​Taking place as part of Leeds Digital Festival 2026, this event is delivered in partnership with Thorelli & Associates and International Management Solutions, with support from Nexus - University of Leeds and Bruntwood SciTech.

​A practical session for founders and C-suite leaders of scaling tech and digital businesses, and the organisations supporting them, exploring the opportunities, challenges and practical realities of entering the US market.

​Audience

​This session is designed for tech and digital businesses and the organisations that support them.

• ​Founders and senior leaders of tech and digital businesses planning their US expansion or just starting to do business in the US.

• ​Accelerators, membership bodies, universities, investors and ecosystem partners supporting tech and digital businesses with international growth potential.

​Format

​Opening insights: Why the US? Why now?

​A scene-setting talk from David Campbell-Molloy, Head of North America and Asia at Innovate UK, exploring the current opportunities available to UK technology and digital businesses in the US market.

​Practicalities and challenges panel: What does it actually take to expand?

​A practical expert panel facilitated by Tracey Johnson, Project Director at TECH SY, focused on the realities of entering and scaling in the US, exploring what needs to be in place before a business enters the market, the biggest pitfalls to avoid and the common mistakes UK companies make when expanding internationally.

​Expert perspectives will include:

• ​Legal: Tom Thorelli, Owner & Partner at Thorelli & Associates

• ​Tax, accounting and business setup: Antoine Guillaud, President of International Management Solutions

• ​Sales and go-to-market strategy

• ​Investment and funding: Giles Moore, Regional Development Manager at PXN Group

• ​Founder perspective: Dash Tabor, Founder & CEO at TUBR

​Expert roundtables: Pressure-test your US expansion plans

​Small roundtable discussions where attendees can explore their US expansion questions with expert partners and peers. As part of the registration process, attendees will be invited to share the key challenges they are currently facing around US expansion. These insights will help shape the roundtable themes, ensuring the session is focused on the issues most relevant to the businesses in the room.

​Timings

​9:00 - 9:45 Arrival, breakfast networking and pre-booked US expert 1-to-1 consultations

​9:45 - 9:50 Welcome

​9:50 - 10:05 Opening insights: Why the US? Why now?

​10:05 - 10:45 Panel: What does it actually take to expand?

​10:45 - 12:00 Expert roundtables: Pressure-test your US expansion plans

​12:00 - 13:00 Networking lunch and pre-booked US expert 1-to-1 consultations

​By attending, participants will:

• ​Understand the opportunities and challenges in the US market

• ​Gain practical insight into what US expansion really requires

• ​Pressure-test their own plans in a focused, supportive setting

• ​Learn from experts and other businesses facing similar growth questions

• ​Take advantage of complimentary 1-to-1 consultations with our US expert partners

​Event speakers & experts

​David Campbell-Molloy, Head of North America and Asia at Innovate UK

​International programmes expert leading Innovate UK’s relationships across North America, Asia and Australasia, supporting high-potential UK companies to access global opportunities and scale internationally.

​Tom Thorelli, Owner & Partner at Thorelli & Associates

​US lawyer with over 30 years’ experience helping international companies enter the US market, minimise legal risk and establish the right structure for growth.

​Antoine Guillaud, President of International Management Solutions

​US tax, accounting and business setup expert with over 25 years’ experience helping European companies establish and grow their operations in the United States.

​Giles Moore, Regional Development Manager at PXN Group

​Investor and former tech founder with extensive experience supporting startups and scaleups to raise investment, accelerate growth and expand into new markets.

​Dash Tabor, Founder & CEO at TUBR

​AI and product leader building predictive technology for physical businesses, with first-hand experience of taking a UK tech company into the US market and validating opportunities across New York, Arizona and Texas.

​Tracey Johnson, Project Director at TECH SY

​Tech ecosystem leader with extensive experience supporting the growth of startups and scaleups, connecting founders with investors, partners and business support, and shaping regional tech ecosystems across South Yorkshire and beyond.

​Mel Selvon Ellyard, Investment Ecosystems Lead at Innovate UK Business Connect

​Investment and innovation ecosystems expert with over 20 years’ experience connecting high-growth businesses with investors, funding opportunities and the networks needed to scale.

​Daniel Bird, Co-founder & Managing Director at Relative

​Founder and creative business leader with first-hand experience of expanding a UK business into the US market and building relationships with global clients including The Coca-Cola Company, Brown-Forman and Danone.