Exporting is an essential part of a business plan for any company that wants to grow: 96% of the world’s consumers live outside the U.S., and 1 billion people are expected to join the global middle class in the next decade.
In addition to reaching new markets ripe for your product or service, exporting has been proven to help companies grow faster, offer higher wages, improve their labor pool and ultimately increase valuation.
If you’re ready to export but struggling to get started, then it’s time to consider ExporTech™. And for companies in western Wisconsin, there couldn’t be a better time to get started.
ExporTech is a proven 12-week export strategy development program designed to accelerate a company’s go-to-market timeline by developing a customized international growth plan for the company’s product in thoughtfully selected markets. ExporTech is offered several times throughout the year in partnership with Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership. WEDC and its partners also join forces with the UW-Stout Manufacturing Outreach Center (MOC) to offer sessions that are more easily accessible to companies in other parts of the state. In the fall of 2019, the course will be offered in Eau Claire, with meetings at Chippewa Valley Technical College on Sept. 11, Oct. 16 and Nov. 20. “The key to success in exporting is preparedness, and ExporTech helps to better position companies for success in the global economy,” says Brad Schneider, market development director at WEDC. “ExporTech helps companies take a more proactive approach to export markets. As the driving force in job creation and economic growth, small business growth is imperative to the health of the Wisconsin economy.”
Companies participating in ExporTech receive access to subject matter experts, individualized coaching and consulting, customized support and guided development of an international growth plan. The program provides a unique focus on CEO/top management success factors and aims to equip companies for rapid export success.
There is a cost to participate in ExporTech, but to better support the export capabilities of Wisconsin companies, WEDC partners with the Wisconsin Center for Manufacturing and Productivity (WCMP) to offer financial and technical assistance through the ExporTech Program. Assistance includes WEDC funding for ExporTech delivery, WEDC assistance with the program cost for eligible participating companies, and funding for a market assessment following ExporTech completion. Each company may bring up to three executives.
Additional information on ExporTech, including sessions in other locations, can be found on WEDC’s ExporTech webpage.
