Alice Chambers |
Microsoft has partnered with Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) to develop the Microsoft-Austrade Go Global programme that will encourage Australian technology businesses to use software-as-a-service (SaaS) solutions to expand their services into the US market.
The programme will provide pre-departure services to prepare participants for entry into the US market and in-market support through Austrade’s Landing Pads system, beginning in September 2022.
“The economic and trading relationship between Australia and the US is recognised as one of the closest, broadest and most mutually compatible relationships in the world,” said Vanessa Sorenson, chief partner officer at Microsoft Australia and New Zealand. “Our countries share similar economic and regulatory settings, and we know our partners have a desire to enter the US market.”
The Landing Pads will provide companies with access to innovation hubs across the world, including San Francisco, California, and New York, USA; Tel Aviv, Israel; Shanghai, China; and London, UK.
“The Landing Pads have helped over 95 Australian technology scale ups to win new business and expand internationally,” said Xavier Simonet, CEO of Austrade. “The US and Canada is where the greatest number of businesses have seen success, so it is the perfect place for our partnership with Microsoft to start.”
Some of the first cohort participants include Olinqua, Passport 360, WithYouWithMe and Daltrey.
Microsoft and Austrade plan to expand the programme to other international markets after completing the initiative in September.