It can be hard to find direction when expanding overseas. Let TOP100 point you in the right direction

Already interested in TOP100 and don’t need to read an article about it? Just apply here!

A need to expand rapidly is one of the most common-knowledge, and still true, realities of operating an internet company in Southeast Asia.

Startups in China, the US and, to a lesser extent, Europe, can go through their entire lifecycle — and in some cases become unicorns — without ever leaving their home country’s boundaries.

This reality is becoming a truth in Indonesia (Go-jek and Tokopedia are local-only unicorns), but for the rest of the region, accelerated international expansion is simply a natural feature of the ecosystem. Like a river splitting two villages, we can either complain about it, or build a bridge.

However, expanding to new markets is a helluva lot harder than writing an article about it. It requires a network and a basic understanding of laws and culture. Simply flying into a city and asking around may not be feasible, but there are options.

This is one of the reasons we are excited about our e27 TOP100 programme coming in March!

I am in Singapore, why should I apply to attend the Bangkok event?

Because we know people, and we will be bringing them to our events.

And it’s not just Thailand, which has an ecosystem, we can help entrepreneurs grow their network in countries like Kazakhstan, Laos, Cambodia and Russia.

Also Read: From Korea to Kazakhstan, e27 will search 23 countries to find TOP100 startups (UPDATED)

Instead of simply attending a networking event, TOP100 gives startups an opportunity to pitch in front of investors, low-barrier customers and potential business partners.

Entering a new country is a long process, taking months at the minimum, but it can be quite a bit easier with some direction. TOP100 is the best place to start.

What should I do if I make it?

First and foremost, enjoy yourself and get your preparations all in order.

But one piece of advice is to tailor your strategy towards the specific TOP100 country.

Also Read: 10 ways to make a business partner separation less painful

So let’s say you are a Vietnamese company that wants to explore expanding across the border to Cambodia. While providing some information on the Vietnam operations will be useful, make that 20 per cent of the pitch. The rest should be plans for Cambodia.

Why?

Becuase TOP100 aims to bring together the local startup community. So in each country, the people attending the event will have stake in the local game. If they are interested in an international company, it will still be in context of their local ecosystem.

How to apply

Your startup is eligible to apply if:

• You are primarily an early-stage tech startup

• You have a full time founding team

• You have a built a minimum viable product

Apply now to secure your spot at the TOP100 programme 2018.

—

The post For startups looking to explore new markets, TOP100 is a perfect starting block appeared first on e27.