Digital Mission Blog

It’s almost time for us to head off to the bright lights of New York City, but before we do, there’s just time to let you know who’s coming and what we’ll be doing.  

This year, we have a very impressive list of start-ups and agencies joining us

• Coull is a technology company that's reinventing the way online video advertising works. 
• Easyfundraising has been at the forefront of developing technology platforms that harness the power of customer loyalty to generate donations for good causes across the globe.
  
• Ensygnia have a patented Onescan app and platform creates a trusted environment for users to share a verified identity as well as personal and financial details.
• FutureHealthcare NI has developed an Innovative Web Application to improve Access and Co-ordination of Care to save Hospitals Time and Money and Improve Patient Safety and Patient Experience.
• Here and Now 365 is UK's premier multicultural marketing agency, bringing our clients products and campaigns to their target audience in a creative and influential manner. 
• Hiyalife is a place to collect, contribute and share the stories of your life, together with the people and brands that you love.
• Livepetitions gives everyone the chance to edit petitions and to collect signatures for national, international and local petitions.
• Nerv is a specialist creative agency that helps clients understand, adapt to and compete in the digital and mobile economy.
• Pitch’d is a web platform that makes it easy to run eye-popping social photo & video challenges. 
• Regroup Media is a London-based digital marketing agency committed to helping our clients define and action strategy for growth in the digital domain.  
• Screenburn is a Facebook Video on Demand platform enabling the sale of film, TV and other video content from a Facebook page to aid in finding new fans and increasing distribution of video content. 
• Southerly is a creative content agency that designs content marketing and social media strategies that increase your customer loyalty, promote your brand and, ultimately increase your sales. 
• State is a global opinion network; a platform that allows anyone, anywhere, to State an opinion quickly about any topic, see where they stand, and make new discoveries based on their opinion network.
• ThankSocial manages the social media accounts of both B2B and B2C businesses. Businesses choose ThankSocial because they don’t have the expertise or budget to employ a dedicated specialist in social media.
• Three Sparks Global provides a SaaS platform that helps companies persuade top talent to join their organizations by re-engineering online recruitment with a mobile first approach. 

Tonight (12/02/14) kicks off proceedings with the pre mission briefing, hosted by our partners Fried Frank. A meeting of missionaries, their chance to practice their pitch and an agenda run through before we jet off. 

Monday 17th Feb  

And it’s off to the Big Apple we go! The whole of Monday is ours, to explore, buy our I heart NY t-shirts or just sleep off our jetlag…until 6pm that is. In the evening we have some informal drinks to welcome everyone to the Big Apple, before heading over to the SMW Opening Party hosted by Crowdcentric, an excellent opportunity for our missionaries to mingle with some influential characters in the NY digital scene. 

Tuesday 18th Feb 

Tuesday morning is free for companies to immerse themselves in any Social Media Week events they wish before the company visits in the afternoon. 

Our first visit is to Digital Dumbo a company dedicated to connecting those influencers and businesses that are changing the world through technology. 

Later on Tuesday we have a visit to Huge, a digital agency that provides business strategy, design, marketing and technology services to businesses and brands.

Wednesday 19th Feb 

Wednesday morning will be another free morning for any SMW events our missionaries (and us) wish to attend. After which, we’ll be attending the Tackling Business Development in USA: Roundtable with Atlantic Leap session. This session will focus on business development in the USA with speakers from Atlantic Leap and Massive Interactive Inc.

The afternoon will consist of a tour of The Fueled Collective, a working space for NYC’s hottest startups with a shared love of plush leather couches, impeccably designed conference rooms and ping pong tournaments. We won’t even mention the free snack bar.

We’ll then be visiting Four Square at their offices, a free app that allows you to share and save the places you visit and recommendations of where to visit. During the visit to the space the mission group will hear from some of the members of Foursquare who will be able to speak of the challenges and opportunities of having a company running from various cities as well as a Q & A session and tour of the office. 

Thursday 20th Feb 

A compulsory session hosted by UKTI on 'Doing Business in the USA’, which will look at recruitment, tax, legal and the rest of the information our missionaries will need for taking their business overseas. As well as this there’ll be the opportunity to hear from UK companies who have already taken the plunge and successfully expanded their business to the US.  

This will lead onto the evening UKTI NY Networking Reception held at the British Consulate. A networking event for all the Digital Mission delegates and a chance for companies to showcase their expertise as well as giving them the chance to make essential connections in an industry and market that thrives on networking and referrals.

Friday 21st February

An informal investment roundtable session focusing on the US investment scene, will be held on Friday morning with speakers Michael Goodman and Ken Harrell from Pharus as well as Frank Kelcz from UKTI. 

After this, 500 startups, a company that provides early stage companies with funding, mentors and accelerator programs to help them find success, will be opening up their offices to give us a tour. 

We’ll then be heading to Bloomberg NYC where delegates will be given the opportunity to hear from members of the Bloomberg NYC team as well as take a tour of the spaces.

Later is the BBDO company visit. BBDO is the world's most awarded advertising agency and delegates will be given the opportunity to take a look round and hear from members of the BBDO NYC team.

And finally, is the SMW Official Closing Party which all delegates have access to, to network further and of course enjoy some well deserved drinks before we bid farewell to the Big Apple and head homeward bound.  

Photo (cc) Mirko Eggert.