DCV Global Recruitment Group Director, Chan Dabare, was invited as a guest speaker at Trans X’s digital event: “Scale Beyond Borders: Proven Strategies for EU Market Entry.”
The event brought together thought leaders to share strategic insights on critical topics such as market readiness, the common pitfalls that cause startups to fail when expanding internationally, how to stay competitive post-entry, compliance with local laws and regulations, and access to funding.
Here are some key takeaways from Chan’s session:
𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬
Having a great product alone is not enough. Many companies fail because they lack a localized perspective—overlooking cultural differences and assuming price is the only decision factor for clients. To succeed, businesses must understand local regulations, as non-compliance can severely hinder growth.
𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞
DCV Global Recruitment’s own journey in Poland serves as an example. We built local presence and teams, targeting international organizations with delivery centers there. In our first year, we prioritized achieving critical mass—reaching 100 consultants billing in record time. Another driver of success was appointing strong local leadership, including experienced Advisors and Non-Executive Directors, to establish credibility from day one.
𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞
Lack of awareness of local tax and compliance laws can be a major obstacle. At DCV, we ensure each country has dedicated tax and compliance teams to streamline operations, allowing leadership to focus on growth. We have also balanced our Non-Executive Directors between growth-focused and compliance-focused mandates, ensuring sustainable expansion.
𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠
To attract investment, startups must clearly demonstrate ROI. Having a local expert dedicated to identifying government and EU funding opportunities is equally critical to securing long-term financial support.
In closing, Chan remarked: “There is always a wave to ride – always something that pushes us to grow. With nearshoring booming while offshoring slows, blended delivery models (nearshore-offshore-onshore) are gaining momentum. The billions committed to rebuilding Germany’s manufacturing sector will create new opportunities in Infrastructure, AI, and Automation. The key to unlocking these lies in building trust with local leaders—and that trust comes from having local people on your team.”
About Chan Dabare
With over 25 years of leadership experience in the global technology marketplace, Chan has successfully built and scaled four major IT consultancies across the UK, EMEA, and the USA. He has led multiple acquisitions and prepared two organizations for public listing, with deep expertise in M&A, international expansion, and strategic transformation. Chan also serves as a Non-Executive Director across several technology businesses, providing governance, strategic direction, and leadership.
