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I Pitched the British Government. The next day, they chose Google.

15 government reps, a simple message: support British startups. They nodded, agreed, and then signed with Google.

A flat, cartoony 16:9 illustration of the London Westminster skyline. A group of diverse people on a bridge are struggling to push a glowing blue box featuring the Union Jack and the text 'British Tech Ecosystem' and 'Early Contracts.' On the other side of a crack in the bridge, a massive Google 'G' logo is anchored by heavy chains. The image uses a muted, professional color palette with clean lines.

Jan 28, 2026

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David Hasovic

I presented to the British Government. Here’s what happened…

I recently spent 45 minutes alone in a room presenting to 15 representatives from the British GOV.UK.

It was surreal, and honestly encouraging.

They nodded. They asked thoughtful questions. They enthusiastically agreed that the UK should support its own startups in the same way other governments do.

My message was simple

Other governments actively help their startup ecosystems by awarding early contracts. Those contracts aren’t just revenue; they’re credibility, momentum, and a chance to win long-term.

In the UK, that almost never happens.

I explained that supporting British startups doesn’t mean lowering standards. It means giving them a fair chance, speeding up procurement, and not defaulting to the same large US vendors every time.

I even said: Forget Superthread.

This isn’t about us. It’s about building a healthy UK tech ecosystem.

The Google paradox: Talking local, buying global

Then the very next day, I saw a post about the British government strengthening its relationship with Google.

A non-British company.

That’s the part I can’t understand.

Other governments back their own companies, strategically and deliberately. Here, we talk about it enthusiastically… and then do the opposite.

We default to massive US vendors, even when faster, local alternatives are ready to scale.

Support requires intent

If we want UK tech to compete globally, we have to stop disadvantaging it at home.

Support doesn’t require favouritism. It requires intent. And right now, the intent feels missing.

p.s. Of course, we never heard back from them.

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