The Harrod's of tech companies


London's a great place for a tech company to acquire others--even if they're only in slightly related fields--and embark on this thing called "convergence." At least, that's what presenters at Think London's breakfast meeting this morning say.

Think London, which courts non-British companies looking to set up an overseas office, is a non-profit organization that's funded by businesses and the U.K. central government, chief executive Michael Charlton tells me. His company made the case for convergence--that is, the melding of tech and non-tech businesses, like an IT and TV company, that participants said is key to expansion, especially for tech SMBs--since it cross-fertilizes talent, R&D, and resources.

The London-based organization itself today opened a new San Francisco office--the better to take advantage of the close link between the two cities. Half of all California investment into London has been from the  IT and telecom industries. California-based companies say that after SF, London is the best city to converge. That is, to buy or be bought.

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