Your step-by-step guide to entering and growing in the Australian market

Expanding your tech company from the UK into Australia is both exciting and daunting. Between market analysis, hiring, culture, and regulation, there are countless decisions that can make or break your expansion. This guide distills 15+ years of experience helping scale companies like Stripe, GoCardless, Dropbox, and Turo into practical steps you can take today.

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Why Download This Guide?

If you’re a founder or CEO planning international expansion, you’re probably asking:

• What’s the real size of the Australian tech opportunity?
• What should I know about talent, regulations, and market entry?
• How do I avoid expensive mistakes others have made?

This guide answers those questions with battle-tested insights—from competitor analysis to navigating cultural nuances and building your first local team

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What’s Inside the Guide?

• Market overview: Where Australia’s tech ecosystem is heading, including SaaS, fintech, and healthtech opportunities
• Scale for Success pillars: The 5 foundations every founder must prepare before expanding (HQ readiness, product-market fit, key hires, culture, and go-to-market)
• Visa & trade insights: How the UK–Australia Free Trade Agreement and visa options make entry smoother
• Playbooks for impact: From roadshows to local partnerships, learn the proven steps for building traction fast
• Case studies: Real examples from companies like GoCardless and Turo, and how they launched successfully

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Who Should Download This Guide?

• Founders & CEOs of UK-based tech companies looking to expand into Australia.
• Investors & board members advising on international market entry.
• Growth leaders and executives tasked with delivering ANZ expansion plans.
• HR & People leaders navigating talent acquisition and organisational design in new markets.

If you’re considering scaling from the UK to Australia, this guide is designed to save you months of trial and error.

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FAQs

1. Why should a UK tech company consider Australia as the next market?
Australia offers a vibrant tech ecosystem, strong government incentives, and easier trade access under the UK–Australia Free Trade Agreement. It’s a smaller market than the US, but with high adoption of emerging tech.

2. What’s the biggest mistake founders make when entering Australia?
Skipping local market research and underestimating cultural nuances—Australians value relationships and localised support more than automated, offshore processes.

3. How do I know if my company is ready to expand internationally?
Check your foundations: HQ must be stable, product-market fit validated, and you should have a clear plan for key hires, culture, and capital requirements.

4. What kind of talent challenges should I expect in Australia?
The tech talent pool is growing, but senior and specialised roles can be hard to fill. Building a compelling EVP, competitive salary benchmarks, and local partnerships is critical.

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