Comments on: Hey startups, let’s go to SXSW!

By: Sam Michel

Sam Michel — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 23:21:09 +0000

@Geoffrey – sorry, the timing isn’t ideal but it’s always tricky getting everything aligned. We’re in touch with the guys at BizSpark Accelerator to see if we can get an extension on the deadline.

It’s Thanksgiving in the US this week, so we probably won’t have any news until next week.

Any additional publicity you can get during SXSW all helps to build profile whilst you’re there. The Six to Start guys got heaps of publicity with their award wins last year, so I’d encourage everyone planning on attending to enter the appropriate awards.

You’re not losing anything by entering BizSpark as Digital Mission gets passes at the same rate as offered. If you’re successful, I’m sure we can work something out to reduce the contribution towards costs.

Hope that helps.

By: Sam Michel

Sam Michel — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 23:14:29 +0000

@Daniel – the £550 includes the interactive pass to SXSW, as well as a bunch of other benefits which are listed on the Digital Mission website (http://digital-mission.org/sxsw10-apply)

In addition to the halo effect that @Alx mentions, there’s also the Masterclass and the promotional part of being on the SXSWi stand.

It’d be great if there was more support, we’re already incredibly lucky that the majority of costs covered by UK Trade & Investment, generous support and input from Winston & Strawn and help from Sun Startup Essentials.

Depeding on your region there’s also a possibility of getting additional grant support towards travel and accommodation. It’s on a case-by-case basis and companies have to apply directly, but we’ll always try and put companies into contact with the relevant trade advisers.

Hope that helps explain things, but if you need more info or want to chat through anything, do drop us a line.

By: Geoffrey McCaleb

Geoffrey McCaleb — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:10:28 +0000

Didn’t notice this when I applied, but successful companies won’t be notified until the “week of the 7th”, however MS is sponsoring the Bizspark Accelerator and their deadline is the 4th. It’s a shame the Digital Mission can’t let people know sooner as the Bizspark submission fee is not refundable.

By: Alx Klive

Alx Klive — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:59:28 +0000

Daniel, as a former Digital Mission attendee (NYC 2008) I can say that the trip offers a wealth of add-on value that could not be achieved if going independently.

I do agree that if a Company is already going, then the additional benefit and cost is debatable. I agree also that really these trips should be subsidised further. However. They cost an awful lot to organise and if you are not going already, the cost of £550 is a fair price to pay for the halo effect of being one of the attending UKTI companies, and all the benefits that brings.

If you do apply… good luck!

By: Daniel Tenner

Daniel Tenner — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:43:48 +0000

£550 plus own travel/lodging expenses (potentially for 2 people) seems fairly steep for the average early stage start-up (which seems not to be the main target of this initiative).

Companies which can afford to go there and care about it probably have already decided to go and bought themselves tickets. What do UKTI offer beyond the “Digital Mission” branding?

By: Geoffrey McCaleb

Geoffrey McCaleb — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:22:07 +0000

We’ve applied, if we make it I will personally take everyone out for BBQ on 5th street.

Erm, by everyone I do mean on the trip – otherwise I would probably bankrupt myself.

By: Sam Michel

Sam Michel — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:53:39 +0000

Yes, that’s our fault. SMEs in official EU parlance are under 250 employees. Typo on the Digital Mission website – corrected now. Sorry.

Interesting titbit, I was told that Chinese SME’s are under 2,500 staff!

By: Duncan McMillan

Duncan McMillan — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:23:40 +0000

If my comment hadn’t fallen foul of the HTML tag stripping then it would have made more sense.

An SME is *less than” 250 employees, not *greater than*.

By: Duncan McMillan

Duncan McMillan — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:21:40 +0000

Shouldn’t an SME be 250 employees?

By: Sam Michel

Sam Michel — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:10:33 +0000

Thanks Mike, love the ‘punk trade mission’ tag. That may get re-used.

We’ve just got back from the Digital Mission to NYC, and if that’s anything to go by, the impact of the second year’s trip is even bigger than the first.

If anyone has questions on the mission, application or process, do give us a shout.