to the UK economy in the 21st century.

In any event I would want to wish him the best of luck in the rest of his life, having dedicated the last 15 years building the most successful British software company of its generation.

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