Success Stories
Ioterra Inc.'s International Sales are Growing at a Record Pace
Since partnering with GOED, Ioterra has flourished into a thriving global enterprise. Ioterra, an IoT company headquartered in Reno, Nevada, accompanied GOED on the 2020 European trade mission. The company provides cutting-edge IoT services, including hardware platforms, connectivity development, and security solutions for companies navigating the new digital age. This partnership opened new opportunities for this company, including expanding exports to Poland and Slovenia. The CCO of Ioterra, Danny deLaveaga, described their experience, “I cannot speak highly enough of the work done by the GOED team to coordinate introductions to U.S. Embassies in four EU countries, set up B2B meetings, plan networking opportunities with chambers of commerce and arrange for visits to key technology companies.’” As a result of GOED efforts, Ioterra is now exporting services to four separate companies (Embiq in Lublin, Poland; Untitled Kingdom in Krakow, Poland; Chipolo and Qubino in Slovenia) and is in detailed conversations with five more. Additionally, due to one of these partnerships, Ioterra was able to bring in a large (over $100,000) implementation project in Nevada. Within less than a year following the trade mission, Ioterra was reporting over $230,000 in export sales and expecting to generate $875,000 in export sales within the next 12 months.
STEP Dollar Amount Awarded by State: $
Estimated Export Sales from STEP Award: $230000
Free Brands Inc. Continues to Grow their Exposure in the International Community
Free Brands Inc. is a women-owned company from Las Vegas, Nevada. As an all-natural cosmetic and toiletry manufacturing company, they are currently operating under “FREEDOM Natural Deodorant” to expand their products to foreign markets. GOED has been instrumental during 2017-2020 in supporting their international marketing activities and closing deals with other countries through sitting in on B2B meetings organized by GOED and assisting the company identify beneficial international trade shows. Specifically, beginning in 2018, they started to export to Canada, Europe, and South America and as a result of GOED assistance the company generated just under $75 thousand in export sales and created 5 jobs in 2020. As a growing personal care line, they deliver top-quality products that empower women and help fight breast cancer concurrently. As many foreign markets turn to natural products, Free Brands will continue to grow their exposure to the international community because they serve as an example that all-natural products can truly work as well as competitors.
STEP Dollar Amount Awarded by State: $
Estimated Export Sales from STEP Award: $75000
STEP helps Tumbles LLC, Franchise Kids Entertainment Systems Overseas
Tumbles has successfully worked with the Texas STEP program for two grant cycles. During this time, Tumbles LLC has utilized their STEP grant to the fullest. While working with the United States Commercial Service, Tumbles was able to complete deals in both Qatar and Ghana. Additionally, the STEP funds have helped further develop their website which allowed them to engage with multiple countries to find multiple potential partners.
STEP Dollar Amount Awarded by State: $10000
Estimated Export Sales from STEP Award: $350000
STEP helps Global Health Services Network Win $2.7M Contract
Global Health Services Network (GHSN) is a Michigan-based, woman- and minority-owned organization that provides international hospital and health care management with the goal of helping governments and private organizations in developing and emerging countries to improve quality and efficiency of their services. Patricia Williams, President of GHSN, discovered the Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s International Trade Program in 2013. Since then, GHSN has received over $32,000 in State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) funding for international projects, sales trips, trade shows, and marketing materials. “I firmly believe doing business internationally is about building relationships and trust – and then you do business,” said Williams. “So, having the ability to go to these countries and meet with people in person is really an important aspect of what we do. Yet we don’t always have the necessary funds to cultivate these face-to-face relationships that are crucial to expanding our business.” According to Williams, STEP funding allows her to pursue business opportunities in key international markets that she may not have been able to otherwise. For example, during GHSN’s latest STEP-supported trip in November 2019, GHSN signed a three-year contract with a 164-bed hospital in Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan to manage and operate their medical hospital, which will result in more than $2.7 million in revenue over the three years with the potential for an extension for up to 10 years. The Erbil hospital contract is the first of its kind, as this project will be the only American-operated hospital in Iraq’s history when it opens.
STEP Dollar Amount Awarded by State: $5679
Estimated Export Sales from STEP Award: $2700000
