Digital Mission to SXSWi '10 - activities

Digital MissionDigital Mission is organised by Chinwag for UK Trade & Investment, enabling digital companies to expand into overseas markets and attract investment outside the UK.

This is a rough guide to Digital Mission activities during South by South West interactive festival. For a full SXSWi schedule please see:

// Full SXSW interactive schedule
// Full SXSW interactive official parties and networking events schedule

Upcoming also has a comprehensive list of parties and networking events to keep an eye out for. As we find out about events we'll post them up.

We're gathering more information rapidly, so expect to see more events to appearing over the next couple of weeks - we'll update the activities as details are confirmed.

// Thursday, 11th March
// Friday, 12th March
// Saturday, 13th March
// Sunday, 14th March
// Monday, 15th March
// Tuesday, 16th March

Thursday 11th March, 2010

Digital Mission companies arrive in Austin, Texas 

20:00 - 22:30

Opportunity to meet everyone in the group over a few drinks and kick the Digital Mission off with a bang!

It's not essential to attend but the option is there.

Venue: Radisson Town Lake hotel bar, then who knows? Austin is our oyster ;)

Friday 12th March

SXSW interactive conference opens in the afternoon.

// SXSWi panel schedule for Friday

09:00 - 14:30 Master class - Doing Business in the US

Digital Mission companies only

Venue: Palm Door, 401 Sabine St. Austin, TX 78701

The Masterclass, tailored exclusively for companies attending the mission, will be made up of four sessions to include:

  • Legal aspects of setting up shop in the US
  • Advice on how to get started, Nuts and Bolts of the US Digital Market
  • Handy hints and experiences from British companies who are already established across the pond and
  • Tips on how to get the best out of SXSW interactive

Agenda for the morning:

9:00 - 9:30

Breakfast upon arrival and networking

9:30 - Welcome

A short welcome to the Digital Mission from Chinwag's CEO, Sam Michel to thank sponsors and outline the morning's proceedings.

9:35 - Understanding the Red Tape

A session comprising of representatives from the international law firm Winston & Strawn amongst others, to discuss the practicalities of launching a successful business state-side.

  • Topics covered will include:
  • Legal ramifications
  • Corporate structure and tax implications
  • Patents and intellectual property
  • Structuring investment
  • Employment and labour issues in the US
  • Any other questions

Speakers:

10:30 - Break for refreshments

10:40 - Nuts and Bolts of the Local Market - US Digital Market Overview

Introduction by a representative from UKTI followed by a close look at the US digital market.

Speakers:

11:40 - 12:40 - Real-Life Tales of US Expansion

Views from UK companies who have successfully expanded their business to the US. Questions to be raised/answered will include:

  • What were the challenges?
  • What worked and what didn't?
  • How does a British firm stand out in the highly competitive US market?
  • How long did it take to get established?
  • What networking events/ conferences did you attend to raise profile?
  • How long did the process of setting up take?
  • Any other topics and concerns

Speakers:

12:40 - 13:15 Getting the best out of SXSW interactive

  • How do you pick which panels to go to?
  • Where is the most valuable networking to be had?
  • Which are the best parties?
  • What's the best BBQ place in Austin?

... and many other crucial questions can be put to the experienced panel of SXSW organisers and veterans.

Speakers:

13:00 - 14:30 Informal networking over lunch

14:30 - 18:00 Free time to recover from jet lag or register your pass for SXSW.

Saturday, 13th March

// SXSW interactive panel sessions for Saturday

12:00 - 18:00 - SXSW interactive trade show opens

The Digital Mission stand is available for meetings, wifi pilfering, tweeting, catching up on email and much more. It's a big old beast and will be our base at the convention centre.

If you'd like to bring promotional material along to give away, please do! Just bear in mind that it is up to the individual company to transport their goods out to Austin and that there isn't a huge amount of storage space.

We'll have a front desk for leaflets, flyers etc and also a couple of literature stands.

If you are launching a product, service, app, etc at SXSWi please missionatchinwag [dot] com (let us know). You can demo on the stand using your laptop, we'll also have the Digital Mission viral, your logos and 30 second showreel (where provided) running on the plasma screens too.

Sunday, 14th March

// SXSW interactive panel sessions for Sunday

12:00 - 18:00 - Expo open

The Digital Mission stand is available for meetings, wifi pilfering, tweeting, catching up on email and much more. We'll update stand activities as they are confirmed but it's a big old beast and will be our base at the convention centre.

12:00 - 14:00 - Texas Tuttle

Tuttle Club comes to Texas!

The renowned weekly get-together is coming to Texas for the second annual Texas Tuttle. Every Friday morning, a group of people come together to talk and work around social media at London's Centre for Creative Collaboration. This year a small band of Tuttlers is taking the long way round to get to Austin, stopping off in five other US cities on the way for conversations about the effect of the web on national cultures.  As there are allied and similar groups all over the UK and with so many of the Tuttle group in Austin, a gathering with like-minded souls from the UK and the US is planned with tea, coffee, pastries and fresh fruit to help the discussion along.

Tuttle Club Site: http://tuttleclub.wordpress.com
Tuttle2Texas: http://tuttle2texas.posterous.com
YouTube from Tuttle Club: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLXEy1wCXDU

Location: Digital Mission stand

16:00 - 18:00 - SXSWi Block Party on Digital Mission stand

SXSWi say "Based on the ever-popular pub crawl, the SXSW Block Party is hosted by a number of trade show exhibitors. Registrants will be able to enjoy complimentary food and drinks while mingling with different exhibitors."

BIMAWe'll have plenty of drinks and nibbles on the stand to promote top quality mingling so drop by. Thanks to the generous folks at British Interactive Media Association (BIMA) for contributing towards the drinks and snacks.

Monday, 15th March

// SXSW interactive panel sessions for Monday

10:00 - 16:00 - SXSW Accelerator

Organiser Chris Valentine says: "SXSW Accelerator showcases innovation. Participating companies benefit from the opportunity to present their new audio / video products, the latest ideas in social networking applications, or innovative web based technology services to a panel of industry experts, early adaptors, and representatives from the Venture Capitalist community."

A number of Digital Mission companies have applied for this event so we have our fingers crossed for them.

Venue: Hilton Downtown, 500 East 4th Street, Austin, Texas 78701

17:00 - 18:00 - Digital Britain: How to Launch into Europe

The UK's digital sector is thriving boosted by the Digital Britain initiative overhauling the country's Internet infrastructure and legislation. And of course, there's the anticipated Olympic dividend. Our (mostly) shared language makes the UK a natural starting point for US firms to tackle Europe. Quiz our panel on how to setup, find partners, make in-roads with large corporates discover new markets.

Join the Digital Mission crew for our official SXSW panel featuring Stewart Townsend (StewartTownsend.com), Joe Stepniewski (Skimlinks), Mike Teasdale (Harvest Digital), Richard Titus (Associated Northcliffe Digital) and chaired by Sam Michel (Chinwag).

Venue: Hilton D, Hilton Downtown, 500 East 4th Street, Austin, Texas 78701

12:00 - 16:00 - Last day of the SXSWi Expo

Digital Mission stand is available for meetings, wifi pilfering, tweeting, catching up on email and much more. We'll update stand activities as they are confirmed but it's a big old beast and will be our base at the convention centre.

Tuesday, 16th March

// SXSW interactive panel sessions for Tuesday

09:30 - 11:30 - Great British Breakfast

The Great British Breakfast is a networking event organised by Digital Mission for 250 international digital practitioners, from across the industry.

Take this opportunity to join the most innovative digital entrepreneurs and companies, swap SXSWi stories and talk about all things interactive, over a good ol' fashioned fry-up - Brit style.

Venue: Paradise Cafe, 401 East Sixth Street, Austin, Tx 78701.

Register for Great British Breakfast @ SXSWi 2010 in Austin, TX on Eventbrite

10:30 - 18:00 - Content, New Technologies and the Consumer Experience

As part of SXSW, UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) will host "Content, New Technologies and the Consumer Experience," a specially curated half-day event, showcasing UK creative excellence.

This event is not an official Digital Mission event but is tailored specifically towards music technology companies so will be relevant to some. It requires an RSVP - please contact TAG Strategic for uktiattagstrategic [dot] com (more info).

Venue: Hilton Garden Inn, 500 North IH 35, Austin

20:00 - 01:00 - UKTI @ SXSWi

Following on from the inaugral and very successful BritBash in 2009, this year will see some the UK's hottest new bands and artists perform to their fellow country folk in a celebration of all things Brit.

Line up:

  • Fenech-Solar
  • One Night Only
  • Unicorn Kid
  • Stricken City
  • Viva City

Please note Digital Mission delegates (one per company) are on the VIP list, the event is open to all SXSW badge holders who will need to queue.

Venue: British Music Embassy @ Latitude 30, 512 San Jancinto

Wednesday, 17th March

Digital Mission to SXSWi 2010 (sob) over, SXSW Music begins.

Digital Mission Sponsors

Digital Missions are made possible through the generous support of UK Trade & Investment and our sponsors, Winston & Strawn.

UK Trade & InvestmentWinston & Strawn logo