International Women Entrepreneurs Gather in Seattle
On September 5 and 6, entrepreneurs from multiple continents met in Seattle, WA for the 1st Annual Entrepreneurial Women’s International Tradeshow. The event’s site describes the tradeshow as a “global minded business women’s event created by and for entrepreneurial women. The goal was to discuss how to kick off US business overseas or bring a non-US company to the states. As someone who is very intersected in how e-commerce and socially driven sites can be pushed at the international level, I was thrilled when Nelly Yusupova, the New York City chapter leader of Webgrrls, asked if I wanted to go. We hopped on a cross-country flight from New York and headed to the Pacific Northwest.
After a day strolling through Pike’s Place Market and popping in the original Starbucks, it was time for the conference. The event was held on the top floor of the tallest building in Seattle, the Columbia Towers. The participants were predominantly women. In addition to people attending from the US, many had traveled from Japan for the conference, and women from Russia and China were also present.
Day 1 of the two-day event consisted of a string of presenters who each talked about international business from a different angle. Day 2 was a day of networking at a tradeshow and reception. Below is a recap of the events.
Day 1 Morning Sessions: Laws and Regulations
Legal Implications of Working Overseas
Nadja Vietz, a lawyer from Harris & Moure PLLC, started off the day by discussing the risks and legal implications of overseas companies. She talked about the risks of taking business to a new country and encouraged people to find good local legal council. She warned business owners to get insurance and to contact the Chamber of Commerce as part of thoroughly researching potential future partners. She also stressed the importance of writing out every detail in the contract, including what will happen if the deal goes sour, because business practices and assumptions can be extremely different from culture to culture.
Renting Office Space through Brokers
Gven Goldman from Regency Group, Inc., along with two others from his firm, walked us through the process of securing office space in Seattle or throughout the world. He explained how real estate brokers can help negotiate the best rates because of their established relationships with building owners.
Day 1 Afternoon Sessions: Gaining Access to the US Market
Setting Up a Foreign Company in the US
The next presenter focused on the non-US attendees and walked them through the different ways to incorporate in the United States. He also briefly touched on international mergers and acquisitions. (Sorry for not mentioning this presenter by name. I can’t find his name on the site and didn’t write it down.)
Immigration
David Chappel, an attorney from Chappel/Wang PLLC, told the group the real story of how immigration works and how attorney relationships with the immigration board can play a role. He explained the different types of visas people can apply for when coming in to the US or traveling to another country. I had no idea the process was so complicated!
Women as Entrepreneurs
Tish Johnson, the recipient of the “Woman Entrepreneur of the Year” award in 1990, closed the day by discussing what it takes to be an entrepreneur. She said that an entrepreneur is someone who creates jobs and not just someone who starts a business. She told us about the ups and downs she has experienced in her years starting and managing print companies and working in restaurant franchises.
Day 2: Networking and Tradeshow
For the final day, we gathered in an open room that had a gorgeous view of Puget Sound for a networking reception. Booths representing women-focused businesses lined the space. Nelly and I ran the booth for Webgrrls International and met many people who were interested in the organization. Companies from around the world were represented. One company promoted trade between the US and some African nations, and another represented Japanese artists. As part of the entertainment, a designer showcased her new fall line in a live fashion show, and a Japanese artist did a large painting that was put up for sale that evening. It was wonderful to see how women are pushing business around the world.
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