PROJECT
About Export Express
Export Express Project
Prepare your company for export and a successful business scaling in less than a year.
Export Express is more than just another one-time event.
It is a full-year hands-on business and export jumpstart programme, tailored to your business needs.
To have this level of support you would spend thousands of Euros on consulting fees alone and that would be worth every cent.
This is your chance to get access to industry experts and prepare for export for FREE.
This is made possible due to Interreg Estonia-Latvia project "Brave Idea Support Programme" (B-Idea), No. Est-Lat 47, which is branded as Export Express.
The project is being implemented from Sep 2017 to Apr 2019 with a budget of EUR 389 365.97, including the ERDF grant of EUR 330 961.05. The project is being implemented by 3 partners from Latvia and 2 partners from Estonia, see "Partners".
The overall objective of the project is to facilitate an entrepreneurial spirit of Estonia-Latvia new SMEs (small and medium enterprises) by a sustainable and results-based approach. A specific objective is to engage 24 SMEs in Export Express programme to enable them to start sustainable development and export activities and to enable at least 10 of the SMEs to get their first export sales leads or deals during implementation of the project.
Since it is an Estonia-Latvia programme, a cross-border approach will be significant in all processes and can add great value to participants - selection of Estonian and Latvian SMEs, joint events (bootcamps, trade missions), match-making and sharing experience and resources.
What's In It For You?
Training and Mentoring
Individual training and mentoring from experienced export managers. Master classes to prepare for development and export.
Hands-On Planning
Real business resource and process development plan, hands-on long-term business model, and a strategy tailored specifically to your business.
Management How-To
Organisation management, including manufacturing, logistics, sales, and other processes.
Export Preparation
Getting you ready for export: preparation, contacts, work with partners, work with customers, long-term client relations, etc.
Marketing & Sales
Help with marketing and sales materials: corporate branding, positioning, trademarks, packaging, marketing, and sales.
Attracting Investments
Fundraising and investment pitching. How to apply for government grants, export support programmes? How to attract investors?
Trade Missions
Joint trade mission in your target country with your product for free. Attract your first customers and scale from there.
Ongoing Support
Ongoing support, advice, and coaching throughout the year. Setting milestones with individual coaches & business mentors.
Networking
Co-working and sharing experience and resources with other SMEs. Networking with mentors, coaches, potential partners and investors.
Export Express is
not for everyone. This support programme is for companies with:
- A product / service that has export potential
- A committed, coachable and competent team
- No or limited successful experience in export markets
- Sufficient readiness level to grow and export
Special note:
All companies from Estonia
and Latvia
that are new to export markets are welcome to apply.
However, in the selection process some applicants may be preferred to others in regard to two focuses of this Project:
- Geographical focus is more on Southern and Western Estonia and in Latvia on Kurzeme, Pieriga, Riga and Vidzeme regions.
- Regarding the age of SMEs our focus is more on new SMEs being in active business operations for up to 2-3 years.
How to get on board?
- Upload a 1-pager and short video pitch about your business. Go to "Apply Now" section to sign-up, download the 1-pager template, and see the video pitch example.
- Application deadline is March 18, 2018
- A Group of 10-15 experts will select the best applicants for face-to-face or Skype interviews.
- After face-to-face and Skype interviews, the group of experts will select 24 most promising companies that will take part in the Export Express program.
- The working language in Export Express, including the application and selection process, will be English.