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Letter from the President
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Nicholas Unkovic
BABC President & Partner
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Dear Friend of the BABC,
Here is a recap of BABC activities from the past month and our upcoming events!
Finally, thank you to all the new members who have joined the BABC over the last month and to all of our members showing their continued support of our growing organization by renewing and upgrading your memberships. Please take a moment to visit their websites and learn more - they may be able to help you!
Best,
Nick Unkovic
President, BABC Northern California
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Apr 19
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Apr 25
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May 4
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May 11
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May 14
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Jun 1
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Jun 3
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Jun 11
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From The Consul General's Desk
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H.M. Consul General to San Francisco
Ms. Priya Guha
The Work we do at The British Consulate General
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Many people (including my own parents!) ask me what exactly we do at the British Consulate General, so I thought I'd give you a flavour of one important aspect: supporting UK companies through overseas trade missions. Since last month's BABC newsletter, UK Trade & Investment have hosted three very different trade missions in cyber security, fintech and games.
Three weeks, three sectors, engaging more than 100 UK companies.
All
with one goal in mind: assisting British companies to gain knowledge and experience of Silicon Valley.UKTI missions allow companies who have demonstrated their credibility in a particular sector
to take advantage of the UKTI network in market to grow their business. UKTI colleagues here arrange a programme where visiting C-level teams can gain advice, learn best practices, explore funding, secure contracts and, perhaps most importantly, connect to a new network.
Additionally, the
Exporting is GREAT
programme allows companies to apply for
real-time export opportunities
with a
potential total value of more than £300 million
, using
an
online
portal
.
In the past month, two of the three Missions were arranged to coincide with major international conference that some of you will have been involved with too: the RSA Conference and the Game Developers Conference. Maximizing the UK brand at these events through the GREAT campaign is another way we can bring value to participating companies.
UKTI Missions are just one way we support transatlantic business. As always, if you're interested in hearing more, or if you know of any opportunities for British businesses, don't hesitate to get in touch!
Priya Guha is HM Consul General to San Francisco. Her column will appear monthly.
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EXCELLENT SPONSORSHIP PACKAGES AVAILABLE
CHECK OUT THE VIDEO FROM LAST YEAR!
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Global Words of Wisdom on Cross Border Data Transfer
There has been much coverage on the both sides of the Atlantic on the issue of data protection and management, especially given the newly proposed EU-US privacy framework. The new EU-US Privacy Shield agreement outlines a set of reformed guidelines to ensure that citizens' personal and private information is protected to comply with EU standards when data is transferred and stored in the US. This new transatlantic agreement seeks to replace the previous Safe Harbour Privacy Principles which were struck down in a 2015 European Court of Justice Court ruling.
Click here to see the video!
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B|spoke Works with the BABC to Tell Your Brand Story
The b|spoke story
Having worked with British Airways Americas and Ten Group USA by the time I launched my brand consultancy in 2011, my interest and affinity for British business was firmly established. This interest led me to @BABCSF on Twitter in 2012.In 2014, I began to notice BABCSF's high-level networking opportunities and events, around which this consultant saw a great opportunity: to capture and share event insights across Twitter, creating real-time engagement for the organization, while building membership, brand proposition and recognition. After a Starbucks coffee with Executive Director Jo Healey, our collaboration began that summer. Over the next six months, through co-branded events such as Panasonic R&D's
#lab1point0, LinkedIn's
#startupbabcsf, The German American Business Association and SAP's
#IOTBABCSF, and the Annual Christmas Luncheon
#xmasbabcsf, we grew BABCSF's Twitter following by 600%; captured business development leads, resulting in individual, corporate and patron level memberships; solidified and grew BABCSF brand awareness and NorCal social and real-world spheres of influence; strengthened ongoing partnership & coordination with the British Consulate in San Francisco.
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We are really excited for our first US client who has launched their Kickstarter Campaign. We all know what the day after a bad night of sleep feels like: it's hard to think straight, motivation is lacking, the candy-filled vending machine keeps calling your name, and you're just counting down the hours until you can jump back into bed. In short, your day is unproductive and unhealthy. But now, with the introduction of Opter Sleep (for which the company is currently running a Kickstarter campaign,
see here), we can all improve our sleep habits and live healthier, happier, more productive lives.
Opter Sleep, the first product in what will be an ecosystem of interconnected, habit-improving devices, works in conjunction with the Opter app to track the impact a user's lifestyle choices have on their sleep. The system provides valuable data about sleep habits and quality and offers personalized, science-backed advice on how to sleep better. Opter Sleep features a sleek, minimalistic design, doesn't require power cords or charging, and doesn't need to be re-programmed each day. Users can simply slip the device under their pillow or sheets and leave it there for years, checking their Opter app whenever they'd like to access their data.
To learn more about Opter Sleep and how it works, see their website,
here
.
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RocketSpace Launches Logistics Tech Accelerator
RocketSpace and Kaleido announced the launch of its Logistics Tech Accelerator, connecting disruptive startups with tech-driven corporates to fuel cross-industry innovation. The new program combines RocketSpace's unique tech ecosystem and open innovation expertise with Kaleido's pioneering tech approach to disruptive logistics solutions. This will be the first in a series of corporate industry accelerators introduced by RocketSpace.
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Hinman & Carmichael LLP: The Day the Music Almost Died - The Story of the BottleRock ABC Accusations
In a huge victory for common sense interpretation of the law and a reaffirmation of reasonableness by the California ABC Appeals Board, several decisions in favor of wineries (Hinman & Carmichael LLP clients) who participated in the 2013 BottleRock festival have clarified the muddy waters of tied-house issues in California. The ABC Appeals Board's opinions reversing findings of violations of ABC statutes relating to indirect ownership of retail licenses and sponsorships of festivals, and the exchange of goods for promotional consideration, pave the way for a more rational ABC approach to the tied-house laws in the future.
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Norwegian Air Announces Direct Flights from OAK>LGW
Norwegian Air will start flying nonstop from Oakland to London's Gatwick Airport starting May 12, airline and airport officials announced Monday. Those flights will give Bay Area travelers an option they've never had before: The choice of flying to London from the Bay Area's second- and third-largest airports instead of just San Francisco.
Norwegian's new route is the third international destination out of Oakland International Airport for the popular low-fare European carrier. The airline already flies to Oslo, Norway, and Stockholm, Sweden. And it marks a milestone for the Oakland Airport. "We're pleased that London Gatwick will be our 50th nonstop destination, a record high in OAK's history," Kristi McKenney, acting director of aviation, said in a statement. New Dreamliner 787 jets will be used for the three-times-weekly trips across the pond, Norwegian officials said.
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The Happy Egg Company: Get #FlockingHappy about Hen Welfare
T
he happy egg co. is the leading humanely produced, free range egg brand so it seemed only natural that we would want to instigate a nationwide call to action in support of hen welfare. In tandem with TV Host and best-selling author, Ross Mathews, we have launched the #FlockingHappy pledge to encourage everyone to make more humane, informed purchasing decisions when buying eggs. In fact, for every signature supporting the #FlockingHappy pledge, we'll happily donate $1 - and up to $25,000 - to Compassion in World Farming, a leader in farm animal welfare, and humane and sustainable food production.
"Everyone knows I have a soft spot for animals and want to see all animals treated with the best care. The happy egg co. girls are like me - they enjoy the sun, socializing and having a good time just doing what they do naturally. These hens are living the high life on the farm and I'm so Flocking Happy to participate in a movement that makes it easy for people to support happier living conditions for hens."
Ross Mathews - True Free Range is very important to us - it's built on the idea that egg-laying hens, with 30-inch wingspans, should be allowed abundant space to stretch, forage and spend their days. We believe in it so much that the happy egg co. provides their hens' with outdoor access each and every day on acres of pasture equivalent in size to six football fields.
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New Corporate Level Members
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First Republic is a full-service bank, with 30 years' experience of providing extraordinary service to our extraordinary personal and business banking clients. We put clients first and develop personal, long-term relationships based on a level of service that is uncommon in today's banking world. Our aim is to change the way you feel about banking.
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Why URSUS? Our global IT Staffing Services and Systems Integration team intelligently connects the market's most qualified candidates, Global 1000 companies and Startups. We place the highest priority on understanding unique client needs first, ensuring mutual, best-fit success and integration of people and product. Our relentless attention to detail is the hallmark of our organization. We look forward to working with you.
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Founded in 1993, Norwegian is the third largest low-cost carrier in Europe with about 5,500 employees. We operate over 400 routes to more than 130 destinations in Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, Thailand, the Caribbean and the US.
Norwegian has been listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange since 2003. We're a young airline that has experienced significant growth over the past few years by introducing brand new aircraft to our fleet, as well as launching many new routes and establishing new bases in Europe, Asia and the U.S. Today, we have more than 100 aircraft and are proud to have one of the world's youngest and greenest fleets with an average age of just 3.6 years.
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Hannon Digital was founded by Colm Hannon, an Irish technology entrepreneur in London with a background in elite sport and enterprise social media. In 2009 Colm founded The Digital Leaders Think Tank, an exclusive invitation-only round table think tank for global leaders in digital, marketing and communications. The DLTT members' feedback to Colm was that they nearly all wanted to work with a digital company that could blend the capabilities
of a social media agency with those of a full-service digital marketing agency and a digital communications consultancy: and from that advice Hannon Digital was born.
Today Hannon Digital is exactly what the Digital Leaders asked for; a one-stop shop for B2B digital marketing and communications advice, training and managed services. If you are a leader from a B2B company and you are serious about improving your digital marketing and communications in one of your teams or departments - or across your whole organisation - then get in touch with Hannon Digital today.
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Kiosk is a full-service marketing agency that believes in strategic data analysis, top-flight creative technology and excellent client service. Founded in 2004 with offices in the San Francisco Bay
Area, Toronto and Liverpool, we work with some of the world's most innovative companies. We've hand-picked the boldest, brightest minds in marketing, web, design, strategy and analytics to build a winning team.
We use data to understand what makes your business tick, and develop smart, strategic experiences that are constantly optimized to deliver quality leads and high levels of conversion and retention. When building successful client partnerships, we believe that our people skills are as important as our love of number crunching. Our goal? Benchmark-beating ROI in a spirit of engaged and informed collaboration.
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London Logos was established in 2006 to service clients who were frustrated by the lack of creativity and accountability in their promotional marketing programs. Clients were tired of surfing the internet for promotional products which did not meet their expectations when they arrived. They needed a marketing solutions consultant, who understood their business or organization and its target market, who understood the importance and power of branding and promotions, would bring creativity to the table and remove the stress from the process.
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New Individual & Young Professional Members
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Brittini Smith
Chantel Rowe
Eamonn Cribbin
Mauricio Santana
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Our Thanks to These Renewing Members
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Individual
Ian Burditt
Matthew Lambrinos
Chris Richardson
Elena Smirnov Otis
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Play Rugby USA & AIG 4th Annual San Francisco Rugby Cup
On May 14th 2016 nearly 300 youth rugby players, fans and volunteers will gather at the SFGG Rugby Pitch on Treasure Island for the 4th Annual San Francisco Rugby Cup! This event provides a chance for youth in Play Rugby USA's San Francisco programs to compete with their team and showcase the skills and more importantly, the values they've been mastering during the school year. They also have the unique opportunity to socialize with students who may come from vastly different neighborhoods
and backgrounds, and find that they have something in common: a passion for rugby. The SF Rugby Cup is more than just a tournament. It's a community building project!
At Play Rugby USA our mission is to use the unique power of rugby to inspire and empower youth, primarily from under served communities, to go-forward and realize their true potential.
We
believe that young people in under served communities deserve every opportunity to be successful and we also believe Rugby is a unique vehicle for developing skills that are applicable for young people to succeed in school, the community and in living a healthy life.
In
celebration of Rugby's return to the Olympic Games this summer each team will adopt a competing nation to learn more about their culture and rugby history. We hope you will join us in supporting this unique event to showcase your brand's commitment to promoting positive youth development, health and wellness in San Francisco!
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One Home, Many Hearts
Fundraising Gala
May 14th, 2016
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Member Offers: Sign In & Save!
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ON VIRGIN ATLANTIC FLIGHTS!
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BABC Network News & Publications
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BABC's CEO in the Guardian: Americans and Australians are among the most affected by the expected changes to Tier 2
In a recent Guardian article on the proposed changes in non-EU immigration to the UK, BABC's CEO, Jeffries Briginshaw, emphasized that any restriction to the Tier 2 visa scheme will have a negative impact on the way American businesses operate in the UK and how American citizens can be part of the UK. To read the article, click
here
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UK Government Respond to Tier 2 Visa Recommendations
On 24 March 2016 the
UK Government responded
to the recommendations of the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) on
Tier 2 visas
(released 19 January 2016). Key takeaways include
enhanced weighting will be given to allocation of Tier 2 places associated with relocation of high value businesses to the UK or that supports inward investment,
the right of dependants to work remains. Immigration Skills Charges, to be levied on Tier 2 employers at a rate of £1,000 per person per year from April 2017.
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New EU-US Privacy Shield Framework
On 29 February 2016, the Department of Commerce and European Commission released the details of the new US-EU Privacy Shield program, intended to replace Safe Harbour. At present Privacy Shield is pending approval and not currently a valid process for transfer and storage of data. The package communicated to EU Commissioner Věra Jourová from US Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker, included supporting letters from the US government departments to provide assurances that the privacy rights of Europeans will be protected. Full text and fact sheet can be found
here.
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EU Considered Restricting Visa Free Travel for Americans and Canadians
This considerations came as retaliation for the restrictions that have been imposed on five European countries by the US and Canada (Read the full article here). On 12 April 2016, the Commission, however, decided not to pursue the suspended visa waiver program (as of yet, for more info click here). If the EU were to go ahead and imposed these restriction then the US would respond automatically under its own reciprocity clause and require visas for even more EU countries.
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(The Guide to Investing in the USA)
(The Guide to Investing in the UK)
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British American Business Council | (415) 296 8645 | babcsf.org
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See what's happening on our social sites:
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