How to Bootstrap Your Company's Expansion Into the International Markets?

Warren LeowCEO Designs.net

Stockunlimited, VP 123RF

44locations worldwide19 languages, 24/7 support

globally

Global presence

65+million

creative assets and growing

67,000+refreshing

daily additions

content contributors

288,000+- from -

100% bootstrapped

Our group in numbers

We have 15 years of history and are proud to serve many international corporate clients

1. Build from the core2. Benchmark to improve on daily basis3. Grow a team with depth & breadth4. Set and define your international branding5. Create local branding, visibility and engagements6. Generate PR consistently to sustain momentum7. Have a support network to smoothen your path8. Believe. Stay Focused. Stay hungry

8 steps to go international

1. Build from the core

Get the businessfundamentals right

Take one step at a time

Don’t scale quicker than process

Know your strengths

2. Benchmark to improve on a daily basis

Source: http://quotes.wsj.com/CN/XSHE/000681/financials

Always look ahead with an open mind to compete

3. Grow a core team with depth and breadth

Sales and customer support

Cultural diversity = new ideas

Geographical research and coverage

Community engagement

20+ nationalities

Core management team

Low turnover

International exposure

Continuous learning

Internal + External hires

4. Set and define your international branding

1. Nobody knew we were based in Southeast Asia

2. ‘We don’t buy from terrorists’; ‘We don’t buy from Asians’

3. 24/7 customer support4. Setuped US virtual address with

US entity for trust factor

We branded ourselves very carefully

5. Create local branding, visibility and engagements for lead generation

Top-up cards sold in Japan Relationships with 20+ global accelerators

200+ global startups supported = lead generation + ambassadors

6. Generate PR consistently to sustain momentum

Create your own news to build international legitimacy

7. Have a support network to smoothen your path

A network is an accelerator by itself. No one is an island

8. Believe. Stay Focused. Stay hungryNew geographical markets New possibilities

Stay hungry, stay foolishNever try, never know.

New products

For every idea which succeeded, we failed in 5 others

Disrupt yourself. Don’t be afraid of change

1. Build from the core2. Benchmark to improve on daily basis3. Grow a team with depth & breadth4. Set and define your international branding5. Create local branding, visibility and engagements6. Generate PR7. Have a support network to smoothen your path8. Believe. Stay Focused. Stay hungry

Takeaways: 8 steps to go international