Digital Mission Blog
The Digital Mission series is run by Chinwag to support UK-based digital companies expand into new markets and attract overseas investment.
Inside Digital Mission NYC: ustwo
Digital Mission went to New York from 1st - 5th November, along with 19 leading, UK-based digital companies.
As part of the 'Inside Digital Mission NYC' series, each company was asked if they would like to go into a bit more detail and share their individual stories.
This mini-interview is with Julian Ehrhardt from ustwo, based in London.
What's your role within ustwo?
Business Development Director
What led to you being involved with ustwo?
I joined ustwo™ in 2008, when I was borrowing a desk space having just left my own agency. Then I got sucked in and have never looked back (She'll take over your life if you let her). ustwo™ has been going since 2004 working in Mobile and TV UI design. Then the age of mobile finally came with the iPhone and business is stratospheric. We're now working with global brands on their next generation products and devices so there's so much exciting stuff going on I can't imagine being anywhere else.
Tell us a story about the mission...
Two us us got locked out of our hotel apartment on the first night at 3am. We then had to head into deepest Brooklyn to find a hotel (via Google Maps), got to it and found out it was for 'short stays' and had a bedbug sign outside it. So we hit a nearby bar and proceeded to ask people there if we could crash at theirs. Guess between the English accent and the likelihood that people who are drinking on a Sunday at 4:30am are more open we managed to find someone. We returned this New York hospitality by one of us moving their furniture around in their sleep, which kind of freaked our hosts out (as it would me). Anyway, after two hours sleep the three hour session on corporate, tax and employment law was most welcome (but testament to its value and content that I registered all the info).
What is the best thing to come out of the Digital Mission for you?
A comprehensive understanding of what it takes to begin to setup in the US. Could not have imagined a more condense starter course. That and an invitation to the HMS Daring when it ports in Portsmouth.
Who was your Digital Mission superstar and why?
So many, but enjoyed meeting Bob Schukai of Thomson Reuters, whose energy and interest in what is going on is a rare sight for a big company. Ogilvy we're also very warm and welcoming.
What's in the future for ustwo?
Opening in the US in 2011. This trip was the bedrock for our business plan. We're also going to be jumping out of the long grass announcing some very cool shit we've been working on over the last year with global brands and manufacturers.
Julian's Linkedin
ustwo's website // Twitter // Linkedin
Photo (c) Kathryn Corrick
Inside Digital Mission NYC: Waspit
Digital Mission went to New York from 1st - 5th November, along with 19 fantastic, UK-based digital companies.
As part of the 'Inside Digital Mission NYC' series, each company was asked if they would like to go into a bit more detail and share their individual stories.
This mini-interview is with Danielle Dalkie from Waspit, based in London.
What's your role within Waspit?
Head of PR and Marketing
What led to you being involved with Waspit?
I started as an intern after answering a Gumtree ad fresh off the boat from AUS! Now I am full time and I really enjoy working here! In-house in a start-up is so exciting and dynamic, I am learning a lot about all aspects of business!
Tell us a story about the mission...
I nearly died...getting out of a taxi on the left side, a car drove past hit the taxi, its wing-mirror fell off but it kept driving. I got out to look and the taxi door was all bent. I basically just ran into the British Consulate.
What is the best thing to come out of the Digital Mission for you?
For me personally, getting the attention of the ABC, going to their studios and building a relationship for future press...
Who was your Digital Mission superstar and why?
Carmen and Patricia from the UKTI were fantastic! So passionate and involved in their roles, they went above and beyond organising the event and throughout the week. It was also nice to meet professional women.
What's in the future for Waspit?
World domination!! No...seriously we plan to launch in the US, and I am really focused on getting new users.
Danielle's LinkedIn
Waspit's website // Twitter // LinkedIn
Photo (c) Kathryn Corrick
Inside Digital Mission NYC: BrightLemon
Digital Mission went to New York from 1st - 5th November, along with 19 fantastic, UK-based digital companies.
As part of the 'Inside Digital Mission NYC' series, each company was asked if they would like to go into a bit more detail and share their individual stories
This mini-interview is with Leon Tong from BrightLemon, based in London.
What's your role within BrightLemon?
Strategy, presenting/speaking at events, sales and also a whole lot of mundane day-to-day stuff... basically all the things that nobody else does (or wants to do!)
What led to setting up/being involved with BrightLemon?
After university I worked on a two year Department for Education project and then for a fairly well known financial web site in the City. However, I always thought "I could get this done better" and so set out on my own to do just that.
BrightLemon work almost exclusively with educational and charity based clients and if you look at our client list you will see that we try to choose projects that use the web to do something good for society...
Tell us a story about the mission...
Apart from the one about waking up in the hotel on the first night to find three men breaking into the room next door...? Well after the HMS Daring reception I ended up at a far less formal drinks event chatting to someone from the online division of a TV station.... for about five hours... we had both reached the same idea on the strategy for a large scale concept - one of us from TV moving towards online... and the other from online moving towards TV.... would love to say more but you would have to sign an NDA....
What is the best thing to come out of the Digital Mission for you?
Besides those in New York, I made contact with some very inspiring people based in the UK.
Who was your Digital Mission superstar and why?
Rod Hyde from Amaze* - because he has an
astounding level of knowledge and expertise - and yet he is the most humble,
soft spoken and polite person you could ever meet! We had some amazing (excuse
the pun) conversations about his story and numerous aspects of business during
taxi journeys around New York. I only wish we had filmed those chats and put
them online....
(*also Farnaz Khan (eResponse Media) of course but I think practically everyone else will nominate
her!)
What's in the future for BrightLemon?
We have been very fortunate this year to
have worked on communities with the Victoria and Albert Museum, Tate Modern and
United Nations and so will be doing more of that! We are recruiting and want to
grow our online community offering steadily but also ensure our current staff
are rewarded duly for the great work they have done this year. Next year we'll
be looking to expand into a couple of other markets - either with product
offerings or a wider range of services.... watch this space....
Longer term we would like to look at high growth markets like China (where we
already have a 120,000+ user network) and from a technical viewpoint we would
like to get more involved with Drupal, the Semantic Web/RDF and data visualisation.
Leon's LinkedIn
BrightLemon's website // Twitter // LinkedIn
Photo (cc) Sam Michel
Interested in Digital Mission to South by South West Interactive (SXSW)? Let Us Know.
Plans are afoot for next year's trip out to South by South West Interactive, and we hope, a Digital Mission that's even better than last year.
Due to factors beyond our control the details are still being confirmed but we wanted to make sure that this trip was on your radar as early as possible.
We're gathering expressions of interest from companies who would like to join the mission using this form, as it's likely to be a fairly quick turnaround when applications open.
If you're planning to attend, are thinking about attending with a group of companies or are able to support companies with grant funding or sponsorship, mission
chinwag [dot] com (we'd love to hear from you) so we can coordinate efforts and keep you updated with plans as they develop.
// Register Interest: Digital Mission SXSW 2011
Photo (cc) Sam Michel.
Inside Digital Mission NYC: Nuji
Digital Mission went to New York from 1st - 5th November, along with 19 fantastic, UK-based digital companies.
As part of the 'Inside Digital Mission NYC' series, each company was asked if they would like to go into a bit more detail and share their individual stories.
This mini-interview is with Dean Fankhauser from Nuji, based in London.
What's your role within Nuji?
Co-Founder, Business development
What led to setting up Nuji?
I moved into Vincent's flat as a housemate. We were both working at digital agencies at the time, though we both had a start-up before. We missed the start-up life and always talked about new ideas. The internet of things and the idea of connecting the real world to the online world always interested us so we started talking about the concept of starting a business around the idea. Nuji was born shortly after.
What is the best thing to come out of the Digital Mission for you?
We made very valuable press and agency contacts. The mission showed us what it takes to launch in the US and how quickly business can get done there.
Who was your Digital Mission superstar and why?
Keith Moses was a great mentor who was genuinely interested in helping us and making the trip as valuable as possible.
What's in the future for Nuji?
Nuji has just been selected to present and launch at Le Web in Paris. Should be a doozy.
Dean's LinkedIn
Nuji's website // Twitter // LinkedIn
Photo (c) Kathryn Corrick
