For many UK tech companies, expanding into the United States represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity — access to greater capital, customers, and scale. But breaking into the US market means far more than booking a flight and opening a Delaware C-Corp. It requires a deep mindset shift, fresh go-to-market strategy, and a willingness to rethink how your startup operates.

We get many questions from British founders about whether they should move to the US - so we decided to bring in people in the know.

In this candid and interactive Q&A, hosted by James Gee, Director of Startup Grind Silicon Valley who made the move two years ago, we’ll explore what it really takes to compete — and win — in the US.

Joining James are:

Valerie Osband Mahoney – Partner, NFX

- A British investor now based in Silicon Valley, among the most active early-stage funds backing founders across both sides of the Atlantic.

Daniel Glazer – London Office Managing Partner & US Expansion Lead, Wilson Sonsini

- Advising hundreds of UK/EU startups on US setup, fundraising, and cross-border growth.

Tom Charman - Founder of Blok

- Having moved to Silicon Valley, Tom is coming out of stealth and has successfully raised $7.5m. He's building the future of product development in the era of frontier AI. They’re helping product and growth teams simulate user behavior before shipping code.

Together, we’ll dive into the practical and personal side of US expansion — from raising capital and incorporating, to finding product-market fit and navigating the Bay Area ecosystem.

🧭 Discussion Topics

• When and how to approach US VCs
• How investor expectations differ in the US vs UK/EU
• Whether you need a US entity to raise from US investors
• When to establish a US office — and where
• Visa, legal, and hiring considerations
• Building and pitching to US customers
• Cultural and lifestyle differences — what to really expect

And yes… do people really sue each other all the time?

🎯 Who Should Attend

• Founders, investors, and operators across the UK who are:
• Considering or preparing for US expansion
• Fundraising or scaling internationally
• Curious about what life and business in the Bay Area are actually like

✈️ Why Now

With record levels of cross-border investment and more UK founders than ever eyeing the US market, there’s never been a better time to understand how to make the leap — and how to thrive once you do.

Join us for an honest, high-value discussion about what it really means to take your startup from London to the Valley.

📍 Startup Grind UK + Silicon Valley

🗓️ Date: 3rd December at 5pm 

🎟️ Free - Simply register online