We are currently welcoming a delegation of top Tech businesses from Austin, Texas, to London to help establish closer working relationships between the two cities, and showcase London’s growth to foreign businesses. This week’s guest blog comes from one of our visitors – Andy Jones is the VP of New Business at Small World Labs, an Austin-based company that provides an online community platform for not-for-profits and member-body associations to increase online engagement with their supporters and constituents. He is originally from London, and has lived in Italy and the United States. Below, Andy gives his take on why London and Austin are a good fit…

I’m writing this on the eve of my upcoming UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) trade mission trip to London, with a delegation of Austin-based technology companies, and Austin’s mayor Lee Leffingwell. Small World Labs, the company where I work, was one of a small group of companies selected to attend, and the only company focused on social networking platforms, not-for-profits and member-body organizations.

I remember my grandfather telling me when I was a young man: “You’ll love America! You’d do well there.” He was with the Royal Air Force during World War II, and he became friendly with a number of American pilots. Since then, he and my grandmother made numerous trips to the States. They had a long-time love affair with my adoptive country.

Fast forward to today. As a Londoner living in Austin, Texas, everything is coming full circle. I’m participating in the upcoming trade mission Austin companies are making to Tech City in London. My adoptive city and my native city, two cities I love and I’m proud of, are coming together to form long-lasting trade partnerships.

It makes perfect sense.

A BIT OF BACKGROUND TO EXPLAIN WHAT I MEAN

In 2003 I moved to the States. I discussed my plans with several personal and business connections, and Austin kept coming up as a place to move to.

I could have moved to New York or California, the two coasts traditionally considered centres of business and technology activity. At least that’s what many Brits think. But I chose Austin, a burgeoning technology and start-up hub in the center of Texas.

When I stepped off the plane in Austin, I took a look around and I thought “this could be home.” And I was right.

Austinites and Londoners are fairly similar. We both like good company, good food, and a good beer. And despite Austin’s smaller size it’s very diverse and cosmopolitan, because of the University of Texas and the tech industry. This complements London, one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world. I love that about both cities!

Most importantly, Austin is real. When my London friends or business acquaintances come over for a visit, either for South by Southwest or on business, they feel welcomed. They feel the warmth and the inclusiveness. They don’t feel like tourists.

INTERNATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND SXSW

I joined Austin tech firm SmallWorldLabs and became their VP of New Business. Small World Labs provides an online community platform for not-for-profits and member-body associations to increase online engagement with their supporters and constituents.

When I got here I found out we already had several clients in the UK. I started thinking about the possibilities for growing our European market. I eventually became the point-person for our European market expansion.

Then during a recent SouthbySouthwestInteractive I discovered the booth organized by UKTradeandInvestment at the SXSW trade show. To call it a booth is a bit of an understatement: it was a massive presence, taking up the equivalent of 8 booths, and featuring dozens of visiting UK technology companies.

I chatted with representatives of several British tech companies and met with UKTI representatives from the Houston consular office. I was really impressed by their proactivity in forging trans-Atlantic relationships.

I was very excited when UKTI invited us to join Austin’s mayor and eight other Austin technology companies for the two-day trade mission to London’s Tech City.

I knew this was an idea whose time had come. I wanted to be at the center of this. Not only was it an opportunity to see two cities I love forge deeper relationships, but it also afforded me an opportunity to visit prospective and existing clients.

There are several reasons why this trip makes perfect sense:

• It’s a great combination: Austin’s innovative technology and “can-do” spirit together with Tech City’s vision as a start-up and technology hub for Europe. This will create opportunities for Small Word Labs and other Austin tech companies to grow and help build a trans-Atlantic technology bridge.
• In Austin we’re only a phone call and webinar away from our British clients. But to continue growing our UK and European market it’s important to have some feet on the ground. This trip opens the possibility of establishing a local presence for our growing European client base.
• London is one of the premiere centres for not-for-profit and member-body associations in Europe. This is our market – and it’s logical to be where our market is.

Finally, it just feels right. Austin and London are kindred cities in so many ways, both culturally and personally: Austin is my home away from home, and Tech City is located near my boyhood home, Hackney.

I’LL BE CHECKING IN LATER

We’ve got an exciting jam-packed agenda set up for our two-day digital mission trip: meeting with the Mayor of London; networking opportunities with potential partners and UK-based tech companies; briefings with VIPs from Tech City, the Guardian Newspaper, and other high-profile organizations; and a pre-SXSW mixer.

I’ll also be visiting several current Small World Labs customers and am looking to make connections with people working at not-for-profits or member-body organizations.. It’ll be exciting to share news about the support we’re getting from UKTI and the City of Austin, as it will show our increasing commitment to servicing their growing needs.

And being a Hackney boy myself, I’m excited about the upcoming Friendship Agreement between Austin and the Borough of Hackney.

I hope to write another post with an update on the trip, giving my impressions on the various meetings, opportunities and events.

See you soon!

Check back later in the week for more from Andy and others from the Austin delegation…