Coming to America: European Startups Hop the Pond

Europe is full of successful, smart startups that are looking for their next phase of growth. The U.S. often is seen as the one springboard to get them on the global stage and New York the perfect landing spot and market to break into, with its everlasting international flavor. We talk to several international startups and experts in the field and discuss why they're coming here and how the U.S. is a whole new ball game for them.

Moderator: Devindra Hardawar, National Editor, VentureBeat. Devindra has been writing about technology since 2004, worked in IT support for many years and studied philosophy at Amherst College. He's also co-host on the Slashfilmcast, The Drill Down and Republic City Dispatch podcasts and lives in Brooklyn.

Panelists:
Liva Judic, director Merrybubbles Communications, a marketing and public relations agency dedicated to tech startups with an ambition to grow outside their home markets. A contributor to tech publications in the U.S. and Europe, she advises a number of startups and is also on the advisory council of The Greatest Pitch, which helps startups connect with seed funding.

Vysia Duffield, director Vysion Communications, The Brand Evangelism Partner. Vysia started her career writing for The Star Publications in Malaysia, and later on moved on to the PR industry in London where she worked at Jimmy Choo Couture and FrankPR, pioneering the idea of approaching bloggers as an alternative to traditional media. In 2009, she joined Unruly Media as a Viral Marketing Campaign Manager, eventually helping the young company set up satellite offices in Sweden, New York and Chicago, while managing global campaigns. In 2013, she struck out on her own to help brands find the right evangelists amongst their fans.​

Matteo Franceschetti, entrepreneur. Matteo, a native of Italy, founded Global Investment Renewable, an international solar energy group operating in Italy, South Africa, Romania, and the U.S. In 2012, he sold the Italian branch to a multinational company owned by one of the largest European funds. He also bought and founded other companies in the green tech space. A mentor of startups, angel investor, and scouter for VCs of promising opportunities in Europe and Mexico, Matteo keeps an eye on emerging talents and promising ideas in the US and abroad.

Felix Winckler, Co-Founder & COO of Poutsch, a New York-based micro-polling startup. Paris-born, Felix is passionate about Europe and also loves New York where he studied to become a licensed attorney before founding Poutsch with Belgian friends. A curious soul, Felix is also a keen amateur of contemporary art. He likes challenges and keeps his mojo going with mountaineering — his highest peak was Matterhorn, at 14,692 ft.

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