Going Global | Mastering International Market Expansion 

These are just a handful of questions entrepreneurs ask themselves when it comes to internationalizing their business. This workshop will provide you with strategic market insight and offer a step-by-step approach to help you successfully enter foreign markets and answer those burning questions of yours.  
In addition, each workshop is unique and focuses on a different country and its potential business opportunities. Whether you’re curious about expanding beyond your home market for the first time or already active in several foreign markets, you will find value.  
 
Learning goals

Enhance your understanding of new market expansion. This includes budgeting, how to structure your time and efforts and identifying opportunities to capitalize on. 
Learn how to critically analyze new markets that align with your business 
To start, stop or double your efforts in a new market 
 
 
After this session you will be capable of

• Gained foundational knowledge of a new market and internationalization (in general). This includes market exploration, evaluation and selection tips, tricks, and tactics.
• Gained critical business insight from a country expert who has ‘walked the talk’ and can share what works, what doesn’t when it comes to business building in their home market!  
• Understand different pathways that are available for new market growth. This covers re-sellers, distributors, joint ventures, greenfield projects and more!
• How to leverage the International Market Identifier, an in-house tool used to evaluate new markets based on your products / services, customers, sales processes and more! 

This workshop is not just on international expansion but also focuses on how you need to prepare your team, self, and business internally before international growth. You must be organized internally to maximize your chances of being successful abroad. This includes: 

1) The power of patience – Why internationalization takes months not weeks or days to prepare for. 
2) Sounding it out with others – Understand the need to leverage advisors, shareholders and other key stakeholders for opinions and expertise and buy-in 
3) Budgeting – Time and cost commitments needed. Scaling abroad isn’t cheap. 
4) Tools – Getting your tech stack to work beyond borders. 
 
Outcome: After this workshop, you will have critical knowledge and understanding of how to evaluate a new market for international growth and how to prepare for international growth. 
In addition, you will receive specific market insight from our Co- workshop Coach, getting unique insights on how your business can crack (or not) a market.  

 

Target audience 
- Founder or CEO (whoever leads on sales/ partnerships/ business development) 
- Business Development Lead 
- Sales Lead 
- Marketing Lead 
- Partnerships Lead 
 
 
Coach 
Andrew Herweg, Internationalization Officer at Imec.istart 
 
For each workshop, Andrew is joined by an in-country expert. This expert has a proven track record advising or building businesses in a specific market and will share their personal experiences, tips, and advice with attendees. 
 
 
Focus country: TBD 

 

Preparation 
Please prepare three to five questions you want answered during the workshop or during the 1-1 session to ensure maximum value for your business. 
 
 
Practicalities 
Online workshop followed by a 1-1 session with each participating company 
15 October 
09:00-11:30 > classroom session, online via MS Teams 
 
16 October 
09:00-17:00 > optional one-on-one sessions (1 hour max. per session > Please pick your timeslot via the tab '1-on-1 timeslots') 
 

Follow-up track

• Post-workshop, further internationalization assistance can be provided via:
• Access to international networks such as GAN, EuroIncNet.
• Connections to Trade & Investment Officers in global markets.
• Introductions to portfolio companies that have ‘walked the talk’ and willing to share their connections, expertise, and experiences.
• Online or in-person training on using the International Market Identifier tool to select which markets may be best for you.
• Participation in international missions via imec.istart or Scaleup Vlaanderen[HV(1] .
• Insight and recommendations on soft landing programmes to enter foreign markets.
• Guidance on subsidies available to off-set costs and kick-start your internationalization journey.
• Sounding board support- Have a quick question or want to do an all-day strategy session, email Andrew at andrew.herweg@imec.be.