using business incubators to expand into the us market
TRANSCRIPT
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Copyright 2014,Strodtbeck & Co. All rights reserved. www.strodtbeck.co.uk
Expanding into the US Market
Presented by:
Tom Strodtbeck
Founder and CEO
Strodtbeck & Co.
Senior Director,
International Programs
National Business Incubation
Association (USA)
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Copyright 2014,Strodtbeck & Co. All rights reserved. www.strodtbeck.co.uk
The obligatory Steve Jobs quote…
You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards
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Followed by a Paul Graham quote….
The most important task at first is to build something people want.
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Followed by a quote by me…
When it comes to entering the US, it is better to think of it as 50 smaller countries trading with each other, and each with different tax, regulatory and incentive schemes.
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Copyright 2014,Strodtbeck & Co. All rights reserved. www.strodtbeck.co.uk
What I do
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What NBIA does
.
Thought Leadership
Professional DevelopmentNetworking
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What NBIA does
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What business incubators do
Incubatorsshrink the risk box…
…fill in the the knowledge gaps
…and assist firms with this.
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Copyright 2014,Strodtbeck & Co. All rights reserved. www.strodtbeck.co.uk
What business incubators do
EntrepreneurTraining
Access to Funding
Specialized space and equipment
Technical assistance
Mentors
Advisors
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Copyright 2014,Strodtbeck & Co. All rights reserved. www.strodtbeck.co.uk
Our Network – Soft Landings http://www.nbia.org/member_services/soft_landings/
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Our Network – Soft Landings http://www.nbia.org/member_services/soft_landings/
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What SL incubators do
• Hot desks• Market intelligence• Contacts• Relocation strategies• Funding• Cultural advice• Licenses, fees and visas (if
necessary)• Legal structure (LLC, etc.)• Need deal flow prior to
being an SL incubator
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Copyright 2014,Strodtbeck & Co. All rights reserved. www.strodtbeck.co.uk
The why question. Why go to the US?
• Founder focus and motivation• Diversity among managers;
immigrant status• Expand market
• Particularly true in small home markets
• Increased profitability• Take advantage of supply chains;
lower costs• Access to materials
• Manufacturing hubs• Access to talent
• Innovators, clusters• Ability to collaborate/invest
• Co-development, acquisition• Ability to raise capital/be acquired
US companies have exported about 16 billion (USD) worth of goods and services to the UK.
Conversely, UK companies sell 17 billion (USD) worth of goods and services to the US.
The UK is America’s 7th largest trading partner.
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What companies do
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Connections
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Bridges to cross
Psychic Distanc
e
Market
Product
Money
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Copyright 2014,Strodtbeck & Co. All rights reserved. www.strodtbeck.co.uk
Bridges to cross
PsychicDistance
“Entrepreneurs underestimate how long this
takes”
Training on business culture
Engagement with other
entrepreneurs
Engagement with expat groups or diaspora network
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Copyright 2014,Strodtbeck & Co. All rights reserved. www.strodtbeck.co.uk
Bridges to cross
Psychic distance
Psychic and cultural distance
• Building partnerships and relationships is as important in the US as in any other country.
• Establish partnerships – don’t try to do it alone. Local partners can help you find resources, make introductions to investors and customers, and acclimate you to the local business culture. They can accelerate your entry time significantly.
For more information: www.executiveplanet.com
/index.php?title=United_States.
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Copyright 2014,Strodtbeck & Co. All rights reserved. www.strodtbeck.co.uk
Bridges to cross
Market“US businesses are relationship
driven….”
Alpha-beta customers/distri
butors?
Market intelligence –
analysis- feedback
Time in country to build
relationships.
How big is it really?
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Copyright 2014,Strodtbeck & Co. All rights reserved. www.strodtbeck.co.uk
Bridges to cross
Market
• Learn before you burn.
• Need to know:
• The size of the accessible market
• Who are your competitors• Your distribution plans• Your service plans• Often, firms need to
interrogate their business model.
• Who are your alpha and beta customers? Evangelists?
For more information:
http://www.clustermapping.us
http://www.sizeup.com
www.zoomprospector.com
www.researchandmarkets.com
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Copyright 2014,Strodtbeck & Co. All rights reserved. www.strodtbeck.co.uk
Bridges to cross
Magic“No one
cares about 32 bit”
What problem is
being solved?
What is it in customer
terms?
How will you make money
with it?
“This is not to say they need a solid business at home first…they don’t. They
just need a clear idea on who the customer is, and how they will make
money.”
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Copyright 2014,Strodtbeck & Co. All rights reserved. www.strodtbeck.co.uk
Bridges to cross
Magic• This is not to say they need a solid
business at home first…they don’t. They just need a clear idea on who the customer is, and how they will make money.
• That said, customer validation is an important concept for startup and young firms…your ability to demonstrate a market for your product is paramount.
• The relevance of your product to the new market is also important…do Americans get it?
• IP strategy gets addressed here.
For more information:
http://www.sba.gov/content/intellectual-property-
law
www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/patent-copyright-
trademark
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Bridges to cross
Money
“Funders care about sales, not
about you”
Remittance?
Cash flow?
Equity/Debt/Other?
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Bridges to cross
Money
• The vast majority of American firms bootstrap
• State incentives are more important than Federal incentives
• Cash flow management as important as cash
• Remittance, taxes and exchange rates are ALL important
• “You cannot get funded sounding like that.”
• Local representation for angel and VC.
For more information:
http://selectusa.commerce.gov
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For example…the Rutgers Food Innovation Center and Graze
Graze• Founded in 2008• Raised £2 million from
Octopus, others• Acquired by Carlyle (US)
in 2012 (est. £50 mil)• Entered US market in
2013; 100,000 subscribers in first four months
• £41 million sales (2013)
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For example…the Rutgers Food Innovation Center and Graze
Rutgers FIC provided• Focus group testing• Labeling• FDA regulations• Market assessment• Fulfillment/processing• New product
development
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Copyright 2014,Strodtbeck & Co. All rights reserved. www.strodtbeck.co.uk
Thank you!
Tom Strodtbeck
Founder and CEO
Strodtbeck & Co, Liverpool
Senior Director
International Programs
National Business Incubation Association (USA)
www.nbia.org
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See also…
• Bell, et all; “Small Firm Internationalization and Business Strategy” International Small Business Journal, 2004
• Freeman, et al; “How Smaller Born-Global Firms Use Networks and Alliances to Overcome Constraints to Rapid Internationalization”, The Journal of International Marketing, 2006
• Fuest, Sasha “Global Marketing Strategy: The Case of a Born Global Software Firm in Columbia”, Revista Ciencias Estratégicas, 2010
• Isenberg, Daniel “the Global Entrepreneur” Harvard Business Review, December 2008
• Kudina, et al “Born Global”Business Strategy Review, 2008
• “Weaving The World Together” The Economist, November 19, 2011