For many high-growth enterprises, there’s nowhere better to start and grow than the UK, and nowhere better to expand and raise later-stage funding than the United States.  The US offers the promise of massive commercial opportunities and plentiful venture and growth capital.  However, doing business and raising money in an unfamiliar, highly competitive environment requires thoughtful planning and clinical execution.

In this facilitated Q&A session over dinner, we will discuss best practices for navigating the logistical aspects of launching and operating a UK business in the States and setting and meeting expectations for US later-stage funding.

We’ll address questions, such as:

When should I consider establishing US operations?

When should I look to raise money from US VCs?

Do I need a US company to raise money from US VCs?

When do I need to create a US company?

Where is the best place to set up in the States?

How long does US set-up take and how much does it cost?

How do I sell/pitch in the US as a British/non-US founder?

How is hiring different in the US, and what’s the optimal US team?

Does everyone really sue each other all the time in the US?

Are there government resources to assist with US expansion?

The discussion will be led by Daniel Glazer, who leads the US Expansion group and London office at Silicon Valley-headquartered Wilson Sonsini.  Wilson Sonsini represents more tech companies on their venture financings, M&A transactions, and IPOs than any other law firm globally.  The firm is a Silicon Valley “anchor tenant,” having taken public Apple, Doordash, Google, Linkedin, Lyft, Netflix, Palantir, Roblox, Square, Twitter, and many others.  Wilson Sonsini London is a US and dual-qualified UK/US team that supports UK/EU tech and life sciences companies through their US life cycle – US launch and scaling, US fundraising, and US M&A/IPO exit.