Austrade seeks financial services companies to visit Microsoft HQ

The Australian Trade Commission (Austrade) is seeking applications from financial services technology companies keen to be involved in a trade mission to visit Microsoft’s headquarters in Redmond, Seattle.

The inaugural trade mission from June 4 to 6 will give 15 companies a chance to showcase Australian expertise in financial services technology to industry experts, venture capitalists and key Microsoft representatives.

Peter Harrison, Austrade’s national manager for the ICT Exporter Services Industry Group said a select group of companies would be taken to Microsoft headquarters to meet with platform development managers to discuss Microsoft’s software direction in the financial technology sector.

“We hope this [meeting] will assist Australian companies to not only align themselves to develope complementary product offerings, but also to work out the kinks between what the companies need and what Microsoft is developing,” he said.

David Sajfar, Microsoft Australia’s industry development manager, said the mission would provide participants with an early insight into Microsoft’s product development and strategic vision in financial services.

“Globally, the financial services industry (FSI) is seeking new ‘next generation’ technologies to fuel innovation,” he said.

In addition to meeting with Microsoft’s financial services program managers and FSI product managers, participants will also meet with venture capitalists and FSI expert representatives within the Seattle region; as well as promote their products to both parties at two networking opportunities.

Austrade is currently seeking applications from interested parties. Harrison said companies would be selected on their ability to demonstrate their innovation in software development relevant to the financial services industry. They will also need to have a proven track record of selling technology solutions to Australian and offshore financial services firms.

“They will be able to demonstrate they have a range of reference sites where their solutions have been implemented,” he said. “They will be asked to demonstrate their company has a financial and management commitment to exporting.”

Austrade is working closely with State Governments and key industry associations such as the AIIA and AIMIA to promote the trade mission.

Applications close on March 28.