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StepOne Promotes Successful International Expansion for Spanish Companies
Bernardo Hernández affirms that one of four Spanish Companies has the potential to thrive in the US
June 29, 2009 (Santander, Spain)
Bernardo Hernández, Co-Founder of StepOne Ventures and Head of Consumer Marketing at Google, began today’s summer course with encouragement and advice, “It is very important for Spanish Companies who want to make the leap to the US to adapt their business and strategic models to the external market. In fact, 25% of Spanish tech companies that we have analyzed have potential for success in the U.S. market; the corresponding figure for cleantech companies is 50%.” And so the StepOne Co-Founder, along with fellow Co-Founder Germán Loperena, inaugurated the summer course entitled “Challenges Awaiting Spanish Companies in the US” that is taking place in the Magdalena Palace in Santander, Spain.
The objective for the course is to address the many challenges that Spanish Companies face when making the jump to the US market. StepOne created the sessions of the course with practicality and interactive exchanges in mind. Experts in international expansion will be revealing the insights learned from their acquired experiences. Indra, Iberdola, Acciona, Fotowatio, Bodaclick, Softonic and Pharmamar are some of the European companies who will sharing their stories of the challenges they faced competing in the US marketplace.
Today, during the first session, the General Director of Talent, Innovation and Strategy at Indra analyzed, in detail, the challenges and difficulties that she faced from the time that Indra decided to expand internationally. Later, representatives from Fotowatio, Solarpack and AEE participated in a roundtable discussion where they reflected on the trends and opportunities for Cleantech in the US.
In the afternoon, Dan Ripp, President of Bradley Woods & Co., shared his expertise in the Obama Administration’s clean energy policy with the students.
The first day of classes ended with perspectives on the current situation in Silicon Valley from both a Spaniard and an American – Javier Oliván, Director of International Expansion for Facebook, and Beto Juarez, member of the StepOne team in Silicon Valley.
The three-day gathering, organized by StepOne, started today in the Magdalena Palace and will continue through Wednesday, July 1st. Bringing their experience in global expansion as well as common errors companies face, entrepreneurial experts and government representatives such as Luis Pérez del Val, CEO of Boda Click, Carlos Martínez de la Serna, of Pharmamar and Santiago Araño of Softonic, Icex, Promomadrid, CEPYME-CEOE Catabria, and Red.es brought valuable insight to both students in Santander, and viewers on the web.
According to Bernardo Hernández, who directed the course, “StepOne’s end-goal is to become the link between available government and institutional resources and the American market; That’s where the need to put on events such as these stems from.” He continued, “Now the students at this course will be able to attain, first-hand, necessary information to enter the largest economy in the world with success.”
“Moreover, there is an entrepreneurial spirit to the execution of the course,” added Bernardo Hernández, who directed the course. “All those who want to, will be able to access this network of globally-expanding entrepreneurs directly. What’s far is in fact very near.”
About StepOne
StepOne is a company that helps Spanish technologies firms succeed in the US market. Founded by Bernardo Hernández (Director of Consumer Marketing at Google and founder of Idealista and Tuenti) and Germán Loperena (member of technology teams at Safelayer Secure Communications and Alfa Multimedia). StepOne provides the talent, experience, and access to essential companies to open the doors to the US market for companies in IT, Internet, Biotech, and Cleantech.
Press Contact:
Beatriz Reza
steponeprensa@gomezacebo.com
+34 637-787-650