Wondering how to go abroad in 2021? We are as well, which is why we’ve invited Palava Global CEO Salla Hänninen to give a talk on startupspace.fi on February 3rd at 15:00 Helsinki time. There, she’ll discuss the pitfalls of internationalization while also sharing the best guidelines on how to succeed internationally.
If you’re new to Startup Space, it’s a collaboration between Helsinki’s ecosystem players, providing an online event space and open office.
Below is our preview interview with Salla:
Salla Hänninen – Palava Global
15:00 on 3.2.2021
“How to Fail in International Expansion of a Startup”
startupspace.fi
I’m the founder and CEO of Palava Global, a global growth agency that helps startups first find the best markets for their products and then grow in those markets. My team and I have worked with lots of startups and know the pain points most of them have.
You’ll be talking about how to successfully expand abroad. Did the playbook change in 2020 or do the same rules still apply today?
The basics haven’t changed though and probably never will: first, always choose your markets based on product-market-fit, not your gut instinct or random coincidence. Second, find out who your best customers are in that market and always choose your strategy and sales channels based on your customers’ preference, not convenience (if your customers want to purchase online, be online. If they want to meet you at trade fairs, be present at trade fairs. If your customers are most likely to hear about you on Instagram, advertise on Instagram. Third, be realistic: you can’t expect to spend a fraction of the sales and marketing budget you’ve spent in Finland, for example, and expect to get 10x the revenue. There are greater opportunities out there, but you need adequate resources.
Sounds interesting, we’re looking forward to it!
Join Salla on Startup Space
February 3rd at 15:00