Digital Mission to New York - February 2013 Activities

New York Skyline by iPhil Photos

The Digital Mission to New York (18th-22nd Feb 2013) coincides with Social Media Week New York 2013. In addition to the 150+ events taking place across the city during the week, there's a host of other activities in the works for mission companies.

Monday 18th Feb is Presidents Day and officially a bank holiday, so most mission companies are planning to fly out to NYC on Monday and heading home on Saturday, after recovering from Friday's Social Media Week closing party.

The choice is entirely yours and whilst there's a very keenly priced travel and hotel package, you're more than welcome to make your own arrangements.

Jump to each day's activities:

NB: this agenda is regularly updated - timings, dates and events may change - it' a draft but gives a good idea of what's being planned...

Monday, February 18th, 2013

Travel to New York

07:00 - 08:00 - Those travelling on the group flight to arrive at London Heathrow and check-in
10:00 - Depart from London Heathrow Airport on BA 175
12:45 - Arrive in to New York JFK Airport 
13:45 - Group transfer to the group hotel, Milford Plaza Hotel

Address:  Milford Plaza Hotel, 700 8th Avenue, New York, NY 10036 (map)

Insider Pass Pick Up

Time: 11:00 - 19:00
Venue: Global HQ (Metropolitan Pavilion, 125 W. 18th St. b/w 6th & 7th Ave)

Your Insider Pass will be available for pickup on the 2nd Floor at Ideas Connected at Global HQ (Metropolitan Pavilion, 125 W. 18th St. b/w 6th & 7th Ave anytime from 11am - 7pm on Monday 18th. 

Along with your Insider Pass, you’ll receive a special Rondo wristband for an interactive experience at Ideas Connected at Global HQ.

Informal Drinks
An informal gathering in Manhattan for a quick drink and catch-up, before heading to bed, tackling the jetlag and getting ready for the week's activities.

Informal Drinks

Time: 19:00 Onwards 
Venue: TBC

An informal gathering in Manhattan for a quick drink and catch-up, before heading to bed, tackling the jetlag and getting ready for the week's activities.

Tuesday, February 19th, 2013

Doing Business in the USA Masterclass

Time: 09:15 - 14:00
Venue: Venable LLP, 1270 6th Avenue, New York, NY 10020 (map)

9:15  Arrival and coffee

9:45 Introduction and Welcome

A short welcome to the Digital Mission from Chinwag's Founder, Sam Michel, followed by a welcome from our hosts, Venable LLP.  

10:00 Session 1 - Keeping It Legal

This session tackles the legal practicalities of launching or expanding a business into the US market, including those "red flag" issues that every company needs to know. There’s plenty to consider: incorporation, corporate structure, contracts, hiring, firing, IP protection and investment.

Using real-world examples and avoiding legal jargon, the team from Venable will provide a checklist of the vital legal steps to starting your US business.

Speakers Include: 

  • Mike Bloom, Associate in Venable's Corporate and Tax and Wealth Planning Groups
  • Anthony Saur, Partner at Venable LLP

11:00 Session 2 - Tapping Local Support: Government & Industry 

The size, scale and sheer speed of everything in New York can be overwhelming, but there’s help on-hand, from government initiatives to local agency support and industry-led initiatives. This panel explores some of the programmes, meetups, groups and tactics for newcomers to the Big Apple’s digital scene.

Speakers Include:

11:30 Break 

A chance to caffeinate.

11:50 Session 3 - Silicon Alley Business Rules

New York’s digital ecosystem comprises a huge range of businesses from media and advertising giants to banking corporates and a startup scene that’s on fire (in a good way).

This session brings together insight from major US firms on how to connect, partner and develop strong business relationships New York style and the tactics UK firms can use to stand out from the crowd.

Speakers Include:

12:30 Session 4 - Tales from the Trenches

A chance to hear the unofficial, fly-on-the-wall, warts’n’all reality from entrepreneurs who have who have successfully expanded their business to the US. Hear the tips, tricks and workarounds, the pitfalls and possibilities. Each founder will share their story with plenty of time for an extended Q&A. 

Speakers Include:

13:15 Buffet Lunch and Networking

Informal networking and a chance to ask further questions over a buffet lunch

14:00 Close

Social Media Week Afternoon 

Time: 14:30 - 18:00

We have kept Tuesday afternoon free in order for companies to start to get involved with the huge amounts of SMW Events that are taking place around the city.

Whether your interested in advertising and marketing, business and entrepreneurship, education and learning, media and publishing or any other of the event categories involved in the week, there will be something for everyone. This time can also be used for meetings and catching up on emails. 

What's On @SMW NYC?

14:30 The Social Engagement Hub: Re-Imagining The Contact Center As A Critical Marketing Tool

14:30 The State of Civic Technology

14:30 The Rise of Visual Social Media

14:30 Vivisection Live: The Inner Working of a Web Series

14:30 Technology, Advertising & Startup Council (TASC)

15:00 David vs. Goliath: The Global Fight for Digital Privacy

16:00 Authors Roundtable: Social at the Intersection of Paid, Owned and Earned Media

16:00 Visual Conversation: Being @ The Center of Social 

SMW NYC VIP Opening Reception

Time: 19:00 - 22:00
Venue: Global HQ at Metropolitan Pavilion, 125 West 18th Street, New York, NY 10011 (map)

As part of the mission package, companies will have a place at the VIP Opening Reception for Social Media Week. The opening reception is the perfect place to kick the mission off with the reception being filled with VIP's, sponsors, partners and key influencers that are all heavily involved in Social Media Week and the digital scene.

// Check out the Social Media Week Official VIP Opening Reception event. 

SMW Global HQ Topic of the Day: The Architects: Creating an Open World 

Wednesday, February 20th, 2013

Social Media Week Morning

Time: 08:00 - 10:00

Wednesday morning is a chance for you to attend some more Social Media Week events, check out our top pick below. 

What's On @SMW NYC?

9:30 Native advertising: An elegant evolution or just another paid placement?

9:30 Girls Education and Women's Empowerment in Real World Social Networks 

9:30 Keynote: Neil Blumenthal, Co-Founder and CEO, Warby Parker

Google NYC Company Visit 

Time: 10:00 - 13:00
Venue: Google New York, 76 Ninth Avenue, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10011 (map)

Google, the Internet search, cloud computing, software and advertising giant of the 20th century is opening its doors and welcoming in the Digital Mission group for a exclusive access company visit to the NYC offices.

The visit will include a tour of the innovative office which features murals and decorations expressing local personality, Googlers sharing cubes, yurts and "huddles", the cafes and "microkitchens" stocked with healthy food and good old fashioned whiteboards for spur-of-the-moment brainstorming. As well a tour of the office, the group will hear from 3 Google representatives and will be able to get involved in a Q&A session. 

Incubator/Co-Working Tours 

Time: 14:30 - 18:00
Venue: Various 

Visit One: WECREATE NYC

Time: 14:30 - 15:30
Venue: WECREATE NYC, 58 East 11th Street, 8th floor, New York 10003 (map)

WECREATE NYC is a place to innovate, collaborate, and grow a sustainable business. The WECREATE workspace is designed to provide a psychical and mental environment that is conducive to collaboration and innovation. The space is also in association with THECUBE London offering members access to the London community for international business and collaboration.

During the visit to the space the mission group will hear from some of the members of WECREATE and THECUBE who will be able to speak of the challenges and opportunities of having a company running from two cities as well as a Q and A session with some of the WECREATE team on the programmes they run and what they have available for firms starting up in NYC. The group will also be given a tour of the initiative workspace and meeting rooms.

Visit Two: WeWork Labs

Time: 16:30 - 17:30
Venue: We Work Labs, 4th Floor, 175 Varick St, New York, NY 10013 (map)

WeWork Labs was founded in 2011 with a focus on helping early stage tech startups in New York City. Now with offices in San Francisco and New York, WeWork Labs has over 300 current members and a great alumni network around the country.

Every company in WeWork Labs has been hand selected by the WeWork team as a good candidate for the community and have the option to work in a private office or in the open area at a dedicated desk.

Social Media Week Evening 

Time: 18:00 - 22:00

Take advantage of your free evening in NYC. There are some great SMW events taking place on Wednesday night so use the free time to start making those connections. 

What's On @SMW NYC?

SMW Global HQ Topic of the Day: The Inventors: Making Your Own Future

Thursday, February 21st, 2013

Breakfast Roundtable 

Time: 10:00 - 12:00
Venue:  British Consulate General, UK Trade & Investment, 845 Third Ave, New York, NY 10022 (map)

The breakfast roundtable is a time for the mission companies to have individual one on one time with representatives from large US firms as well as key influencers to discuss their business, what they are looking for in partner companies and offer helpful tips and advice about the market. 

Representatives Include:

Enticing Silicon Valleys Money Men 

Time: 14:00 - 15:00
Venue: Spark Labs, 833 Broadway, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10003 (map)

Hear from Vivek Boray, experienced International Corporate and Start-Up Attorney on how foreign start-ups can engage the US market and what are the best ways to go about raising capital. As well as hearing from Vivek, the group will also get a chance to hear from some successful start-ups that have succeeded in raising capital and expansion.

The session will be held at Spark Labs, a venture builder & accelerator dedicated to creating & growing early-stage digital ventures. The group at Spark Labs are a team of entrepreneurs who found, operate, support and invest in innovative digital concepts with the aim to create market-leading companies. As well as hearing from Vivek, this session also gives the mission group a great chance to check out the work space available at the labs. 

Social Media Week Afternoon 

Time: 15:00 - 16:00

A chance to network and catch up on the Social Media Week events taking place on Thursday. As well as the SMW events taking place, it is also a good chance for the planned meetings to take place as well as catch up on emails.

What's On @SMW NYC?

14:30 Purpose: Driving the New Economy

14:30 Societal Brands In a Digital World  

14:30 How To Be Funny in 140 Characters or Less, Part Deux 

16:00 Planet Hyperconnected - New Lessons for Brands in a Hyperconnected World

Ogilvy and Mather NYC Company Visit 

Time: 16:00 - 17:30
Venue: Ogilvy & Mather New York, 636 11th Avenue, New York, NY 10036 (map)

Ogilvy & Mather is one of the largest marketing communications companies in the world. The company is comprised of industry leading units in all of the following disciplines: advertising; public relations and public affairs; branding and identity ;shopper and retail marketing; healthcare communications; direct, digital, promotion and relationship marketing; consulting, research and analytics capabilities; branded content and entertainment; and specialist communications.

The company visit to Ogilvy & Mather will not only give an intimate look into one of the worlds largest international advertising, marketing and public relations agencies but will help the group understand the US market as well as give the opportunity for business to be done.

Official SMW Event - "British Pub Quiz"

Time: 18:00 - 20:30
Venue: Ogilvy & Mather New York, 636 11th Avenue, New York, NY 10036 (map)

The second official Social Media Week event organised by and for the Mission is the British pub Quiz.

Dive deep and fish out that trivia you know you once knew. The British Pub Quiz is here. 

Updated especially for SMWNYC, this quiz, organised by Chinwag and hosted at Ogilvy and Mather in NYC, is a chance to pit your social media wits against the crowd with a few British-themed brain teasers to win the title of Social Media Brainbox. It’s a networking event, a workshop, a seminar and a bit of fun all-rolled into one with a few drinks to oil the wheels.

It’s a chance to meet, mingle and get-to-know the UK’s leading digital startups and agencies, looking to launch and expand in New York.

Brits will be on hand to help tackle those traditional British questions, such as making the Queen's face out of plasticine and working out how many pods there are on the London Eye. 

There’s prizes and a chance to enjoy a drink, test your brain power, meet, chat and connect, so come on down and join the Brits in one of our (note the spelling, people) favourite pastimes.

// Sign up to the British Pub Quiz Event 

SMW Global HQ Topic of the Day: The Collaborators: Innovating Together

Friday 22nd February, 2013

HUGE NYC Company Visit 

Time: 11:00 - 13:00
Venue: HUGE NYC, 45 Main Street, Suite 220 in DUMBO, Brooklyn (map)

The final afternoon of the mission will see the group take a trip over the Brooklyn bridge to take a visit to HUGE, the full-service interactive agency that specializes in transforming brands and businesses for the digital economy.

HUGE are a world wide agency with office in London, Brooklyn, LA, Portland, San Francisco, Washington DC, Rio de Janeiro and Brazil. The mission group will spend the morning getting a tour of the very cool office space and getting a chance to talk to some of the key representatives from the company. 

Social Media Week Afternoon

Time: 13:00 - 17:00

The last chance of the week to catch up on the Social Media Week events. Make the most of your last afternoon in NYC and really get out there and network, network, network! 

What's On @SMW NYC?

13:00 Capturing Attention of the Young Digerati

14:30 The Future of Branded Experiences

15:30 I Know the DJ: How Social Media Foreshadows and Influences Trends in Electronic Music

16:00 Local to Global: Social Media in the Markets of New York City

16:00 You Said You 'Like" Me But We Never Do Anything Together

Return Travel to London (Travel Package One) 

17:00 - 19:00 - Those travelling on the group package one to arrive at JFK Airport and check-in
20:00 - Depart from JFK Airport on flight BA 116
08:00 (Saturday 23rd Feb) - Arrive in to London Heathrow Airport 

Social Media Week NYC VIP Closing Party

Time: 19:00 - 22:00
Venue: TBC

Those who are not on the package one group travel option will spend their Friday evening at the official SMW Closing Party.

As part of the mission package, each delegate will receive two tickets to the VIP party, one for yourself and one for a guest, so this is the perfect opportunity to invite along that great contact from the week.

// Check out the SMW Closing Party event on the official agenda.

Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th February, 2013 

Those on travel option two have the weekend to enjoy the sites of New York, do a touch of shopping, take a stroll in Hyde park and enjoy some rest after a very busy week. 

The group will travel to JFK Airport at around 17:00 on Sunday 24th February to check in for the BA 116 flight which leaves JFK at 20:00 and arrives in London Heathrow at 0800 on Monday 25th Feb.

If you are staying in New York for the Saturday there are still SMW events to go to:

10:00 - 21:00 Wikipedia Day

Questions? Suggestions?

The agenda is always a work in progress, often until the days before the trip itself. If you have particular objectives for your trip, companies' you'd like to visit or contacts that you'd like to invite along to any of the events, please do let us know and we'll do our best to coordinate.

We're looking forward to a fantastic week in New York. There's still space on the mission:

// Apply Now

Photo (cc) iPhil Photos.

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