UK DIT, Sw7 to hold international expansion event for startups

The UK’s Department for International Trade (DIT) and tech innovation accelerator Sw7 will host two UK ‘Deal Makers’ to share their experience with local entrepreneurs. The programme will take place from 14 to 18 of November in Johannesburg and Cape Town.

The event is designed to help sustainable, early-stage companies and entrepreneurs who wish to expand internationally.

Stephen Mooney (CEO of Synoptic Technologies) and Anthony Sheehan (founder and CEO of Near You Now) are part of UK’s Global Entrepreneur Programme, which is a project run by the country’s government.

“The UK is a massive technology market, in excess of ten times the size of our [South Africa] market, and many times higher than that in many digital sectors,” says co-founder of Sw7, Keith Jones in a press release to Ventureburn.

The event aims to offer advice and tips for local entrepreneurs hoping to make it big overseas

“The marginal time zone difference, common language and relatively easy access to market and funding make this an obvious target market for businesses looking to expand internationally.”

“Brexit has significantly increased the appetite for international trade partners. It is a good time to be looking internationally,” he continues.

In addition to the event, a ‘Business Expansion’ master class will be held by Mooney and Sheehan at GIBS.

“Our ‘dealmakers’ are coming to South Africa to advise and mentor entrepreneurs who are already successful here in South Africa and are now looking to expand their business overseas,” says the UK Government’s trade director for SA, Emma Wade-Smith.

“We hope that the support and information that the UK dealmakers have to offer will help South African entrepreneurs make the decision to join thousands of others from around the world in choosing the UK as the location from which to set up their global venture,” concludes Wade-Smith.

For more information and registration for the event, visit the Sw7 website.