STEP Market Entry Support

The Initial Market Check provides participating companies with preliminary information needed to evaluate market potential. Companies receive a written report that includes:

• A preliminary snapshot of the market potential of the company’s product/service; 
• Feedback from local contacts, including their questions/responses and level of interest in the company’s product/service; and
• Analysis and recommendations for next steps. 

Several funding opportunities will be made available to eligible small businesses in the form of post-activity reimbursement. 

The Gold Key Matching Service is available to U.S.-based companies to introduce U.S.-made products to potential agents, distributors, sales representatives, association and government contacts, licensing or joint venture partners, end-users and other strategic business partners in the targeted export market. It includes customized market and industry briefings, appointments with potential business partners, post-meeting debriefings with U.S. Commercial Service trade specialists and assistance in developing appropriate follow-up strategies and logistics planning assistance. 

Several funding opportunities will be made available to eligible small businesses in the form of post-activity reimbursement. 

Similar to the Gold Key Matching Service, the International Partner Search program is designed to assist U.S. companies identifying local agents and distributors for their products. The U.S. Commercial Service will use its strong network of international contacts to interview potential foreign partners and provide the U.S. company with a list of up to five pre-qualified partners. 

Several funding opportunities will be made available to eligible small businesses in the form of post-activity reimbursement. 

Other activities provided by the U.S. Commercial Service are single company promotions, market research, international company profile, etc.

Design of Marketing Materials

Several marketing media design funding opportunities will be made available to eligible small businesses in the form of post-activity reimbursement. Eligible marketing media include brochures, posters, social media platforms (except website) and billboards.

Translation of Website, Marketing Material and Product Labels

Several websites, marketing material and product label translation funding opportunities will be made available to eligible small businesses in the form of post-activity reimbursement.

Foreign Sales Trips

Several foreign sales trip funding opportunities will be made available to eligible small businesses in the form of post-activity reimbursement. Funding can be used to offset an awardee’s qualified airfare expenses. Airfare expenses must meet the “Fly America” Guidelines.