From Local to Global: Reflections on International Expansion at Stone & Chalk Sydney
Originally delivered at Stone & Chalk’s Tech Central Sydney on October 16, 2025
A Gathering of Global Minds
Last week, our founder (Mitchel Volkering) had the privilege of joining an exceptional panel at Stone & Chalk’s Tech Central Sydney hub, where they explored one of the most challenging journeys any startup can undertake: expanding beyond local markets into the global arena. The energy in the room was great as founders, investors, and ecosystem builders came together to share hard-won insights about scaling internationally.
Gratitude to an Outstanding Panel
First and foremost, our founder wants to extend his heartfelt thanks to his fellow panelists who made this discussion so rich and valuable:
Chelsea Thomas, Executive Director of ACT | The App Association, brought her unique perspective from over a decade working with the U.S. Senate Finance Committee and her time at Apple. Her insights on how policy shapes technology innovation globally were invaluable, particularly her nuanced understanding of how smaller businesses can engage with regulatory frameworks designed for tech giants.
Jad Meouchy, Co-Founder & CTO of BadVR, Inc., shared fascinating stories from his journey as a serial entrepreneur who has built and sold multiple ventures. His perspective on the intersection of psychology and engineering in creating global products offered a refreshing take on international product development.
Monika Esprit, Partner APAC at HEC Paris Innovation & Entrepreneurship Institute, illuminated the patterns of successful cross-border collaborations with her 20 years of experience connecting startups, corporates, and public institutions across APAC and Europe. Her insights on using markets as stepping stones rather than destinations were particularly enlightening.
Derek Feebrey, CEO and Co-founder of Trendspek, brought the room to attention with his unique background as a former 747 pilot turned drone company founder. His practical wisdom about expanding Trendspek’s infrastructure technology across the UK, North America, and the Middle East provided concrete examples of navigating cultural and regulatory differences.
Special thanks to Ray Fleming, Founder and Director of Ignite Partners, whose skillful facilitation kept our discussion focused while allowing for organic exploration of complex topics. Ray’s ability to draw out the most relevant experiences from each panelist while maintaining engagement with the audience was masterful.
Looking Forward
As they reflected on our discussion during the networking lunch that followed, the participants and panelists was struck by how much the conversation had evolved from traditional “go-to-market” strategies to something more nuanced and systemic. International expansion in 2025 isn’t just about finding customers in new countries – it’s about understanding and navigating complex ecosystems of regulation, talent, partnerships, and cultural dynamics.
For Australian startups looking globally, and for international companies considering Australia and APAC, the message was clear: success comes not from conquering markets, but from becoming part of them. It requires patience, cultural humility, and most importantly, the right partners and advisors who understand both where you’re coming from and where you’re trying to go.
A Community United
The energy during the networking session afterward confirmed what many of us suspected – there’s a hunger in the Sydney tech community for these kinds of honest, practical discussions about international growth. The mix of founders at different stages, corporate innovation teams, and policy makers created exactly the kind of cross-pollination that drives ecosystem development.
As ACT | The App Association establishes its presence in APAC, and as Stone & Chalk continues to be a cornerstone of Sydney’s innovation ecosystem, events like this become crucial bridges between local ambition and global opportunity.
To everyone who attended, asked questions, and stayed for networking – thank you for making this such a vibrant discussion. Your engagement and curiosity are what make Sydney’s tech ecosystem so dynamic.
And to my fellow panelists and organizers – thank you for the opportunity to be part of this important conversation. The insights shared will undoubtedly help many startups navigate their own journeys from local to global.
For those interested in continuing the conversation about international expansion, talent mobility, and the intersection of regulation and innovation, feel free to reach out. At vaic.at, we’re always eager to connect with others navigating the complexities of global growth.
Special thanks again to Stone & Chalk and ACT | The App Association for bringing together such an exceptional group of speakers and creating a platform for these critical discussions.
Comments
There are no comments yet.