Are you developing technology for unexplored markets, and have the feeling that you are venturing into the unknown?

We're bringing together some of Berlin's top builders, founders and product developers for an intimate evening of ignite talks by three experienced new market experts, who have navigated the challenges and pitfalls of branching outside of their comfort zone.

The ignites will be followed by an open discussion on the topic, led by Samsung NEXT's Director of Business Development Jakob Fricke, for which attendees will be encouraged to share their expriences, questions and best practices.

Festive drinks and snacks will be provided.

The Builder's Ignite Sessions:

International expansion and product-market fit in B2B: move forward with confidence, but one step at a time

Francesco Cardi, Chief Strategy Officer @ ONFIDO

Having joined the company in 2015 as VP of product and operations Francesco was instrumental in building the company's core identity verification capabilities and top-tier operations team. Prior to Onfido, Francesco held a variety of leadership roles in developing and deploying global infrastructure, financial, data and telecommunication products. He started his career as a consultant with Bain & Company, and holds a B.A. in Mathematics and Physics and a Masters in Nuclear Engineering.

Lessons from the field: building digital products in West Africa

Learn about designing and building products for a different kind of digital landscape than many of us are used to – for the billions of people around the world that now have access to connected smart phones, but who can afford only a few megabytes of data here and there, have cheap, low-powered devices, unreliable electricity, and are learning to use digital interfaces for the first time.

Ally Long, Design Lead @ Field Intelligence

She’s worked on a broad array of projects – from public health software for NGOs and non-profits, to shiny brand experiences at agencies like Edenspiekermann and A Color Bright. She’d like to live in a place where sunscreen is a necessity, but makes do in Berlin. She travels as much as humanly possible, and spends a lot of her time working in Africa.

Taking the plunge into field research

Ever felt daunted about understanding customer or user needs in a far-flung place or culture very different from your own? Learn some positive approaches to getting started with planning and conducting field research, to build trust with participants and uncover those hard to reach insights. This talk will draw on a recent client project with weather forecasting and mobile trends in Ghana.

Emma Rose Metcalfe, Designer & researcher

Emma leads design research projects to help clients get a clear understanding of human needs, behaviours and cultural trends in a new market before creating strategies or building products and services. She has increasingly found herself setting up fieldwork in emerging markets. A recovered start-up founder she now focuses on work with clients including small agencies like Ocean and large corporates like LEGO.

*There will be a photographer, let us know if you would like to not be photographed