This document discusses John Peebles' experiences starting companies in both America and Scotland. It provides details about two companies he founded - a healthcare technology startup based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and an educational technology startup based in Edinburgh, Scotland. The document suggests that starting a company today is easier than ever, and that popular locations like Silicon Valley are overrated. It argues the benefits of starting companies in other places, like Scotland, including lower costs, a supportive investment community, and a better work-life balance.

1. Startup Adventures
in America and Scotland

2. My name is John Peebles.
Edinburgh is the first amazing
place I’ve ever lived.
Changsha, China
Taichung, Taiwan
Tianjin, China
Upland, Indiana
Rockford, Illinois
Chicago, Illinois*
Fort Lauderdale

3. You can start and grow
an incredible company
anywhere.

4. “I talk to lots of people who come
looking for the Silicon Valley
experience…they head south on the
101, hoping to see it, this place
they’ve heard about…And it’s
freeways, and it’s office parks, and
it’s strip malls, and it looks like every
place they’ve ever been, and they
end up wondering, where have they
come, why did they come here?”
- Po Bronson, Wired Magazine
from the 1998 documentary Code Rush

5. • Fort Lauderdale based
• B2B, SaaS, Healthcare Technology Startup
• Founded in 2006
• ~$4 million in raised from individual angels
• Over 5 Years:
– 120+ employees
– Over $25 million in revenue
– Over 100 hospitals, over 200 pharmacies, more
than 20 million patients

6. • Edinburgh based
• B2B, SaaS, Educational Technology Startup
• Founded in 2010, out to market in 2011
• £1.4 million raised from Scottish angel
syndicate
• 7 employees, 130+ customers serving 1.4+
million students across 5 continents
• Tripled monthly recurring revenue since July
of 2012, growing very quickly

7. Forget
Silicon Valley

8. Starting up today
is so easy
compared to even 5
years ago.

9. Starting Up at the End of the World
PROS
• Big fish in a small
pond
• Higher retention
• Lower costs
• Investor patience
• Scrappiness
CONS
• Less access to
“easy money”
• Talent may be
harder to access

10. • Fantastic, inspirational cities
• Great education and university system
• Low student debt
• National Insurance, a real Safety Net
• Cheaper to live, cheaper wages, cheaper space
• Easy to get to major markets
• The Scottish brand
• Better tax structures for entrepreneurs
• Local investment community, plus London
• “Remote” employees aren’t very remote
• Better Work/Life balance
• Great hacker community
Running a Company in Scotland

11. You Will Need to Adapt
Forget Investment. First invest yourself.
Forget B2C. Unless you can demonstrate
significant traction.
Forget “Startup Life”. It’s a myth anyway.
Build Your Community. People need role
models, honesty, support, encouragement.
Just Do It.

12. Location doesn’t
matter.
We’re in an
amazing location!

13. I’d Love to Help
John Peebles
jjp@GetAdministrate.com
www.GetAdministrate.com
@johnjpeebles
07810 830419