This article was published on March 30, 2011

Gowalla opening UK office as it moves beyond check-ins and games


Gowalla opening UK office as it moves beyond check-ins and games

It’s not just Foursquare planning a UK office, onstage at the Geek’n’Rolla conference in London today, Gowalla’s CEO, Josh Williams has revealed the company’s plan base a small team in the city.

In conversation with The Guardian’s Jemima Kiss, Williams discussed how, with user numbers now in excess of one million, 45% of the company’s growth is outside US – particularly Europe and the Middle East. Looking to support and fuel this, “four or five” members of staff would be based here.

Williams discussed the company’s plans to move beyond check-ins and ‘gamification’ to become a social travel guide that works like “Lonely Planet written by your friends”. Looking to provide the best user experience for “Sharing the world around you,” Williams explained how the company has turned down offers from potential business partners, preferring to concentrate on travel-related businesses with “great locations.”

With London’s Tech City plans, growing opportunities for seed investment and popular US firms like Twitter, Foursquare and now Gowalla all en route to the city, it’s an exciting time for the UK Internet tech scene.

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