Are you exporting now and if so, is it to your fullest potential? And if you’re not exporting, would you like to pursue a plan for your company’s international sales launch and successful growth? And most importantly, can you afford the resources this business venture will entail? We have the solution!
ExporTech is a structured process designed to accelerate export growth for small- to medium-sized manufacturers. This 10-week program is specifically targeted at the executive leadership of forward-looking companies that want to develop and execute a strategic growth plan to expand international sales.
If you desire to grow your international sales and want to do it right the first time, join us to Plan, Educate, Connect and Execute with ExporTech 2024!
Plan – Develop a strategic export growth plan in 10 weeks, and obtain feedback from experienced international business leaders on your strategy.
Educate – Learn about a wide range of topics and best practices from real word business experts and successful exporters – with opportunity for individualized consultation and coaching.
Connect – Meet experts that become part of your network and learn about federal and state programs, services, and grants that many exporters are unaware of.
Execute – Execute your plan with the support from expert partner resources that can help you go-to-market while reducing cost and risk.
With group workshops and individual coaching, in just 10 weeks time, you’ll create an export plan specifically for your company
Each company is assigned an experienced coach to provide focused, one-on-one support in the development and execution of its plans. The customized workshops and discussions help companies learn from peers in order to extract the information they need to develop an actionable and targeted plan.
Topics include: Value Proposition, Market Research, Target Market Selection, Sales & Distribution, Financing, Logistics & Documentation, Compliance, Payment, Legal Issues, Website Globalization and so much more. Your company team will prepare and present its export plan to experienced exporters for feedback, next steps and plan implementation. Follow-up coaching and support from partners to execute your plan (including US Commercial Service programs) will have you on your way to your company’s successful international sales launch and future growth!
Yes, you can afford ExporTech 2024!
With the help of the State of Vermont’s State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) grant, qualifying companies receive 75% off the cost of the program, bringing the $4,000 fee for company teams (up to 4 people/ company) down to just $1,000. View the STEP Grant Application at this link and contact Daegan Goodman, STEP Program Manager, (802) 622-4193 or [email protected] for questions and/ or assistance in completing the application.
The What, Who, When and Where
The 10 week virtual program will be offered Tuesdays from January 30 – April 9, 2024. The schedule is outlined below with tentative topics; all times noted are EST. The coaching sessions will be scheduled accordingly based on company and coaches availability, separate and in addition to what you see below.
Click here to view the ExporTech 2024 program flyer.
This ExporTech program is combining efforts with several Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) sister centers around the country so you will have the opportunity to meet others who are also going through their own exporting journey. VMEC is the official representative of the MEP National Network in Vermont.
January 30 – 1:30 – 3:30 pm – Kick-off – Program Overview, Introduction to Exporting, Value Proposition Discussion
February 6 – 1:30 – 5:00 pm – Setting the Stage – Company Introductions and Traits of Successful Exporters
February 13 – 9:30 – 11:30 am – Sales and Marketing
February 20 – 1:30 – 3:30 pm – Market Research
February 27 – 1:30 – 3:30 pm – Finding Distributors
March 5 – 1:30 – 3:30 pm – Potpourri of Exporting Topics
March 12 – skipped week, no session
March 19 – 1:30 – 3:30 pm – International Financing and Credit
March 26 – 1:30 – 3:30 pm – International Logistics
April 2 – 1:30 – 3:30 pm – Go-To-Market
April 9 – 1:30 – 5:00 pm – Export Growth Plan Presentations
The program is jointly offered by the NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership/ MEP National Network and the U.S. Commercial Service (USCS), both part of the U.S. Department of Commerce. Along with our federal partners, this program is also supported by the State of Vermont’s Agency of Commerce and Community Development Dept. of Economic Development and the U.S. Commercial Service (USCS) Montpelier office.
Questions regarding the ExporTech program? Contact Lisa Henderson, VMEC Director of Client Services, (802) 299-1456 or [email protected].
NOTE: In order to ensure VMEC is offering the best business improvement programs to Vermont manufacturers and justify continued U.S. Dept. of Commerce funding for these services, participants may be asked to provide impact data and assessment through an impartial 3rd party survey firm 6 – 12 months after a VMEC-hosted learning opportunity.