Scaling Stateside

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Scaling Stateside Podcast - Episode 3: Stephen Whitworth, CEO of Incident.io

/ 50:32/E3
Episode Overview
Join hosts David Rose and Matt Oxley from USXP as they dive deep into the US expansion journey with Stephen Whitworth, CEO and co-founder of Incident.io. Stephen shares his entrepreneurial journey from paper boy to running a successful all-in-one incident response platform, and provides candid insights into the challenges and opportunities of scaling a UK-based startup into the US market.

Episode Length: ~50 minutes
Published: [Date]
Hosts: David Rose & Matt Oxley (USXP)
Guest: Stephen Whitworth, CEO & Co-founder, Incident.io

Guest Profile
Stephen Whitworth is the CEO and co-founder of Incident.io, an all-in-one incident response platform serving technology companies like Netflix and Airbnb. A software engineer turned serial entrepreneur, Stephen has navigated multiple UK-to-US expansion journeys throughout his career, including stints at Halo, Ravelin, and Monzo before founding Incident.io in 2021.
Connect with Stephen:
 
Key Discussion Points & Timestamps
Early Career & Entrepreneurial Journey (02:00 - 10:00)
The Birth of Incident.io (10:00 - 17:00)
Making the US Move (17:00 - 26:00)
The Human Side of US Expansion (26:00 - 32:00)
Cultural & Professional Adaptation (32:00 - 37:00)
Maintaining Company Culture Across Borders (37:00 - 41:00)
Fundraising Journey (41:00 - 47:00)
Lessons Learned & Advice (47:00 - 50:00)

Key Takeaways
  1. Market Pull vs Push: Being pulled into the US by organic demand is stronger than pushing your way in
  2. Commitment Signals: Sending the CEO shows serious commitment to the US market
  3. Timing Matters: Easier to establish dual headquarters with 20-30 people than 200-300
  4. Cultural Investment: Flying new US hires to UK headquarters builds crucial cultural bridges
  5. Location Choice: For B2B SaaS targeting tech companies, San Francisco often trumps New York
  6. Fundraising Strategy: US investors provide validation and network effects for US expansion
  7. Personal Sacrifice: The human cost of expansion is real but manageable with the right mindset

Resources Mentioned
  • Code Academy: Platform that taught Stephen to code
  • Companies Referenced: Netflix, Airbnb, Deliveroo, Uber, Halo, Ravelin, Monzo
  • Investors: Index Ventures, Point9, Insight Partners, Passion Capital
  • Locations: Silicon Roundabout (London tech scene), Harpenden (Stephen's hometown)

About USXP
USXP are the launch to revenue experts European tech scaleup companies count on for successful US expansion. Our Team of experienced operators will lead your company through the entire lifecycle of readiness, launch, and scale in the US market.
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Scaling Stateside Podcast - Episode 3: Stephen Whitworth, CEO of Incident.io

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