Brighton’s digital entrepreneurs attract American attention

More high-tech American companies may be drawn to Brighton, according to a leading journalist in the sector.

Monty Munford, writing for the Telegraph, said that US companies are drawn to the Silicon Valley style cluster that has been growing in Brighton.

He cited the arrival of Dyn, which set up its European headquarters in Queen’s Road last year, as evidence of the trend.

Dyn manages domain names, email delivery and traffic management for four million customers, including a number of big companies.

The company’s move to Brighton followed iCrossing’s £10 million purchase of the local search engine pioneer Spannerworks a few years earlier, he said.

Mr Munford’s article comes as the month-long Brighton Digital Festival draws to a close.

He said: “For a decade, Brighton has bubbled under as a place for tech companies to assemble in a Silicon Valley style cluster.

“Relatively low wages kept back this potential scene and the 2008 recession was expected to push things back further.

“But Brighton is contrary and it could be argued that the recession was a boost to the city’s aspirations to be a hub for tech companies.

“The past five years have seen great strides as lean and mean start-ups, deprived of investment, have bootstrapped themselves and learnt the business ropes without ‘aid’.”

He quoted Dyn’s chief revenue officer Kyle York as saying: “We chose Brighton over London for the same reason we chose Manchester, New Hampshire, over Boston or New York City.

“It was a cultural fit and we could aim to be a top tech company employer.

“We wanted a city that combined a vibrant employee pool with a high quality of life.

“We found that in Brighton and we intend on growing a global power there to service the (European, Middle East and Africa) region.”

Mr Munford added: “A new ‘global power’ in Brighton means that the burgeoning tech scene is likely to continue its growth and Dyn’s strategic move to the city may mark the start of other US companies doing the same thing.

“Whether they do or not is unlikely to bother those who visit the city at the height of the summer.

“For those, however, who live there the whole year round it may be a very significant thing indeed.”