Resources
Question the Questions Resources
First Ask
- Should you expand abroad?
- 15: Hello Fresh link: https://www.hellofresh.com
- Should you enter the US?
- Is the timing right?
- 18: Y-Plan Link: https://checkout.timeout.com
- What milestones and timelines must you meet?
- 19:
- Graze Link: https://www.graze.com/us
- Acast Link: https://www.acast.com
- 19:
- What are the industry dynamics in the US?
- 22:
- Hailo Full Story: http://fortune.com/2014/10/14/hailo-taxi-app-funding-failure/
- Vium Link: https://www.vium.com
- 22:
- Who is your competition?
- 23:
- New York Public Library Research:https://www.nypl.org/research
- Boston Public Library Business: https://www.bpl.org/resources/business/
- 23:
- How do you know you have product-market fit?
- 24: Conversocial Link: https://www.conversocial.com
- 25:Startup Genome Link: https://startupgenome.com
- Hello Fresh Link: https://www.hellofresh.com
- 26: Spotify is the Coolest Music Service You Can’t Use: https://www.wired.com/2010/12/mf-spotify/
- 27: The Missing “Magic Metric” for Customer Success Blog Post: https://medium.com/octopus-ventures/the-missing-magic-metric-for-customer-success-62d58defb13b
- What is your US ideal customer profile?
- 29: Hello Fresh Link: https://www.hellofresh.com
- 31:
- Blueprint for Sales Growth Blog Post: https://medium.com/octopus-ventures/blueprint-for-sales-growth-understand-your-ideal-customer-2a3b704498da
- Expanding your B2C Business into the US Blog Post: https://medium.com/octopus-ventures/expand-your-b2c-business-into-the-us-by-dividing-and-conquering-1c40bf9355d3
- How Do I Get the Biggest Bang for my New Investment Buck Blog Post: https://medium.com/octopus-ventures/how-do-i-get-the-biggest-bang-for-my-new-investment-buck-98f290971f3f
- Choosing the Right Customer Article: https://hbr.org/2014/03/choosing-the-right-customer
- Qubit Link: https://www.qubit.com
- What is your regulatory burden in the US?
- 32:
- Legal Challenges After Expansion Article: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/part-4-top-10-challenges-tech-companies-after-us-expansion-glazer/
- Applying for Licenses and Permits Article: https://www.sba.gov/business-guide/launch-your-business/apply-licenses-and-permits
- General Data Protection Regulation Blog Post: https://medium.com/octopus-ventures/general-data-protection-regulation-what-we-and-our-portfolio-tackled-first-8b8c7be76e71
- Cheryl Young Contact Info: https://www.secadvisors.com/consulting-staff/cheryl-young/
- Ingrid Brydolf Contact Info: https://www.dwt.com/practices/healthcareregulationcompliance/?op=professionals
- Ashford Tucker Contact Info: http://fzlz.com/ourlawyers/ashford-tucker
- Heidi Lawson & Greg Hoffnagle Contact Info: https://www.cooley.com/people/
- 32:
- What legal considerations are key?
- 33:
- Daniel Glazer Contact Info: https://www.wsgr.com/WSGR/DBIndex.aspx?SectionName=attorneys/BIOS/15187.htm
- Victor Boyajian Contact Info: https://www.dentons.com/en/victor-boyajian
- Ed Zimmerman Contact Info: https://www.lowenstein.com/people/attorneys/ed-zimmerman
- Ted Rosen Contact Info: https://www.akerman.com/en/people/ted-rosen.html
- Isomer Capital Link: http://www.isomercapital.com
- 33:
- Which visa do you need?
- 35:
- Coming to America: A Primer on Visas for Foreign Entrepreneurs Blog Post: https://medium.com/octopus-ventures/coming-to-america-5cf461a2cdb8
- Employment Visas: Changes and What to Expect Article: https://www.law360.com/articles/998736/employment-visas-2017-changes-and-what-to-expect-ahead
- Paul Samartin Contact Info: https://www.ganguinsamartin.com/the-team/paul-samartin/
- Daniella McGuigan Contact Info: https://www.ogletreedeakins.co.uk/people/daniella-mcguigan
- Gloria Lin Contact Info: http://www.immigrationlawgroup.net
- Dana DiRaimondo Contact Info: http://www.diraimondoschroeder.com
- Onfido Link: https://onfido.com/gb/
- 35:
- What is your budget?
Then Test
- How much do you like flying?
- 41: MIdaxo Link: https://www.midaxo.com/
- Have you built a local network?
- 42: Elvie Link: https://www.elvie.com/
- 42: Federal Programs and Incentives: https://www.selectusa.gov/federal_incentives
- 42: Business Incentives by State and Territory: https://www.selectusa.gov/stateincentives
- 42: Stare Business Incentives Database: http://selectusa.stateincentives.org/?referrer=selectusa
- 42: Vanmoof Link: https://www.vanmoof.com/en_gb/
- 43: Secret Escapes Link: https://www.secretescapes.com/
- Can the industry name your brand?
- 44: GRMA Link: https://www.thegrma.com/
- 44: Yext Link: https://www.yext.co.uk/
- 44: Jars by dani Link: https://www.jarsbydani.com/
- 45:
- SV AgTech Conference: svagtech.org/wp/
- The Blockchain Conference: theblockchainconference.com/
- Consensys:coindesk.com/events/consensus-2018/
- Dockercon:https://2018.dockercon.com/
- Google Cloud Next:https://cloud.withgoogle.com/next18/sf/
- KuleCon/ CloudnativeCon: https://events.linuxfoundation.org/events/kubecon-cloudnativecon-north-america-2018/
- Microsoft Build: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/build
- Reinvent:https://reinvent.awsevents.com/
- QCon:https://qconnewyork.com
- Consumer Electronics Show (CES): https://www.ces.tech/
- Grocery Shop: http://groceryshop.com/
- Internet Retailer Conference Exhibition (IRCE): https://www.irce.com/
- eTail:https://etaileast.wbresearch.com/
- org:https://shop.org/
- ShopTalk:https://shoptalk.com/
- ISTE:https://conference.iste.org/2018/
- NY EdTech Week: https://www.nyedtechweek.com/
- SXSW Edu: https://www.sxswedu.com/
- LearnLaunch:http://learnlaunch.com/
- GSV:https://www.asugsvsummit.com/
- 46:
- WEEC:http://www.energycongress.com/
- EIA Energy Conference: https://www.eia.gov/conference/2017/
- Money 20/20: https://www.money2020.com/
- Finovate:http://finovate.com/
- Future of Money: http://www.futureofmoney.com/
- Empire Startups Fintech Conference: https://www.empirefintechconference.com/pages/ny2019
- Future Food Tech NYC: http://futurefoodtechnyc.com/
- Game Developers Conference: http://www.gdconf.com/
- E3:https://www.e3expo.com/
- PAX:http://www.paxsite.com/
- Digital Health Summit: https://digitalhealthsummit.com/
- HLTH:https://hlth.co/
- HIMSS:http://www.himssconference.org/
- Rock Health Summit: http://www.rockhealthsummit.com/
- JP Morgan Healthcare Summit: https://www.jpmorgan.com/global/healthcareconference
- The Hotel Experience: https://www.thehotelexperience.com/HX2017/Public/Enter.aspx
- InsureTech Connect: http://insuretechconnect.com/
- DigIn:https://www.dig-in.com/conference/digitalinsurance-2018
- 47:
- QCon San Francisco: https://qconsf.com/
- New York Media Festival: https://mefest.com/
- National Association of Realtors Conference: https://www.nar.realtor/convention.nsf/
- TC Sessions: Robotics: https://techcrunch.com/events/tc-sessions-robotics-2018/
- SaaStr Annual: https://www.saastrannual.com/
- Telecom Exchange NYC: https://thetelecomexchange.com/nyc/
- Content Delivery Summit: http://www.contentdeliverysummit.com/2018/
- Travel & Adventure Show: https://travelshows.com/
- Can you sell like an American?
- 49:
- Oracle Marketing Cloud Link: https://www.oracle.com/marketingcloud/products/testing-and-optimization/index.html
- MIdaxo Link: https://www.midaxo.com/
- How will you price your products?
- 50: Y-Plan Link: https://yplanapp.com
- 49:
Then Do
- Who is leading your team?
- 53:
- Irrational “Inevitability” & Other Confessions of Ventures Who Launched in the US: https://medium.com/octopus-ventures/confessions-of-venture-backed-european-ceos-who-launched-in-the-us-74b4a5df1e33
- SwiftKey Link: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/swiftkey?activetab=pivot_1:primaryr2
- Iovox Link: https://enterprise.iovox.com/
- Stripe Link: https://stripe.com/gb
- 54:
- Oracle Marketing Cloud Link: https://www.oracle.com/marketingcloud/products/testing-and-optimization/index.html
- Vanmoof Link: https://www.vanmoof.com/en_gb/
- 55:
- Hello Fresh Link: https://www.hellofresh.com
- Prodigy Finance Link: https://prodigyfinance.com/
- 53:
- Who is on your US advisory board?
- 56: Yext Link: https://www.yext.com/
- 57: UltraSoc Link: https://www.ultrasoc.com/
- 59: How Advisory Boards Power Up your Venture: https://medium.com/octopus-ventures/how-advisory-boards-can-power-up-your-venture-8febd37fc6dd
- How do you set up in the US?
- How do you establish a US corporate entity?
- 61:
- How to Calculate Franchise Taxes: https://corp.delaware.gov/frtaxcalc.shtml
- BizFilings:https://www.bizfilings.com/starting-your-business/more-services/registered-agent
- NRAI:https://www.nrai.com
- Antidote Link: https://www.antidote.me/
- 62:
- Establishing the Right Corporate Entity in the US: https://medium.com/octopus-ventures/the-ins-and-outs-of-establishing-the-right-corporate-entity-for-your-us-venture-6d4b880408bf
- Putting the Right Insurance in Place for the US: https://medium.com/octopus-ventures/putting-the-right-insurance-in-place-for-moving-to-the-us-5a1ea84610a5
- The Differences Between an LLC and a Corporation: https://www.entrepreneur.com/slideshow/299832
- How to Incorporate in the US from Outside the US Geographies: https://blog.freshdesk.com/how-to-incorporate-a-us-corporation-from-outs/
- Daniel Glazer: https://www.wsgr.com/WSGR/Default.aspx
- Victor Boyajian: https://www.dentons.com/en/victor-boyajian
- Ed Zimmerman: https://www.lowenstein.com/people/attorneys/ed-zimmerman
- Ted Rosen: https://www.akerman.com/en/people/ted-rosen.html
- 61:
- What is the right banking solution for you?
- 63: Graze Link: https://www.graze.com/us
- 65: Stripe Link: https://stripe.com/gb
- How do you choose the right business insurance?
- 68:
- IMG Global Insurance: http://www.imglobal.com/en/img-insurance/travel-medical-insurance/patriot-travel-medical-insurance.aspx
- Elaine Lamb: https://www.laplayainsurance.com/who-we-are/media-digital/about-la-playa/our-people.htm
- Ralph Torrez: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ralph-torrez-29420131/
- Melissa Gato: https://www.shoffdarby.com/
- 68:
- How do you establish a US corporate entity?
- How do you protect your IP?
- 69:
- US Patent and Trademark Office: https://www.uspto.gov/
- Octopus Ventures IP Blog Post: https://medium.com/octopus-ventures/get-your-intellectual-property-story-right-managing-ip-risks-for-success-75246c920656
- 71:
- Jon Calvert: http://www.clearviewip.com/team/jon-calvert/
- David L. Cohen: http://kidonip.com/kidon-ip/
- Melissa Gato: https://www.shoffdarby.com/
- Chris Turnstall: https://www.carpmaels.com/people/chris-tunstall/
- Clare Cornell: https://www.finnegan.com/en/professionals/clare-a-cornell.html
- Ian Armstrong: http://www.hgf.com/about-us/our-people/iain-armstrong/
- Peter Langley: http://www.origin.co.uk/team/peter-langley/
- A Summary of the US Policies by the World Intellectual Property Organisation: http://www.wipo.int/directory/en/details.jsp?country_code=US
- Global Patent Filing Trends: https://www.statista.com/statistics/256845/ranking-of-the-10-countries-who-filed-the-most-international-patent-applications/
- Good Explanation of Trade Secrets from the USPTO: https://www.uspto.gov/patents-getting-started/international-protection/trade-secret-policy
- Global Comparison of Trade Secrets Protections: https://media2.mofo.com/documents/140630employmentlawcommentary.pdf
- Interesting Article on the Small Texan Town of Marshall, One of the Most Active Courts in IP Globally: http://www.texasmonthly.com/politics/patently-unfair
- Get Your Intellectual Property Story Right: Managing IP Risks for Success: https://medium.com/octopus-ventures/get-your-intellectual-property-story-right-managing-ip-risks-for-success-75246c920656
- 69:
- Where will your office be?
- General
- 72:
- Setting Up Operations: https://octventprod.wpengine.com/insights/
- Hiring Talent: https://octventprod.wpengine.com/insights/
- Business Reporting: https://octventprod.wpengine.com/insights/
- Americans Regulate on a Federal, State, County and, In Many Instances, City Level: https://octventprod.wpengine.com/insights/
- Secret Escapes Link: https://www.secretescapes.com/
- 72:
- Do you need capital?
- Which other US metro areas are worth exploring
- 84:
- Information on the Texas Cities: https://austinstartups.com/the-texas-startup-manifesto-42f06f2a7075?gi=38a1d15773d
- Information on New Orleans: http://neworleanstech.com/
- 85:
- Tech Association of Oregon’s Techlandia Overview: http://www.techoregon.org/what-we-do/techlandia
- Greater Portland: https://gpedc.clients.eyefall.com/wpdraft/
- 86:
- Pittsburgh – More Here: http://www.pghtech.org/2017-18-pittsburgh-techmap.aspx
- More Information on Notable Startups: https://www.phillytechguide.com/
- 87:
- Docent Health Link: docenthealth.com
- 84:
- General
- Which taxes are you liable for?
- 92:
- Eric Collins: https://www.frankhirth.com/staff/eric-collins
- Bradley Smallberg: http://www.schllp.com/bradley-smallberg
- Don Dismuke: https://www.dhgllp.com/People/userid/41
- Michael Hamilton: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-hamilton-3380485
- Alexander Wang: http://www.markspaneth.com/people/name/name/alexander-x-wang
- Matthew Foreman: https://www.foremantaxlaw.com/
- Understanding US Corporate and Federal Tax: https://medium.com/octopus-ventures/understanding-us-taxes-corporation-tax-and-federal-taxes-5d1117dab17b
- Understanding US Sales, Franchise and Property Tax: https://medium.com/octopus-ventures/understanding-us-business-taxes-sales-tax-franchise-tax-and-property-tax-871ad519ad3d
- Sales Tax Agencies in Each State: https://medium.com/octopus-ventures/understanding-us-business-taxes-sales-tax-franchise-tax-and-property-tax-871ad519ad3d
- Products Subject to Sales Tax: https://www.thebalancesmb.com/what-products-and-services-are-subject-to-sales-tax-398764
- Corporation Tax by State: https://taxfoundation.org/state-corporate-income-tax-rates-brackets-2017/
- Payroll Tax by State: https://www.adp.com/tools-and-resources/compliance-connection/state-taxes/2017-fast-wage-and-tax-facts.aspx
- Oracle Marketing Cloud Link: https://www.oracle.com/marketingcloud/products/testing-and-optimization/index.html
- 92:
- How do you build a high performing team?
- 92:
- Bexouce International Link: http://www.bexouce.com/
- 95:
- Semmle Link: https://semmle.com/
- Ivy Scale Link: https://www.ivyscale.com
- 96:
- Prodigy Finance Link: https://prodigyfinance.com/
- 98:
- Executive Search
- Diane McIntyre: http://www.calibreone.com/team-member/diane-mcintyre/
- Rick Bank: https://truesearch.com/team-member/rick-bank/
- Jamie Sanger: https://www.daversapartners.com/team_member/jamie-sanger/
- Simon Bronwell: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonbromwell/
- Mark Lonergan: http://lonerganpartners.com/meet-our-partners/mark-lonergan
- Joe Griesedieck: https://www.kornferry.com/consultants/joegriesedieck
- Non-Exec
- Ben Christian: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benchristiansf/
- Spencer Tashima: https://www.esiweb.com/team.html
- Julia Horuchi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliahoriuchi/
- Engineering
- Tony Zammikiel: https://equitysearchpartners.com/team/tony-zammikiel/
- Chris Johnson: https://www.artisanaltalent.com/team-1/
- Dirk Cleveland: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dirkcleveland/
- Sales
- Cathy Cairns: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathy-cairns-42a1924/
- Katie Pouch: http://www.rjrpartners.com/our-team/
- Bill McHargue: https://www.talent-house.co/team
- Jennifer Carlo: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifercarlo
- Human Resources
- Cathy Cairns: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathy-cairns-42a1924/
- Katie Pouch: http://www.rjrpartners.com/our-team/
- Bill McHargue: https://www.talent-house.co/team
- Healthcare
- Robin Toft: https://thetoftgroup.com/about-us/robin-toft/
- Mia Jung: https://www.oxeonpartners.com/team/mia-jung/
- Sean Walker: https://www.bowdoingroup.com/about/leadership/
- Greg Button: https://www.kornferry.com/consultants/gregbutton
- Enterprise
- Joel May: http://www.bridgegate.com/about/team-joel-may
- Douglas Madden: https://fortrasearch.com/people/douglas-madden/
- Sean Lucq: http://spmb.com/team/sean-lucq/
- Executive Search
- 100:
- Hello Fresh Link: https://www.hellofresh.com
- 101:
- Prodigy Finance Link: https://prodigyfinance.com/
- How do you hire for a remote role?
- 102:
- Bexouce International Link: http://www.bexouce.com/
- 102:
- What is your remuneration strategy?
- 104:
- Buffer Link: https://open.buffer.com/transparent-salaries/
- 105:
- Stuart Bagshaw: http://www.bableap.com/leap-packages/the-team/
- Greg Capitolo: https://www.attivopartners.com/about/
- David Ehrenburg: https://earlygrowthfinancialservices.com/accounting-services/
- Free cost of living data from Numbeo: https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/
- IRS requirement for new employees: https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/hiring-employees
- Tax withholding regulations shown state by state: https://www.bizfilings.com/toolkit/research-topics/managing-your-taxes/payroll-taxes/income-tax-withholding-payroll-tax-obligations-by-state
- 104:
- How do you determine stock options for your US employees?
- 106:
- Midaxo Link: https://www.midaxo.com/
- 108:
- Incentive Stock Options: https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tips/investments-and-taxes/incentive-stock-options/L4azWgfwy
- New Tax Law: Here’s What to Know: http://www.schwab.com/public/schwab/nn/articles/Taxes-Whats-New
- 109 – Where to Go Next
- Great article on ISO and tax from the Y Combinator forum: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9253497
- Very simple infographic on 409a valuations: https://www.quora.com/What-is-a-409A-valuation
- How Pinterest enabled employees to options earned up to 7 years after leaving: http://fortune.com/2015/03/23/pinterest-employee-taxes/
- Some great principles from Andy Rachleff on the Wealthfront equity plan: http://firstround.com/review/The-Right-Way-to-Grant-Equity-to-Your-Employees/
- Difference between ISO and NSO: https://www.quora.com/What-is-a-409A-valuation
- Fred Wilson blog on strike price: https://www.quora.com/What-is-a-409A-valuation
- The Wealthfront Equity plan presentation: https://www.quora.com/What-is-a-409A-valuation
- Guidance on equity to give advisors and template engagement documents: https://www.quora.com/What-is-a-409A-valuation
- 109 – Specialists in the Field
- Eric Collins:https://www.frankhirth.com/staff/eric-collins
- Don Dismuke:https://www.dhg.com/People/userid/41
- Greg Capitolo:https://www.attivopartners.com/about/
- Tony Hindley:http://www.valuationsolutions.co.uk/meet-the-team/
- Alexander Ardente: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexander-ardente-97656522/
- 106:
- What benefits do you offer your team?
- How are you managing your culture?
- 119:
- Big Health Link: bighealth.com
- Apto Link: https://www.apto.com/
- 121:
- Global teams that work: https://hbr.org/2015/10/global-teams-that-work
- Bexouce International: http://www.bexouce.com/
- Mochi HR: http://mochihr.com
- 119:
- 92:
- How can you successfully fundraise in the US?
- Various European companies have become successful while having only a European investor base
- 122:
- IZettle:https://www.izettle.com/gb
- Prodigy Finance: https://prodigyfinance.com/
- Babylon:https://www.babylonhealth.com/
- Eve:https://www.evemattress.co.uk/?fopt=1
- Carwow:https://www.carwow.co.uk/
- LoveCrafts:https://team.lovecrafts.com/
- Boohoo:https://www.boohoo.com/
- Auto1 Group: https://www.auto1-group.com/
- Lendinvest:https://www.lendinvest.com/
- Chronext:https://www.chronext.co.uk/
- Sigfox:https://www.sigfox.com/en
- Home24:https://www.home24.com/websites/homevierundzwanzig/English/0/home24.html
- Smava:https://www.smava.de/jobs/en/mission-and-vision/
- Ebury:https://www.ebury.com/
- BIMA:https://www.bima.co.uk/
- Actility:https://www.actility.com/
- Doctolib:https://www.doctolib.fr/
- Qubit:https://www.qubit.com/
- US investors are increasingly investing in European companies
- 122:
- Various European companies have become successful while having only a European investor base
- What are important considerations in fundraising from US investors?
- The US VC perspective
- Guidance on baseline metrics
- The founders’ perspective
Wrapping Up
- “Could the Land of the Free Cost you the Earth?”
- Where to go next
- 136: European Founders USA application: https://www.europeanfoundersusa.com/
- About Octopus Ventures
- 137: Octopus Ventures Website: octopusventures.com
