Combining the power of pop-culture and the transformative potential of Britain's young tech entrepreneurs could be the best idea Simon Cowell ever had.
You may have seen the story that Simon Cowell is considering an X Factor style show for young tech entrepreneurs, it certainly caught my eye. Since then, all seems to have gone quiet.
It shouldn't have. This could be the best idea Mr. Cowell ever had.
Whether the X Factor franchise has been a force for good or ill in the music industry is up for debate. Indeed, a huge number of questions regarding 'The Tech-Factor' would still need to be answered; not least the percentage of the business Syco might demand from winning candidates.
However, if we can put our cynicism aside for a few minutes, I would argue that the forces at play here could be nothing short of transformational.
Why? Three reasons:
1. The potential of technology
2. The power of pop-culture
3. The unconstrained thinking of youth
Technology is a multiplier; the benefits it provides are exponential. Moore's Law states that the power of the microchip (when measured by transistor density on an integrated circuit) doubles every two years, that trend has held true since 1958.
Whilst it may come under threat from the shift to mobile chips in the post-PC era, it's clear that technological advancement have become a key driver of change in our society, in business and our personal lives.
This is something more people should consider when it comes to raising awareness, it doesn't get much better than Saturday night prime-time television.
Beyond awareness however, we need engagement. Wouldn't it be great if we could get the public to root for those seeking to harness technology to improve our lives (and create jobs and drive economic growth in the process), in the same way they root for dancing dogs and teenage falsettos.
A platform like this for Britain's young tech entrepreneurs would be hugely beneficial at a time when nearly a million 16-24 year olds are unemployed and as our own research showed; 'entrepreneur' is at risk from becoming a redundant term.
In truth I don't know what would happen because we've never seen anything like it before, but it's an incredibly exciting prospect.
Mr. Cowell, if you are reading this, we all love music, but even The Beatles didn't have the impact that the Internet has. I hope you grasp this opportunity to inspire a generation to believe in themselves and harness the transformative power of business and technology to change the world for the better.
And if you're looking for a judge, I may have the odd Saturday night to spare.