Capital’s top tech start-ups to join Mayor on US trade mission

A DELEGATION of London’s top technology start-ups will join the Mayor in the United States next month on a mission to drum up post-Brexit business.

Twenty-three firms will travel to New York and Chicago for meetings with tech executives and pitches to investors.

The trip has been organised by London & Partners, which promotes the capital, and the Mayor’s International Business Pro gramme, a £5 million scheme part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund.

HMRC data shows the US is Britain’s biggest trading partner, accounting for £4.1 billion of exports in June.

The week-long trade mission with Sadiq Khan aims to “highlight London’s strengths as a leading business destination for US companies looking to expand overseas” and “show London is open for business following the EU referendum vote”. The firms will pay for their flights, while hotels will be funded by “private sector partners” and the European Regional Development Fund.

Those going include clean tech firm Pavegen, taxis digital media provider Eyetease and cybersecurity company Trading Hub, as well as Kathryn Parsons of Decoded, which aims to improve tech literacy and “demystify digital”.

Mr Khan said: “These high-growth companies have the potential to become the next global tech giants and I am delighted they will join me in showing the world that London is open to talent, business and collaborations.”