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.
In New York Next Week? Meet the Digital Mission NYC
It's almost time. Business cards are being discovered at the back of stationery cupboards, bags are being packed, presentations are being honed, dry-cleaning is being collected (actually, that reminds me...)
This weekend representatives of the 19 companies selected for this year's Digital Mission to New York will be heading across the pond for a packed week taking understand the US market, networking, briefings, meetings and more.
If you find yourself in New York next week - OK, so it's not likely you've dozed off on another flight and ended up there, you probably know already - the Digital Mission group will be out and about at various events. Why not swing by and say hello:
Comms Professional Mixer - co-hosted with Reputation Online
Time: Tue 2nd Nov - 08:30 - 10:30
Venue: British Consulate, 9th Floor. 845 Third Avenue (map)
RSVP: Book Now (sorry, no walk-ups)
Join Digital Mission NYC and Reputation Online for an exclusive breakfast networking event for communications professionals, brand managers, product manager and PRs.
UK / NY Digital Start-Up Mixer
Time: 17:00 - 20:00
Venue: Hive at 55, 55 Broad Street, 13F, New York (map)
RSVP: Book Now
Hive at 55 and UKTI are co-hosting a mixer bringing together the best of the New York and the British digital start up community, a great opportunity for like minded tech/ media start ups to get together to swap stories and experiences from opposite sides of the pond. Introduced by Bob Schukai, Global Head of Mobile Technology at Thomson Reuters.
Digital Mission at Ad:tech NYC
Time: Mon, 1st Nov 10:00 - 18:00 (Exhibit Hall)
Time: Tue, 2nd Nov 10:00 - 16:00 (Exhibit Hall)
Venue: Stand #1858, Javits Convention Center (map)
Swing by the Digital Mission stand (#1858) to pick up brochures featuring all of the companies attending the mission. Conveniently located next to the exhibitor's lounge and the Beer Garden, it's an ideal meeting place. Look out for the big Union Jack with the New York taxi bursting through. It should be hard to miss!
If you're looking to meet a company and they're not around, we'll be operating a concierge service and will drop them a line with your details.
If you're not in town, feel free to experience the mission through us vicariously on Twitter (@digitalmission), Flickr group and we'll endeavour to blog as much as connectivity allows.
The next Digital Mission will be announced shortly, so keep your eyes peeled for news. A great way to hear about missions and other overseas and local opportunities is through the free Digital Mission newsletter (subscribe here).
Digital Mission to New York 2010: Announcing The Companies
19 of the UK’s top digital companies have been selected in a fiercely competitive process to join the third Digital Mission to New York from 1st-5th November 2010, forging new business and showcasing British digital talent.
Organised by Chinwag and UK Trade & Investment (UKTI),
the Digital Mission to New York provides the ideal platform for the companies
attending to make business connections, build international profile, understand
the US market and discover the practicalities of setting up shop in the US.
The Digital Mission companies are:
- Adversion
- Amaze plc
- BrightLemon Ltd
- Casual Films
- Cube
- Eresponse Media
- HuzuTech
- Lingo24 Ltd
- Livestation
- Nuji
- Plancentric
- Realeyes Data Services Ltd
- Red Glasses
- ShoutEm UK
- Thrive Digital
- ustwo
- Videojuicer
- Waspit Ltd
- We Are Social
A full list of companies with descriptions and contact details is available on the Digital Mission website: http://digital-mission.org/nyc10-companies
The companies selected represent the top digital talent from across the UK's vibrant digital industry. The companies range from leading digital agencies, payment providers, mobile technologies and applications, video services through to eye tracking specialists and experts in advertising and media networks.
Events during the trip include a Masterclass session, “Doing Business in the US”, with expert advice from UKTI, key industry figures and legal experts, Winston & Strawn, a finance round-table, an exclusive evening reception held at the British Consulate amongst other events. Delegates will also attend ad:tech NYC, the city’s largest marketing conference where the companies will be represented with the Digital Mission stand.
During the week’s activities the 19 Digital Mission companies will have the chance to hear from established industry heavyweights including: American Express, Citibank, Deloitte, Mashable, New York Mayor's Office, Ogilvy, PepsiCo, Thomson Reuters and Turner Broadcasting to name but a few.
Chinwag CEO Sam Michel said, "This third Digital Mission to New York builds on the momentum of the previous trips with an incredibly strong group of UK firms representing the breadth of the country’s digital industry. This packed week provides a unique opportunity for the companies to rapidly accelerate their expansion into the US market.”
If you are visiting New York during 1st-5th November, why not join us at stand #1858 at ad:tech NYC, or come along to one of the networking events that the Digital Mission companies will be attending:
The full press release is available for download in Word and PDF formats. For any queries, please feel free to sam
chinwag [dot] com (drop us an email) or call +44 (0)20 7183 2923.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| DM NYC 2010 Companies Announced Press Release (Word) | 95.5 KB |
| DM NYC 2010 Companies Announced Press Release (PDF) | 102.66 KB |
Travelling to the USA? You Need ESTA
In under a week some of the UK's leading digital firms will be making the trip to the Big Apple for the third Digital Mission to New York.
The week takes in a heap of activities designed to bring companies up-to-speed on the US market, make heaps of introductions and take in the full intensity of the ad:tech NYC Expo.
For those taking part in the Digital Mission, and anyone travelling to the US from the UK, the forms for immigration have changed in the last couple of months and it's now obligatory to complete the snappily titled Electronic System for Travel Authorization for (or thankfully, ESTA form).
You will not be allowed into the USA without having completed one. ESTA is designed to determine your eligibility to enter the USA before you travel. The US Customs & Border Protection website explains that:
"ESTA is an automated system that determines the eligibility of visitors to travel to the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program. The ESTA application collects the same information collected on Form I-94W"
Further information and FAQs can be found here: http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/id_visa/esta/
5 Important Points (thanks to Martin Lewis):
- You must complete the ESTA - everyone going to the states by air or sea needs to fill one out, there are no excuses. If you don't, you may be sent straight back home.
- ESTA does not guarantee you entry, it just establishes that you're 'eligible to travel'. However, there are very few stories of people being denied if you've filled out the form correctly.
- You can only fill it out online. Once you've done it, make sure you keep a note of your reference number somewhere safe.
- All accepted applications cost $14 ($4 if rejected). This isn't a visa charge for entry, it's a charge for getting permission to attempt to enter the country. The system only accepts Mastercard, Visa and American Express. It's worth noting that you may be charged a foreign exchange 'load' fee on top by your bank.
- Watch out for fake ESTA sites. Only use official sites.
We would recommend that, if you haven't already, you apply for your ESTA as soon as possible, and you can do that here: https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/esta.html
Here are some useful links:
Digital Mission to New York (ad:tech) - Deadline Extended to Fri 8th Oct
Thinking about expanding your business to the Big Apple? There's been heaps of interest in this year's Digital Mission to New York (1-5 Nov) so we've extended the deadline until Friday 8th Oct.
This trip, the third to New York is timed to coincide with ad:tech New York, the biggest gathering of digital media and marketing types in the city, with 10,000 visitors expected and 290+ exhibitors confirmed. The Digital Mission companies will have access to the UKTI stand, plus Exhibit Hall passes included in the trip.
The packed programme, massively supported by UK Trade & Investment, programme for the trip builds on the Digital Mission's momentum and relationships with New York-based entrepreneurs, agencies and digital practitioners to create a cracking line up of activities.
This includes the "Doing Business in the USA" Masterclass featuring speakers from the Mayor's Office, Mashable, Hearst, American Express and that's just for starters. This is a great opportunity to maximise a week's worth of activity with many opportunities to network and get a thorough understanding of the opportunities and challenges in the New York market.
There's even plans for a networking reception on-board a Royal Navy warship!
What next? Check out the details of the Digital Mission to New York, check out the planned activities, peruse the ad:tech NYC website and most importantly, fill out the application form.
It only takes about 20 minutes and gives the teams in London and New York enough information to help tailor the activities and companies invited, to make sure you get the most out of the trip.
Photo (cc) adrian8_8.
The Difference Engine 2011: Startups, Cash, Mentors. Deadline Monday
The Difference Engine, a mentoring programme for digital businesses based in the North East of England, has opened its doors for applications. In fact, if you're interested, you'll need to hurry as applications close on Monday.
Do startups actually get to have weekends off? That's for another post! Companies that get through will receive an intensive thirteen week programme with high-profile mentors from both side of the Atlantic proffering their wisdom. Each team gets £5,000 plus £3,200 per founder to keep the wolves from the door during this period.
It sounds like a great opportunity and having spoken to some of the companies involved being tucked away from the distractions of a lively networking scene and working closely with the other teams in the programme builds momentum for the startups.
...four of the nine teams have already raised investment funds and I have quietly confident that will be increase to five between now and the end of the year. One of the teams is currently considering an offer of £1m and one has relocated to Silicon Valley having received angel investment.
And if you want a little more insight into what you might be letting yourself in for, there's a video from The Difference Engine: Spring 2010...
Applications are via The Difference Engine website. The deadline is Mon 3rd October 2010.
Photo (cc) Bart73.
