Former Cameron adviser launches scheme to get tech start-ups into Whitehall with big-name backers

GovStart programme gives small companies the chance to learn from GDS leaders past and present and access part of £320bn global market

GovStart aims to help start-ups work with Whitehall – Photo credit: PA

Daniel Korski, the former deputy head of policy at No10 has teamed up with government, technology and finance experts to launch a programme to help start-ups access the £320bn global govtech market.

The organisation, Public.io, launched yesterday, and its team includes ex-Tech City UK director of strategy Caroline Makepeace, former Google and DWP data scientist Calvin Dudek as technology adviser and Camden councillor and digital proponent Theo Blackwell as a policy fellow.

On its website, Public.io says that govtech is a “great opportunity” with a global market worth £320bn, a UK procurement spend of £45bn in 2015 and a £5.3bn local government spend on IT, and states its aim as helping start-ups access this.

Its first growth programme, GovStart, offers small businesses guidance in developing their strategy, meeting standards, identifying contacts and bid-writing, with the idea being to increase innovation in the public sector at the same time.

“During my time in No 10, I saw first-hand how much money was wasted on large IT contracts,” Korski said in an interview with trade title TechCrunch.

“Getting more start-ups to solve public problems will make a real difference by allowing new technologies into the public sector to deliver better, cheaper and more easy-to-use public services.”


Related content

Procurement teams ‘need more digital know-how’
Crown Hosting Service moves to CCS to gain specialist procurement talent
Ready to innovate: How local government is responding to budget pressure


The GovStart scheme, which is open for applications now, will see Public.io develop an individual growth programme with the start-up in return for 3% equity in the company.

Applicants can work in a range of technology areas, including cloud, legacy modernisation and data analytics, and in any field, and the programme will take place over six months, starting in June.

Public.io stressed that this is not an accelerator programme, but was “100% focused on helping you do business with the public sector”, and that the scheme would not take two start-ups in the same class.

The start-ups will also receive guidance from experts in government digital, and the website boasts a list of big names in govtech, including two leaders of the Government Digital Service, Kevin Cunnington and Mike Bracken, the Department for Work and Pensions’ chief digital officer Mayank Prakash and the former government chief procurement officer Bill Crothers.

Crothers is also on Public.io’s all-star advisory board, which also includes former HMRC digital chief Mark Dearnley, the founder of Google’s artificial intelligence company DeepMind and former Liberal Democrat leader Paddy Ashdown.

Whitehall has come under increasing pressure to improve its procurement methods, ensure procurement staff understand digital ways of working and help smaller, innovative companies to access the public sector.

And, although the government has pledged that, by 2020, £1 in every £3 spent on procurement will be spent on SMEs, those who supply government with IT solutions remain sceptical – Tim Barnes, the founder of Rain Gods, an incubator for SMEs that want to work with government, recently told a conference that there was “no chance on earth” of hitting this target.

Others have urged the government to focus on making sure its procurement platforms, such as the Digital Marketplace, are fit for purpose.

For instance, many commentators have picked up on tender notices with budgets in excess of £20m, that require companies to provide accounts for the past three years or that ask for experience using PRINCE2.

Daniel Thornton, programme director at the Institute for Government, has said the Digital Marketplace is a “welcome innovation” but that it was “clear it isn’t being used in the right way”.

He suggested that the government needs to work harder on getting departments and agencies to understand and comply with the standards GDS sets.

Rebecca.Hill

Learn More →

31 thoughts on “Former Cameron adviser launches scheme to get tech start-ups into Whitehall with big-name backers

  1. Jorgedak January 22, 2025 at 9:36 am

    mexican mail order pharmacies: Mexican Easy Pharm – Mexican Easy Pharm

  2. Albertruith January 25, 2025 at 1:22 pm

    http://cytpharm.com/# buy cytotec online
    prednisone 5093

  3. Edwardvep January 31, 2025 at 2:33 am

    farmacie online affidabili: Ibuprofene 600 prezzo senza ricetta – farmacia online piГ№ conveniente

  4. Nathangat January 31, 2025 at 4:14 am

    esiste il viagra generico in farmacia viagra senza ricetta viagra originale in 24 ore contrassegno

  5. Patrickbeisa January 31, 2025 at 7:31 am

    The casino experience is memorable and unique.: taya365 login – taya365 com login

  6. Daviddof January 31, 2025 at 7:51 am

    https://winchile.pro/# Los jugadores pueden disfrutar desde casa.
    Manila is home to many large casinos.

  7. WilliamTraix January 31, 2025 at 8:06 am

    The casino atmosphere is thrilling and energetic. http://jugabet.xyz/# Los jugadores disfrutan del pГіker en lГ­nea.

  8. Josephbycle January 31, 2025 at 11:51 am

    taya777 app taya777.icu Some casinos feature themed gaming areas.

  9. Daviddof January 31, 2025 at 11:52 am

    http://phmacao.life/# Loyalty programs reward regular customers generously.
    Online gaming is also growing in popularity.

  10. Patrickbeisa January 31, 2025 at 12:30 pm

    La diversiГіn nunca se detiene en los casinos.: jugabet casino – jugabet chile

  11. WilliamTraix January 31, 2025 at 1:09 pm

    Game rules can vary between casinos. http://taya365.art/# Gambling regulations are strictly enforced in casinos.

  12. Daviddof January 31, 2025 at 3:49 pm

    https://phmacao.life/# The poker community is very active here.
    Gambling regulations are strictly enforced in casinos.

  13. Patrickbeisa January 31, 2025 at 5:25 pm

    Many casinos provide shuttle services for guests.: phmacao – phmacao.life

  14. WilliamTraix January 31, 2025 at 6:04 pm

    Security measures ensure a safe environment. http://taya365.art/# Slot machines attract players with big jackpots.

  15. Josephbycle January 31, 2025 at 8:20 pm

    jugabet jugabet casino Los croupiers son amables y profesionales.

  16. Patrickbeisa January 31, 2025 at 10:13 pm

    Los pagos son rГЎpidos y seguros.: jugabet.xyz – jugabet chile

  17. WilliamTraix January 31, 2025 at 10:48 pm

    The ambiance is designed to excite players. http://taya777.icu/# Casino visits are a popular tourist attraction.

  18. Patrickbeisa February 1, 2025 at 2:49 am

    Visitors come from around the world to play.: taya365 com login – taya365.art

  19. Daviddof February 1, 2025 at 2:52 am

    http://winchile.pro/# Las ganancias son una gran motivaciГіn.
    The Philippines has several world-class integrated resorts.

  20. WilliamTraix February 1, 2025 at 3:29 am

    п»їCasinos in the Philippines are highly popular. http://winchile.pro/# Muchos casinos tienen salas de bingo.

  21. Josephbycle February 1, 2025 at 4:25 am

    phtaya phtaya The Philippines offers a rich gaming culture.

  22. Patrickbeisa February 1, 2025 at 7:32 am

    Promotions are advertised through social media channels.: taya365 login – taya365 login

  23. WilliamTraix February 1, 2025 at 8:11 am

    Slot tournaments create friendly competitions among players. http://taya365.art/# Many casinos have beautiful ocean views.

  24. Patrickbeisa February 1, 2025 at 12:17 pm

    Many casinos have beautiful ocean views.: phtaya.tech – phtaya casino

  25. Josephbycle February 1, 2025 at 12:27 pm

    phmacao com login phmacao club Many casinos host charity events and fundraisers.

  26. WilliamTraix February 1, 2025 at 12:58 pm

    Players often share tips and strategies. http://phtaya.tech/# The ambiance is designed to excite players.

  27. Patrickbeisa February 1, 2025 at 5:02 pm

    Entertainment shows are common in casinos.: taya777 register login – taya777 login

  28. WilliamTraix February 1, 2025 at 5:45 pm

    Promotions are advertised through social media channels. https://jugabet.xyz/# La competencia entre casinos beneficia a los jugadores.

  29. Josephbycle February 1, 2025 at 8:34 pm

    jugabet jugabet Los casinos reciben turistas de todo el mundo.

  30. Patrickbeisa February 1, 2025 at 9:52 pm

    Los casinos garantizan una experiencia de calidad.: winchile casino – winchile

  31. WilliamTraix February 1, 2025 at 10:34 pm

    Entertainment shows are common in casinos. https://taya777.icu/# The poker community is very active here.

Leave a Reply