Does Size Really Matter?
Sure, big capital can break into export markets, but success is not about how big your capital is, it’s how you use it. Get savvy, stay agile and leverage disruptive technologies to your advantage.
Bootstraps of Disruption
There is no better time in history to be starting out an export business on a shoestring. Businesses can access foreign sales expertise, use cutting edge financial technology, rent co-working spaces, hire freelancers in all professions, and use video link ups at low cost. Disruptive technology gives small business the leverage to swing like the big boys, without the overheads.
Turbo Charge your Business
Big corporates are finding new ways to catch the next big fish, by funding their own hatcheries. Globally, there is a $1billion start-up born every month and corporate accelerators prove that the big end of town knows the power of disruptive technologies and they want to be ahead of new trends. Also known as incubators or seed accelerators, there are 116 corporate accelerators worldwide, with monoliths like GE, Intel, Microsoft, Coca Cola and Disney nurturing standout start-ups with innovative ideas in exchange for a slice of the action.
Catalyst for Financial Growth
Financial Technology or FinTech has mobilised payment strategies for business, speeding up transactions via unprecedented connectivity and software ingenuity. In the last decade we have seen the rise of crowd funding, secure global payment networks, and cryptocurrencies. New start-ups are spoilt for choice and by grasping disruptive FinTech, they can leapfrog over competitors stuck in old business paradigms.
The Ultimate Water Cooler Conversation
Co-working space is a creative way of building strong networks in prime locations at an affordable cost. There are over seven thousand co-working space providers in major cities over the globe. They allow start-ups to set up shop in big league locations of New York, London, Hong Kong and Singapore without the risk of committing to a fixed term high cost lease. What’s more, taking advantage of these spaces gives direct access to other innovative start-ups where you can forge collaborations, increase trade and grow your network of experience.
Get Disruptive and Get Heard
✤ Communication via video uplinks, conference calls and file sharing are all at your fingertips. Be anywhere in the world with these applications.
✴ Skype
✴ Google Hangouts
✴ Jitsi
✴ VoxOx
✤ It is a brave new world of investors. Think outside the box with capital raising and promotion via crowd funding.
✴ Indiegogo
✴ Fundable
✴ Angellist
✴ Crowdcube
✴ Crowdfunder
✴ Equitynet
✴ Kickstarter (for creative projects)
✤ Hire freelancers and get the expertise you need without the HR hang-ups.
✴ Fiverr
✴ Upwork
✴ Guru
✴ Crowded99Designs (for creative design)
✴ Toptal (for software engineers and developers)
Are you Expansion-Ready – Do you want to learn from your peers?
Growing your business abroad as a SME Company is hard to achieve. It has become more challenging than ever. Benchmarking your business’ performance is one of the best ways to help overcome this challenge.
We are launching a Global SME Benchmark Study and together with our partner Seats2Meet we would like to invite you!
Joining is easy! Click on this URL to start: http://surveys.functionalscan.com/s3/sme-seats2meet?gbm=true
Your take away:
Every participant* receives an individual overview with the questions and their answers and a summary of the global benchmark report in November this year. And armed with valuable insights you can set the right priorities for your next step for expansion!
Fast, Reliable and Cost-Effective Diagnosis
2Sherpa are the experts in establishing your readiness for expansion abroad. With customised assessment tools our clients are confident in the wide world of international trade. Evaluate your organisation’s readiness to export with Ready2Expand online tools. And hit the ground running using a vendor or business partner in your target market with our Global Partner Network.
*Data protection:
As for all our services we respect the privacy of the participants. Because the survey and the study is anonymous, the respondent needs to fill in the email address if he wants to receive a report. We will not share individual data with third parties.
August 15, 2016
