US Market Expansion Mission
Explore and plan your US expansion.
A 7-day market expansion mission to San Francisco to meet customers, investors and partners. An immersive program packed with meetings, workshops, and private and public events — accessing doors otherwise unavailable, through trusted guides with strong in-market networks.
- Location
- San Francisco, United States
- Dates
- Sun 4 – Sat 10 October 2026
- Cost
- $8,995.00 (inc GST)
The October 2026 mission is closed and its sponsored places are allocated.
Sponsorship applications for the 2027 mission are open now.
Open to founders, investors and innovators from anywhere in Australia and New Zealand. South Australian and Queensland founders may also be eligible for a sponsored place.
Who it’s for
Founders, investors and innovators
Founders
Planning or starting to enter the market. Develop and test your go-to-market and market entry plan, make the connections that matter, and learn how to establish operations.
Investors
Connect with ready-to-scale, globally ambitious companies. Expand your investment network and see where tech is heading.
Innovators
Anyone working with startups, founders or investors — from professional service providers to policy makers and ecosystem leaders.
The schedule
Seven days, packed
- Aussie founder panels
- US investor panels and pitch feedback
- Go-to-market workshops — build and test your GTM and market entry plan
- Deep dives into the latest tech, trends and industry insights
- Artificial intelligence deep dives
- The nuts and bolts — legals, visas, accounting and banking
- B2B sales and corporate panels
- Networking, dinners and receptions
- A cohort of founders and investors on the same journey
Inclusions
What’s covered
- 6 nights accommodation in San Francisco
- Curated schedule of 20+ meetings and events
- Experienced mission leaders to guide and support you
- Three official dinners, a welcome reception and a group breakfast
- 2 pre-mission workshops
- 2 post-mission workshops
- Access to our partner network of support agencies
- Mission swag and collateral
Testimonials
What previous participants said
A clear plan, not just a good trip
Before going, we had a lot of unanswered questions, whether VC was right for us, if and when we should move to the US, and what steps to actually take to get there. Post Trade Mission, we now have a clear plan to hit $1M ARR by end of 2026, know when and how we'll pursue investment, and have a concrete timeline for our US move.
Pre Tribe and Post Tribe
The Tribe US mission far exceeded my expectations. I now have all investor related files on my computer filed as "Pre Tribe" and "Post Tribe" I walked away with that many learnings for my business. There is no podcast or book that can replace being boots on the ground and leveraging the network of a successful VC.
Six months of market discovery, in six days
The Tribe mission takes 6 months of market discovery work and condenses into 6 intensive days of being surrounded by the right people (fellow founders, customers, investors, gov, support services) so you can honestly ask yourself, does this make sense for us right now? and what do I actually need to do this properly?
A springboard into a regulated market
The Tribe Global Ventures UK Mission 2026 was an excellent springboard for Starbound's UK expansion. The calibre of connections made through the mission, and the practical support with navigating a new market and regulatory landscape, made our first UK business development trip a huge success.
Months of learning in a focused week
The UK mission compressed months of market learning into a focused week. The curated access, founder cohort and direct feedback helped Tailor sharpen a practical entry path for governed, sovereign AI in UK public-sector and regulated-industry markets.
More clarity than anything before it
The Tribe UK Mission provided more clarity for us than any other activity in our past. The ability to work on our business in the lead up and then apply that understanding in market, inside an intensive week, has had immeasurably immediate value. Thank you.
Real talk, no sugar-coating
In just one intense week across San Francisco and New York, we were spoilt with real-talk insights from expat Aussie founders who've made it, sharp VCs who invest in international plays, and ecosystem players who don't sugar-coat what it actually takes to crack the US market. For any ambitious Australian founder eyeing US growth, this isn't just a trip—it's rocket fuel!
The best mission team — doors opened
I've been on many trade missions, and even lead some, and I can hand on heart say the Tribe team are the best in the country to be running missions. You can land in a market and hustle on your own but it's nearly impossible to reverse engineer the doors that opened for us like that on this mission. Thank you Tribe.
Access. Access. Access. Cannot fault!
Honestly, I cannot fault the Tribe team and the events that I had the privilege to attend. The angels, VC's, dragons, and people with common interest that we met were amazing. The value that we gained from the mission was a result of the Tribe's team generosity in sharing; providing access to their networks and bringing to bear their contacts in the UK. Highly recommended.
Phenomenal doors opened!
The doors that opened on this trip were just phenomenal. There was no way that the doors that were opened would have been opened without this trip and Tribe.
Your mission leaders
Guides with real in-market networks
Aaron Birkby
Managing Partner
Has led over 25 trade missions to the UK, Europe, USA and Israel, and built a global software company.
Don McKenzie
Managing Partner
Built a company to public listing, expanding into the UK and USA.
Jack Butler
Investment Associate
Key member of the investment team, leading investment transactions.
Viki Forrest
Venture Partner
Queensland Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner for the Americas, with two decades of North American technology and venture networks.
Jason Seed
Venture Partner
The first North American Trade and Investment Commissioner for NSW, and 15+ years building a network in Silicon Valley.
Sponsored places
Two states fund places. Everyone else books direct.
South Australian founders
The Government of South Australia is sponsoring places for founders and investors on the 2027 mission. Applications close 19 June 2027.
SA founders applySouth Australian ecosystem leaders
Up to two sponsored places for people who lead a programme, hub, community or event serving South Australian founders.
SA ecosystem leaders applyQueensland founders
Eligible for a funded place in the Global Growth Program, which includes the UK or USA mission, supported by QIC. Applications close 5 June 2027.
QLD founders applyEverywhere else
Sponsorship runs through those two state programs only. Founders, investors and innovators from every other state and territory, and from New Zealand, book a place directly.
Reserve your placeReserve your place
$8,995.00 (inc GST) per person.
All mission places are subject to the Code of Conduct and the Refund Policy.