150 startups and VCs call on government to sort out visas, broadband, tax, skills and regulation

Over 150 UK tech startups and investors have backed a new "Startup Manifesto" that outlines how the next government should go about making Britain a world leader in digital innovation.

The manifesto, aimed at lobbying the main UK political parties to shape policy towards a tech-driven society, has been backed by some of the key players in the UK tech scene including: King, TransferWise, SwiftKey, Shazam, Funding Circle, Index Ventures, Balderton Capital, Passion Capital, Techstars London, Seedcamp and Accel Partners.

The 50-page document, published by the Coalition for a Digital Economy (known as Coadec), outlines how policymakers should ensure Britain is the number one tech hub in Europe.

Among the manifesto's 24 suggestions are investments in super fast broadband, tax cuts for entrepreneurs and relaxing visa rules to open the door to talent from outside the EU. The full list of recommendations can be found in the Manifesto here or below.

The manifesto calls on the next government to:

• Reduce taxes for entrepreneurs, including reducing National Insurance Contributions (NICs) for startups that volunteer to teach coding
• Retrain those made redundant by new technologies, rather than blocking innovation through protective regulation
• Open the doors to tech talent from outside the EU by restoring the post-study work visa and allowing VCs to sponsor employees on behalf of startups
• Back the UK's lead in financial technology by creating a legal framework for Bitcoin

Several politicians have come out in support of the manifesto.

Shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna said: "We want to see more people starting up, leading and working in business and the creation of high-skilled, better-paid jobs. Britain's burgeoning digital economy has a huge role to play in meeting both of these challenges, and that's why Coadec's manifesto is right to emphasise the importance of digital startups as well as the need to foster digital skills."

Business minister Matthew Hancock said: "There's no doubt there is yet more to do and we will scour any proposals to make Britain the best place in the world to start and grow a business."

Saul Klein, a partner at Index Ventures, said: "The Startup Manifesto is a timely reminder from the tech community to all the parties drafting their own election manifestos. It aims to ensure that as a country we continue to have some of the most entrepreneurial and tech friendly policies in the world, the types of policies that have lead to the introduction of the Government Digital Service (GDS), the Open Data initiative and bringing coding to schools. As a country we're ahead of most other nations, but we can't stand still."

Techstars London MD Jon Bradford said: "Over the last four years, the government has done a huge amount to nurture the startup ecosystem... But now is an important juncture: if we are to continue on this path of growth, we need to consolidate the accomplishments to date."

Manifesto Recommendations

Improve access to finance

1. Commit to keeping SEIS and EIS tax reliefs for the next Parliament

2. Bring back tax reliefs for Corporate Venture Capital

3. Remove the cap on Entrepreneurs' Relief and lower the equity threshold

Improve access to talent

4. Restore post-study work visas for STEM graduates

5. Make it easier for startups to hire from overseas

6. Reform the Graduate Entrepreneur Visa

7. Open up the Entrepreneur Visa to those with funding from angel investors and crowdfunding platforms

8. Review and streamline visa processes with the support of the Government Digital Service

9. Invest to help teachers deliver the new computing curriculum

10. Create incentives for individuals and startups to help train teachers and students

11. Promote free tools including Moocs, Codecademy, and third sector initiatives like code clubs

Build world class digital infrastructure and increase supply of affordable office space

12. Continue to invest in superfast connectivity and raise the level of ambition for digital infrastructure

13. Review the planning system and property regulations to increase the supply of affordable office space for startups

Bring laws and regulations into the 21st Century

14. Make it government policy to support disruptive innovation and create an environment where people and businesses can adapt

15. Encourage permissionless innovation

16. Commit more resources to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO)

17. Create a framework for data protection that gives confidence to consumers and does not stifle innovation

18. Continue to support fintech innovation

19. Review regulations surrounding collaborative consumption and the 'sharing economy'

Use digital government to unlock innovation

20. Make it easier for startups to sell to government

21. Commit to keep and expand the Government Digital Service

22. Create standards for secure online identity assurance

23. Accelerate progress towards 'Government as a Platform', including releasing APIs for government services

24. Go further on open data, including real-time performance dashboards for all government services

Full list of endorsements

Startup founders and CEOs backing the manifesto

1. Adnan Ebrahim (Founder and CEO, Car Throttle)
2. Alain Falys (Co-founder and CEO, Yoyo)
3. Alastair Mitchell (Founder and CEO, Huddle)
4. Alex Chesterman (Founder and CEO, Zoopla)
5. Alex Hunte (Co-founder, Lytespark)
6. Alex Saint and Tom Valentine (CEO and MD, Secret Escapes)
7. Alex Stephany (CEO, JustPark)
8. Alexander Trewby (Co-Founder Divide)
9. Alice Taylor (CEO, makielab)
10. Angus Bankes (CEO, JustAddRed)
11. Andrew Crump (CEO, Mitoo)
12. Andrew Fisher (Executive Chairman, Shazam)
13. Andrew Fogg (Co-Founder, Import.io)
14. Andrew Jervis (Co-Founder, ClickMechanic)
15. Andrew Mullinger (Co-Founder Funding Circle and angel investor)
16. Andrew J Scott (Serial Entreprenuer)
17. Andrew Whitehurst (Co-founder, Wess Digital)
18. Andy Phillipps (Chairman, Reevoo)
19. Anil Stocker (Co-Founder and CEO, MarketInvoice)
20. Arnaud Bertrand (Founder and President, HouseTrip)
21. Ayan Mitra (Founder and CEO, CrowdBnk)
22. Ben Drury (Co-founder and CSO, 7digital Group)
23. Bernhard Niesner (Co-Founder and CEO,busuu.com)
24. Brendan Gill (CEO, OpenSignal)
25. Brett Harding (Co-Founder and MD, Lovestruck)
26. Celia Francis (CEO, WeeWorld)
27. Chris Morton (Co-Founder and CEO, Lyst)
28. Chris Thorpe (Founder, I Can Make)
29. Courtney Boyd Meyers (Founder,audience.io)
30. Damian Kimmelman (Founder and CEO, DueDil)
31. Damian Lyons-Lowe (CEO, Survation)
32. Dan Bladen (Founder and CEO, Chargifi)
33. Debbie Wosskow (Founder and CEO, LoveHomeSwap)
34. Drummond Gilbert (Founder and CEO, GoCarShare)
35. Edward Asiedu (Co-Founder and CEO, Callectiv)
36. Ed Bussey (Founder and CEO, Quill Content)
37. Errol Damelin (Founder, Wonga, and angel investor)
38. Ewan Marshall (Founder, Speakset)
39. Filip Perkon, (Founder and CEO of Alumnee)
40. Florian Meissner (Co-Founder & CEO, EyeEm)
41. Frank Mukhanana (Founder, QuidCycle)
42. Fraser Robinson (Founder and CEO, Taggstar)
43. Gareth Knight (Founder, Wedo)
44. George Spencer (CEO, Rentify)
45. Giles Andrews (Co-Founder and CEO, Zopa)
46. Henrik Bohman (Founder, Postnado)
47. Henry Catchpole (Founder and CEO, Inform Direct)
48. Henry de Zoete (Co-Founder, The Big Deal)
49. Henry Firth (Founder and Ceo, PingTune)
50. Hiroki Takeuchi (Co-founder and CEO, GoCardless)
51. Hugo Burge (CEO Momondo Group & Co-Founder HOWZAT Partners)
52. Ivan Mazour (CEO, Ometrian and Founding Partner, Innova Capital)
53. Jack Tang (Co-Founder and CEO, Urban Massage)
54. Jag Singh (Founder, MessageSpace)
55. James Bromley and Richard Gibson (COO and CFO SwiftKey)
56. James Elder (Co-founder, The Beans Group)
57. James Gambrell (CEO, Fits.me)
58. James Lumb (CEO, Zenkraft.com)
59. James Walker (CEO, NewsFixed)
60. Javier Ramirez (Founder, Teowaki)
61. Jeff Lynn (Founder and CEO, Seedrs)
62. Jeremy Walker (CEO, NewsFixed)
63. Jess Butcher (Co-founder and CMO, blippar)
64. Joe Cohen (Founder, Seatwave)
65. Joelle Hadfield (Co-Founder and CEO, FIGHTME)
66. John Bethell (Co-Founder, Trot ON)
67. Jon Harris (Founder, Simpl)
68. Jonathan Brech (CEO, Korrall)
69. Dr Jonathan Milner (Founder and CEO, Abcam)
70. Josh Valman (MD, RPD International)
71. Jozef Wallace (Co-founder, Toothpick)
72. Julian Ranger (Founder, SocialSafe, and angel investor)
73. Juliana Meyer (Founder and CEO, SupaPass)
74. Keld van Schreven (CoFounder, SmartTrade App)
75. Kevin McDonagh (CEO, Novoda)
76. Laura Lambert (Founder, Befittd)
77. Leo Anthias (Co-Founder, Kivo)
78. Levi Russell (Founder and CEO, Zonerider Networks)
79. Lopo Champalimaud (Co-Founder and CEO, Wahanda)
80. Luke Lang and Darren Westlake (Director and CEO, Crowdcube)
81. Luke Marsden (Co-Founder, ClusterHQ)
82. Marcus Sandberg (Founder, Proleads)
83. Martin Rigby (Founder, Psonar)
84. Matthias Metternich (Co-Founder & CEO, Believe.in)
85. Matthew Hammett (Founder, Readbug)
86. Maxwell Painter (Chief executive of Unrival)
87. Mike Minnett (Founder, The Positive Ageing Co)
88. Nelson Sivalingam (Founder, One Minute London)
89. Nick Ray (CEO, aiHit)
90. Nick Thain (CEO, Sports New Media)
91. Nicolai Watzenig (Co-founder, Birdback)
92. Patrick Charlton (Founder and Director, Buzz Radar)
93. Paul Anson (CEO, LumeJet)
94. Paul Joyce and Rob Hudson (CEO and CTO, Geckoboard)
95. Pete Smith (Co-founder, Songkick & CEO/Co-founder, Silicon Milkroundabout)
96. Phil Hutcheon (Founder, DICE)
97. Pratik Sampat (Founder, iHorizon)
98. Raf Keustermans (Co-founder and CEO, Plumbee)
99. Raj Ramanandi (Partner at #1seed, and CEO Pocket Social)
100. Rajeeb Dey (Founder, enternships)
101. Ricardo Zacconi (CEO, King)
102. Richard Moross (Founder, MOO)
103. Richard Muirhead (CEO, automic and Managing Partner, Firestartr.co)
104. Rikke Rosenlund (Co-founder, BorrowMyDoggy)
105. Robyn Exton (CEO, Dattch)
106. Robyn Scott (Co-Founder, OneLeap)
107. Rohan Luvaglio (Founder, Bizzby)
108. Rhydian Lewis (Founder, Ratesetter)
109. Russell Gould (Managing Director, Everline)
110. Rytis Vitkauskas (Founder, YPlan)
111. Sam Michel (CEO, Chinwag)
112. Sam Oakley (Co-Founder, Stashmetrics)
113. Samir Desai (Co-Founder and CEO, Funding Circle)
114. Sarah Wood (Co-Founder and COO, Unruly)
115. Shane Frith (Director, EzyOrder.com)
116. Simon Campbell (Founder and CEO, The Sandpit)
117. Simon Hill (Co-Founder and CEO, wazoku)
118. Sokratis Papafloratos (Co-Founder and CEO, Togethera)
119. Spencer Hyman (Co-Founder Cocoa Runners and Freego.com)
120. Stef Lewandowski (Co-Founder, Makeshift)
121. Stephen Rapoport (Founder, Pact Coffee)
122. Steven Renwick (Founder, Satago)
123. Taavet Hinrikus (Co-Founder, TransferWise)
124. Tarek Nseir (CEO, Th_nk)
125. Tayfun Bilsel (Founder and CEO, Clinked)
126. Tobias van Amstel (Co-Founder and CEO, signkick)
127. Tom Allen (Founder, Metable)
128. Tom Raffe (Founder, Screenburn)
129. Tom Watson (Co-Founder, Spacious)
130. Victor Henning (Co-Founder and CEO, Mendeley)
131. Vincent Thome (Founder, Nuji)
132. Warren Smith (CEO, AccessSolicitor.com)
133. Yoav Zingher (Co-Founder, Kiwipowered)

VCs, incubators and other supporters

1. Alex Macpherson and Alliott Cole (Managing Director and Director, Octopus Investments)
2. Alisha Mody, (Global Strategy Director, Uffindell Group)
3. Ben Southworth (Co-founder, 3beards)
4. Bryce Keene (Founder, Albion Drive)
5. Colette Ballou (Founder, Ballou PR)
6. Chipper Boulas (Co-founder, Firestartr)
7. Christian Hernandez (Managing Partner, White Star Capital)
8. Christian Thaler-Wolski (Venture Partner, Wellington Partners)
9. Daniel Waterhouse (General Partner, Balderton Capital)
10. David Bailey (Partner, Merryns LLP)
11. David Cleeveley (Founding Director, Centre for Science and Policy, University of Cambridge)
12. David Gammon (CEO, Rockspring)
13. Davor Hebel (Partner, Fidelity Growth Partners Europe)
14. Eileen Burbidge, Robert Dighero and Stefan Glaenzer (Partners, Passion Capital)
16. Eric Van der Kleij (Head of Level39)
17. Evgeny Shadchnev (Co-Founder and CEO, Maker's Academy)
18. Gerard Grech (CEO, Tech City UK)
19. Haakon Overli (General Partner, Dawn Capital)
20. James Bilefield (Angel investor and advisor)
21. Jennifer Arcuri (Founder, InnoTech Summit)
22. Joe Scarboro (Director of operations, 3beards)
23. John Henderson (Principal, White Star Capital)
24. John Taysom (Investor and advisor)
25. Jon Bradford (MD, Techstars London)
26. Josh Russell (Angel investor and advisor)
27. Julian Carter (Co-Founder and MD, EC1 Capital)
28. Julie Meyer (Managing Partner, Ariadne Capital Entrepreneurs Fund, and Founder, First Tuesday and EntrepreneurCountry)
29. Mark Zaleski (LP, Passion Capital and PROfounders Capital)
30. Matthew Clifford (Co-Founder, Entrepreneur First)
31. Michael Hobson (Co-founder, 3beards)
32. Mike Butcher (Editor, TechCrunch Europe)
33. Milo Yiannopoulos (Associate Editor, Breitbart and Founder, The Kernel)
34. Monty Munford (Founder, Mob76)
35. Nic Brisbourne (Managing Partner, Forward Partners)
36. Raph Crouan (MD, StartupBootCamp IoT)
37. Reshma Sohoni (Co-Founder and Partner, Seedcamp)
38. Robert Sansom (Founder, Cambridge Angels)
39. Robin Klein (Partner, Index Ventures)
40. Rory Stirling (Partner, MMC Ventures)
41. Russ Shaw (Founder, Tech London Advocates)
42. Sanford Dickert (Co-Founder and Director, Rawlings Atlantic)
43. Saul Klein (Partner, Index Ventures)
44. Simon Murdoch (Partner, Episode 1)
45. Simon Walker (Director General, Institute of Directors)
46. Sonali De Rycker (Partner, Accel Partners)
47. Sophie Eden (Co-founder, Gordon and Eden)
48. Thomas Labarthe, (MD of Lookout Europe)
49. Tim Jackson (Partner, Lean Investments)
50. Tom Hulme (Founder and Director OpenIDEO and OIEngine)

Sam Shead

For more news and updates, assistance with your visa needs or for a Free Assessment of your profile for Immigration or Work Visa’s just visit www.y-axis.com