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Startup catalyst London tech week mission opens

 

Expressions of Interest for UK trip invited

 

 

With London Tech Week approaching, Startup Catalyst is pleased to open applications for this year’s mission for Australian technology leaders looking to set up operations in the UK or visit one of the world’s startup hotspots.

 

The mission, which will take place between Sunday, June 11 and Saturday, June 17, will take participants to London to be part of the global celebration of tech featuring over 300 events and uniting today’s innovative thinkers with the talent of tomorrow over the week-long festival. The mission will not only part take in some of these events but will also deliver a highly curated week’s agenda for the entrepreneurs it is taking over who are looking to get into the UK market.

 

“We’re excited to launch this year’s London Tech Week mission,” said ACS Director of Innovation Labs, Pauline Fetaui. “The 2023 mission promises to be one of the biggest yet and the possibilities for the entrepreneurs coming along are deliberately designed to get them scaling into the UK”.

 

“We are gearing up Startup Catalyst to head over to the UK in June and each year our London Tech Week participants have experienced the best support, access, and connections. It’s a great catalyst for growth into the UK and EU markets.”

 

Startup Catalyst, part of the ACS Innovation Labs network, is in its ninth year of taking Australian change makers to global markets with the London Tech Week mission being the 24th since the first cohort going to Silicon Valley in 2014.

 

This year’s London Tech Week mission is enabled by the Queensland government, through the Office of the Queensland Chief Entrepreneur and Advance Queensland, which is supporting ten local entrepreneurs accompanying the mission.

 

Startup Catalyst will also host other entrepreneurs looking at moving into the market and joining the mission.  Startup Catalyst will collaborate with their network in the UK including the UK Department of International Trade, BCS (British Computer Society), London & Partners and Trade & Investment Queensland.

 

Queensland Chief Entrepreneur, Julia Spicer, said of the Queensland Government support:

 

“We know the value that is gained for startups and businesses to be able to see what is happening around the world and connect their businesses to international opportunities. 

 

“Queensland startups have a long history with London Tech Week, and we wish the delegations of founders going over in June 2023 all the best in terms of successful outcomes of the visit.”

 

Last year saw over 100 Australians attend London Tech Week with participants of the Startup Catalyst mission celebrating their successes from the event.

 

Craig Manson of thelawstore.com.au said of last year’s trip: “The mission certainly has turbo charged my drive to get to the next level of growth in the UK. Pauline and Breanna were just damn fabulous. From the planning to making everyone feel included to being real partners in helping connect to the right people.”

 

Ausbiz’s Kylie Merritt added: “whether it's the UK or any other market, a mission like this is invaluable for helping you see if (and how) your business can scale. They are logistical wizards, but more importantly understand the subject matter and the reasons we're there.”

 

Lara Paholski, Chief Executive Officer of thelawstore.com.au, who also participated in the 2022 mission, said: “The London Tech Week Mission with Startup Catalyst was a brilliant expedition that enabled me to connect with like-minded people from around the globe, learn about the opportunities in the UK and European tech sector, and within those geographical markets.

 

“It delivered so much for me personally and professionally, and I'm grateful for all the learnings and experiences I had which are already proving to be valuable in both my position company at which I work. They were genuinely great! Fun, energetic and engaging. I made life long friends from the mission.”

 

Expressions of interest to join the mission are open until 27 May and can be submitted via the Startup Catalyst registration page at https://bit.ly/3AFdQRB.


Applications for Queensland government sponsored places are available for Queensland-based entrepreneurs with an in-market product at https://bit.ly/3Lfc12s.

 

 

 

-ENDS-

 

 

 

Further information

 

Troy Steer

 

Director of Corporate Affairs and Public Policy

 

M – 0417 173 740

 

E – troy.steer@acs.org.au

 

About Startup Catalyst

 

Startup Catalyst conducts deeply-immersive missions to international startup and innovation hotspots (including Silicon Valley, Boulder, Israel, London, Berlin, & China) for university students, startup founders, female founders, investors, corporate innovators, educators, and policy makers.

 

Participants on our missions return home with a new sense of what is possible; with greater aspiration, confidence, knowledge, awareness and global connections. Since 2014 we have delivered 21 international missions with 311 participants, including 5 missions to London.

 

 

About Us

 

ACS is the professional association for Australia’s technology sector and the largest community with 47,000+ members from across business, government and education.

 

ACS champions the technologies, people and skills critical to Australia’s future, creating value for ACS members, the tech sector and society in four ways:

 

Community

 

Our focus is on fostering an innovative and inclusive community that is dedicated to powering positive change through technology.

 

Capability

 

We set the standard for assessing, developing and recognising the skills and experience of technology professionals.

 

Career

 

We create career pathways to guide technology professionals and ensure Australia has a pipeline of talent with the right skills and knowledge.

 

Migration

 

We assess and support skilled technology migrants to address critical skills shortages, improve diversity and enrich Australia’s workforce.

 

Find out more at: acs.org.au