A TechCrunch reporter visited Lift House, an East London "hacker house" that six founders in their twenties are running as a deliberate counterpoint to San Francisco's hard-charging startup culture. Rather than the "12 weeks, Demo Day is coming" intensity typical of Silicon Valley co-living spaces, residents say they are pursuing "holistic improvement in life", with journaling sessions, shared cooking and a more balanced approach to ambition, reflecting London's less showy tech scene.

Lift House, officially launched in March, is one of only a handful of co-living hacker houses in London, contrasting with the dozens found across San Francisco. It is run by Rowan Aldean, 26, and his wife Zahraa, 22, with residents free to stay anywhere from a month to six months or more, splitting groceries and chores. The house reflects a wider trend dubbed "Londonmaxxing", as the city's AI sector booms — London AI startups have raised $12 billion of the $14.7 billion raised by all London startups in 2026, according to Dealroom, with six companies, including Wayve and ElevenLabs, each raising over $500 million.