World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia members and Global Traveler readers were asked to submit an essay on how the WTCGP helped their company grow internationally.
From the many great essays submitted, Global Traveler selected the winner and we are pleased to announce and publish the two winners.
First Place – two tickets to Brazil: Scott Bentley
The world’s largest and most successful underwater remotely operated robotic vehicle company is based in landlocked Chester County, Pennsylvania – far from oceanographic centers like San Diego, California, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, or Aberdeen, Scotland. Why?
Because the senior executives of VideoRay, LLC thought globally from the beginning. Three executives of Bentley Systems, Inc – a half-billion-dollar per year software company in Exton, Pennsylvania, joined with the son of a successful worldwide ultralight aircraft entrepreneur in Phoenixville to build VideoRay to global domination in this rapidly growing niche technology in just ten years. Half of VideoRay’s $7,000,000 or so of annual revenue comes from outside the US, and each of the principals in VideoRay joined the company with significant understanding of global markets.
With experience comes understanding of what you don’t know – and the ability to recognize an invaluable resource. The World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia provides us with a presence and market research resource in each country as we enter or expand our sales. We rely on WTCGP to help us decide who can sell our products, where there is a profitable demand, and how to avoid pitfalls that otherwise would be expensive missteps. They are our partners outside the US.
Second Place – set of Heys Luggage: Bob Kritzer
WTCGP Paves the Way
Hats off to the World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia for making international markets more accessible to small businesses. Since 2004, the WTCGP has scoured markets and arranged meetings for me at a pace I could only have dreamed of, allowing me to setup operations in Australia, China, India, Mexico and Korea.
One of the first markets we entered was India. In 2005, I asked the WTCGP to arrange meetings with Indian companies so that I could formulate a market entry strategy. Their Mumbai office immediately got to work and connected me with key players in the electric power industry. Their work was so perfectly aligned with our needs that many of those contacts have become customers, and we still meet with the same people today. As a result, we have many new Indian customers, and a well established brand.
Currently the WTCGP is assisting with several aspects of our new operations in China. They are searching for additional partners, arranging meetings with potential customers, and providing thoughtful guidance to help us navigate China’s complex business environment. This assistance enhances our effectiveness and reduces risk.
The WTCGP is a valued partner and I wouldn’t dare enter a market without them.
This is our opportunity to say thank you for your loyalty over the years!
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