I’m a tech founder – here’s why I chose rats in London over robotaxis in San Francisco

Marit Rodevand chose to build her financial crime prevention startup in London rather than San Francisco because, despite its challenges, the UK capital offers a genuine commitment to tackling money laundering In my first few days after moving to my Islington flatshare, as I watched my new rat neighbour scurry into a drainpipe, I could have wondered: “Did I really choose this over Silicon Valley?” As a tech founder looking to make the next step out of my native Oslo, I knew that being on the ground was crucial. Yes, emails and Slack messages are efficient (less so video calls when you’re accidentally on mute) – but actually being around in person to make connections is how the world of business works. In September, I found myself in the fortunate position that I held a six-month visa option for both the UK and the US. We’ve been steadily building momentum in the UK over the last few years (via regular flights on Norwegian Air) but now I had San Francisco as a potential option.