This introductory workshop will help guide you and ensure you avoid the common pitfalls so that you can sell successfully in the US. 

BESA research shows that the US market is the second most requested export territory of interest to members. With a large population and a shared language, it seems like a natural next step for UK suppliers looking to expand overseas. But the US market is very different from the UK, with 50+ different states and school boards to navigate, and no standard approach it can feel overwhelming and it is easy to make a costly misstep.

This webinar pulls together three experts who each provide a different perspective on the challenge. Attendees will learn

• The key differences between the UK and US market
• Where to go for help and advice
• Which tradeshows to consider, and what financial support is available
• How BESA can help support your activities in the next 12 months
• How one BESA member successfully broke into the market and the lessons they learned along the way

Programme:

14:00 Welcome - Julia Garvey, Deputy Director General BESA

14:10 Presentation from the Department for International Trade 

• Background to the market
• Sources of help and information including the North America EdTech Report from DIT
• Tradeshows to consider
• UKTP support for 2023
• Potential Trade Mission June 2023

14:30 Nick Kind, Managing Director of Tyton Partners’ strategy consulting practice

Nick also serves on the board of the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) which runs the biggest EdTech event in the US – ISTE Live. Nick has over 20 years of experience in strategy, investment, corporate development and digital product management in the education sector.

• Key differences between the UK and US market
• What are the trends that companies should consider
• How can UK companies best meet the demands of the US market
• Common pitfalls and how to avoid them

15:00 Case study - Martin Saunders, Managing Director, EdShed

‘What I wish I’d known from the start’

Martin will share EdShed’s experiences of starting their export journey in the US and the key lessons they have learned, including those nuggets of information he wishes he’d known from the start.

15:30 What support is available for BESA members - An overview of the sources of information and practical support for BESA members including:

• UKTP programme
• ISTE EdTech Industry network
• Trade mission 2023 - potential DIT supported trade mission to the USA and Canada
• Market reports and subject experts

15:45 Q&A - Your chance to quiz our experts on the challenges and issues that matter to you.

Speakers

Nick Kind is a Managing Director in Tyton’s strategy consulting practice and is based in the UK. Nick joined Tyton Partners in April 2019 as a Senior Director, bringing over 20 years of experience in strategy, investment, corporate development and digital product management, with the vast majority of his time concentrated in the education sector.

Nick joined Tyton Partners in April 2019 as a Senior Director, bringing over 20 years of experience in strategy, investment, corporate development and digital product management, with the vast majority of his time concentrated in the education sector.

Prior to Tyton, Nick undertook his own consultancy work across the education and “Future of Work” ecosystem. This included working as a senior member of the leadership team for Area9 Lyceum, a leading global adaptive learning player primarily focused on corporate customers. At Area9, he wrote the IM for their €30m fundraise from the Danish Growth Fund, led business development and partnerships in the UK, DACH and MENA, and led a pioneering project for the Ministry of Education of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Until mid-2016, Nick was Head of Business Insights for one of the largest media organizations in the world, the Holtzbrinck Publishing Group, where he managed a thought leadership, market intelligence and internal strategy consultancy team for the board. This covered learning and education from “PreK to grey”, LP investments in education venture capital funds, plus the science and scholarly and consumer publishing sectors.

Dr Martin Saunders - Co-Founder & CEO

Martin is co-founder and CEO of EdShed, which serves 20-million children across 180 countries and has offices in the UK and US. Prior to founding EdShed, Martin has worked as a primary school teacher, run two tech agencies and been a scientist. Martin is also currently Chair of Governors at a local primary school.

Christian Lehr - Senior Principal in Tyton Partners’ strategy consulting practice.

Prior to joining Tyton, Christian spent several years as a teacher and school administrator in both the public and charter K-12 sector. At New York City’s largest charter school network, he was a founding school leader who worked on the design and launch of the flagship high school.. His experience in New York City followed a two-year stint in Baltimore, where he taught high school English and coached rugby as a Teach for America corps member.

At Tyton Partners, Christian leads the firm’s K-12 business development efforts and has participated in or led more than a dozen strategy engagements for K-12 companies and investors. His deep knowledge and experience in K-12 helps clients navigate dynamic shifts in the market. Christian earned his B.A. in History and Communications Studies from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN.

About BESA.

Please contact eventsteam@besa.org.uk if you have any questions