01854nas a2200253   4500008003900000022001400039245008900053210006900142260004200211300001000253490000600263520109400269653001601363653002101379653001801400653002501418653003101443653001701474653001301491653002001504653002301524100001701547856003601564       2012                          d  a1927-032100aUsing Social Media to Accelerate the Internationalization of Startups from Inception0 aUsing Social Media to Accelerate the Internationalization of Sta  aOttawabTalent First Networkc10/2012  a22-260 v23 aA set of principles, processes, and tools that entrepreneurs can use to rapidly internationalize their technology startups from inception does not exist. This article discusses entrepreneurs’ use of online social media networks to rapidly internationalize their startups from inception. The article was inspired by how the founders of Dewak S.A. rapidly internationalized their technology startup. Dewak was founded by five unemployed Colombians in June 2008. Two years later, foreign sales comprised 95% of the firm’s revenue and provided the founders with full-time employment. Dewak’s only channel to market was via online social media networks. 

Recognizing that entrepreneurs can use social media to amplify their tacit knowledge and convert it into sellable products and services contributes to the development of a learning-based view of rapid internationalization from inception. The article provides entrepreneurs seeking to launch and grow global businesses with four recommendations that may save them time and money and increase the size of their addressable markets. 10aborn global10aentrepreneurship10aglobalization10ainternationalization10arapid internationalization10asocial media10astartups10atacit knowledge10atechnology startup1 aMaltby, Tony  uhttp://timreview.ca/article/616