The Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) and an American multinational technology corporation announced a partnership to help local partners that offer software-as-a-service (SaaS) solutions accelerate their international growth.
The Go Global programme will commence in September 2022 and will focus on an exclusive cohort of Australian software businesses from the tech firm’s Australia SaaS partner network, helping them to find success in the United States market.
The programme will be provided at no cost to participants and support their expansion in the following ways:
- Pre-departure services to prepare programme participants for entry into the US market. These include business mentoring, trade and export workshops, and technology-intensive workshops to remove technical roadblocks for projects.
- In-market support to be delivered through Austrade’s Landing Pads, commencing in San Francisco. Programme participants will have access to a coworking space and office facilities for 90 days, as well as one-on-one assistance from a dedicated Landing Pad manager and entrepreneurs in residence. Participants will also join boot camps on sales and marketing and fundraising in the US.
The Chief Partner Officer at the tech giant’s Australia and New Zealand arm noted that the programme comes at a time when the company’s 9,000 Australian partners are looking for new ways to expand their operations and attract more customers. The firm is thrilled to invest in and support its SaaS partners with high growth potential alongside Austrade, she said.
The Go Global programme will help them bring products and services to the world, build their business and scale geographically in a fiercely competitive marketplace. She added that the economic and trading relationship between Australia and the US is recognised as one of the closest, broadest and mutually compatible relationships in the world. The two nations share similar economic and regulatory settings and know their partners have a desire to enter the US market.
The Chief Executive Officer of Austrade stated that Austrade is excited to collaborate with the tech giant to connect some of the most promising Australian SaaS scaleups into the US market and ensure they are fully equipped to succeed on the global stage.
Landing Pads provide market-ready Australian technology businesses with access to some of the world’s most renowned innovation hubs including San Francisco, New York, Tel Aviv, Shanghai, London and Singapore, he added.
Following the completion of the programme in September, the tech company and Austrade intend to expand the programme to other international markets, leveraging Austrade’s established international Landing Pad network.
About Austrade’s Landing Pads
Landing Pads are part of Austrade’s global service offer for Australian scaleups. The programme provides market-ready scaleups with an operational base and customised support for their overseas expansion goals. Scaleups participate in an immersive programme in one of Austrade’s five Landing Pad cities: Singapore, San Francisco, Tel Aviv, Berlin and Shanghai.
Landing Pads provide:
- a dedicated Landing Pad manager
- a co-working space
- access to in-market Entrepreneurs in Residence
- connections to local founder communities
- introductions to Austrade customer networks, partners and contacts
Landing Pad participants can tap into Austrade’s business and investor networks to meet potential customers (including multinationals), investors and strategic partners. An Austrade Landing Pad Manager will provide clients with one-on-one business development assistance, including:
- Guidance on identifying and targeting customers
- Advice on how to access angel investors, venture capital and other potential sources of investment
- Introductions to local government agencies offering support programmes for new businesses and startups
- Advice on how to leverage networks in the market to meet with peers, decision makers and influencers
- Referrals to professional services and advisory firms
- Advice on how to negotiate the local business culture.
