X Factor for Tech is an insult

Not content with bombarding the music industry with asinine, flash-in-the-pan acts through the X Factor franchise, Simon Cowell has today decided that there is another sector in need of his own anti-Midas touch: namely 'Tech'. He wants to unearth the next Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, or Steve Jobs, apparently.

This is a man who has chauffeured the music industry toward some of its darkest times where up and coming independent bands have little chance of breaking through, and instead thousands of punters across the globe queue for his anointed blessing, '1,000% yes', and lascivious wink. This aside from the fact that only the tiniest minority can actually hold a note; most are plucked from Lucky Voice on a Saturday night, and some are genuinely mentally unwell and in need of support rather than public ridicule.

He's now unleashing this genius toward the tech industry, because clearly it's doing badly, happily growing and creating jobs all on its own. It clearly needs his talent to help us continue, along with trusty sidekick Will.i.am who brings a long legacy in tech, having whacked his brand on a laptop or two.

The more I think of it, the more I think it's just insulting to those driving the tech industry, and a tragic, slightly vile sign of the times. What does Cowell think he knows about tech that others don't? Why does he think this vibrant industry *needs* him? What does he bring that the East London scene doesn't already?

Start-ups are volatile enough as it is and the majority don't last - surely, the last thing the scene needs is a naïve, cash-hungry, industry-ignorant celebrity trying to solve its ills. It's an insult to those currently helping nurture start-ups that Cowell thinks he can walk in and make the Next Big Thing happen through reality TV. It's not saved the music industry, it just drove it closer to the cliff edge - let's pray he doesn't do the same with the start-up world…

@wonky_donky